Where do modules go?
 

I mean, if something was compiled as a module, but at recompile I'd decide to compile it in the kernel, what happens to the module? Is it removed from the system, or just not used?

And (bit related), if I would rename a module (for example /etc/rc.d/rc.pcmcia to rc.pcmcia.old) but it's still executable, will it be executed at startup?

Any enlightenment in this area is welcome!

Thanx, Leon.

I think you're confusing things that are and are not modules.

Kernel modules will be located in /lib/modules/kernel version/kernel/...... So if you re-compile your kernel and include support for a given piece of hardware in the kernel, then your new kernel name (you should be renaming your kernel) will not have that particular module in /lib/modules/new kernel name/kernel/..... That part you're correct in your assumption.

However, /etc/rc.d/rc.pcmcia is not a module but simply a shell script that may or may not run at start-up. For more about this I suggest reading this.

Hope that helps