I have installed my 2.6.8.1 kernel, and it runs, which is good but ive run into some problems since. . . due to another problem that im not concerned with here, i automatically enabled all the services, but i dont know that that matters here. When i boot up. . .(im looking at my boot up log) the first thing it says is:

Cannot find map file.
No module symbols loaded - kernel modules not enabled.

there are various other issues too, but im concerned with that now, can anyone explain exactly what that means and how to fix it?

You didn't compile module support into the kernel. Enable "Loadable Module Support", "Module Unloading" and "Automatic kernel module loading" in you kernel source and recompile

I am also getting this error, Installed SuSE 9.1, decided to put the latest Kernel in and get this complaint at the top of the boot log.

Strange thing is that modules are loading OK, if I do a lsmod plenty come back as loaded.

Anyone got any suggestions to this one ?

This thread is ancient, but as I am struggling with same problems now, i have found some explanations.

Some of this goes off after you check/reorder/add the new symbols:
/sbin/depmod -ae -F /boot/System.map-2.6.xxxx

It also seems to be related to some scripts. It is reported in RedHat, that the scripts have locations something like /proc/syms (2.4 style) but in 2.6 kernel it should be /proc/kallsyms. I have not been enable to find syms locations in anywhere in SuSE init.d scripts.

Modules do work on my system, but the error message doesn't let breathe freely