i always recompile my modules because i recompile my kernel for my P4 and if you compile just the kernel for a P4 or anything other then a 586 like the stock modules they wont load. besides it doesn't take nearly as long as the kernel so why not?

Well, I'm probably going to get suse 9.3
I tried Ubuntu ( they say they support the ipod...) But I couldn't get the wireless networking working.

regards

dustynus: Don't give up, it's not that hard Kernel compilation is fun!

johnson_steve: Could you please explain that to me? Why do the modules not load anymore if you re-compile the kernel without changing any other setting than EFI support? And about the time consumption: on my system it takes at least half the time to compile the kernel only (instead of both, kernel and modules).

dustynus: Sorry for the hijack!

Can someone explain what Compiling a kernel is ? And how to go about doing it?

A kernel is written in a programming language (I don't even know which, but I think it is C). You can't run program code without translating (compiling) it into something your machine understands. The result of this compilation is a binary file.

What does your problem have to do with this?

The default kernel has been compiled using paramters that do not allow a proper recognition of your iPOD. Therefore it needs to be recompiled, this time with other settings.

How does that work?

Have a look at the link I provided or at the instruction johnson_steve gave previously in this thread.

im sure your modules would load if all you change is the EFI option. but if i'm going to recompile i change other options too. you get better performace with a kernel compiled for your hardware. a 586 kernel runs on any pentium and up chip but knows nothing about hyperthreading on my P4 for example. if you compile everything for your chip you can use features that wouldn't be available to you otherwise. makes your computer faster. all my computers have kernels compiled this way. except the mac and my sgi box. so ive had problems loading modules in the past. so I always do this. on my computer it takes forever to compile the kernel, but the modules take like 5 min.

I see your point. But I still stand to mine: Once you have a kernel you are happy with and you find out that it requires a minor change like EFI support, I wouldn't compile modules. And this is what I would suggest any newbie that wants to run his/her iPOD. But I guess everyone has his own way...

i'm sure you way works i've just never tried it that way

I had the same problem, I found the easiest ways it to just restart hotplug at /etc/init.d/hotplug and unplug it when it ejects. Ubuntu which uses 2.6.10-8 for a kernel has the a good working hotplug script, you just eject /dev/sda and it works fine.