do I understand kernel compilation and its possibilities?

markotitel · 04-14-2010, 06:52 PM

Hello, I want to try my first kernel compilation/ customization.

Besides standar "tweaking" I cant understand things about kernel modules.

Is it possibile for example add nvidia driver as a module in kernel?

MS3FGX · 04-14-2010, 09:17 PM

If you are talking about the official Nvidia driver, then no, as that is not part of the kernel tree. The official Nvidia driver must always be built as an external module to the kernel, it will never be part of the kernel itself due to licensing issues.

muzhmuzh · 04-14-2010, 09:38 PM

No, not while compiling the kernel.
You add the nvidia driver later by using the proprietary nvidia installer obtainable from
http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index5.aspx?lang=en-us.
Or you can compile the nv (open source) module while compiling Xorg.
Update: More recent kernels (2.6.33+ I think) contain the nouveau driver, which can be compiled as a kernel module at kernel compile time. I don't have any experience with this driver as I have found the (cough cough) proprietary nvidia driver rather good.

markotitel · 04-15-2010, 03:00 AM

thanks for replies