[SOLVED] Is it safe to remove kernel module when lsmod shows 0 usage

fmagee · 07-23-2014, 10:16 AM

If I run lsmod and get:

Module Size Used by
usb_storage 80929 0

is it safe to remove the module from the current kernel? Are there any possible repercussions? I have some modules loaded that have potential security implications that show "Used by" = 0.

Thanks for your thoughts.

szboardstretcher · 07-23-2014, 10:20 AM

Quote:

However lsmod o/p is sometimes incomplete. It also does not always indicate all the modules dependent on a given module.

According to this, you can't count on lsmod being correct.

fmagee · 07-23-2014, 10:50 AM

Thanks for the information, szboardstretcher.

It's a bit scary lsmod may not be complete in its reporting. I'll file that away for future reference.

Have a great day and thanks again.

Fred

sundialsvcs · 07-23-2014, 03:16 PM

Let "hotplug" do any inserting and/or removing of USB driver modules . . .

jpollard · 07-23-2014, 03:38 PM

You can try to remove any modules that have usage=0; if it is required the removal will fail.

The usual reason for modules with a 0 usage count is that controllers have been identified (such as USB) and are not currently being used. Plug in a flash/sd/whatever and it gains an additional usage count as the driver for the particular device gets loaded. Without the controller being loaded (even with usage count being 0) the kernel/udev will not be able to detect the event.

fmagee · 07-23-2014, 03:41 PM

Thanks, jpollard.

I've got a test server I can play with to start cleaning things up. I normally wouldn't bother but like my post said, some of these modules have security issues.

Have a great day.