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Asked: 2024-09-25T14:27:07+05:30 In:

What steps should I follow to prevent specific kernel modules from loading in Ubuntu?

I’ve been having a bit of trouble with my Ubuntu installation lately, and I could really use some help. You see, there are certain kernel modules that seem to be auto-loading when I boot up, and they’re causing some conflicts with my system’s performance. Honestly, I’m not that great with kernel stuff, so I’m hoping to get some guidance here.

For example, there’s this one module that’s related to a hardware component I’m not using at all, and it’s just taking up resources unnecessarily. I want to make sure it doesn’t load at all when I start up my computer. I’ve done some digging online, but the instructions I found were kind of all over the place, and I’m worried about messing things up more.

Can someone break down the steps for me in a straightforward way? Like, what commands do I need to run in the terminal? Do I need to edit any configuration files, and if so, which ones? I’ve heard about ‘modprobe’ and ‘blacklist’ files, but I’m not sure how to use them properly.

Also, I’m a bit concerned: what happens if I accidentally blacklist something I shouldn’t? Is there a safe way to undo that? I want to be cautious here, so if anyone has had success with this type of issue, I’d love to hear about your experiences.

And while we’re at it, if anyone knows how to check which modules are currently loaded, that would be super helpful too. I really want to get my system running smoothly, so any tips on troubleshooting or optimizing my Ubuntu environment alongside preventing these modules from loading would be amazing.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide! It’s quite the learning curve for me, but I’m willing to listen and learn from those who are more experienced.

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    2 Answers



    1. Ubuntu Kernel Module Help

      Dealing with Auto-loading Kernel Modules on Ubuntu

      If certain kernel modules are causing issues on your Ubuntu installation, you can prevent them from loading on startup by following these steps:

      Step 1: Identify Currently Loaded Modules

      First, you can check which kernel modules are loaded by running:

      lsmod

      This will give you a list of all currently loaded modules along with their usage count. If you want to find more details about a specific module, use:

      modinfo

      Step 2: Blacklisting a Module

      To prevent a module from loading, you can blacklist it. Here’s how:

      1. Open a terminal window.
      2. Use a text editor to open the blacklist configuration file. You can use nano or any other text editor you prefer. For example:
        3. sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
      3. At the end of the file, add a new line with the following format:
        4. blacklist
      4. Save and exit the editor:
        • For nano, press CTRL + X, then Y to confirm, and hit Enter.

      Step 3: Update Initramfs

      After blacklisting the module, you’ll want to update the initramfs so the changes take effect:

      sudo update-initramfs -u

      Step 4: Reboot

      Now that you’ve blacklisted the module, reboot your system:

      sudo reboot

      What If You Accidentally Blacklist Something Important?

      Don’t worry too much! If you accidentally blacklist a module you need, you can simply go back to the blacklist.conf file and remove or comment out the line you added. To comment out a line, just add a # at the beginning:

      # blacklist

      Then save the file and update the initramfs again:

      sudo update-initramfs -u

      Tips for Optimizing Your Ubuntu Environment

      Here are a few additional tips:

      • Keep your system updated with sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade.
      • Use htop or top to monitor resource usage and see if there are other processes consuming too much power.
      • Consider learning about systemd services and runlevels for better performance.

      Good luck, and don’t hesitate to reach out for more questions as you learn!



    2. To prevent specific kernel modules from loading at boot time in Ubuntu, you can use the blacklist feature. First, you’ll need to open a terminal and determine which modules are currently loaded. You can do this by running the command lsmod, which lists all loaded modules. If you spot a module you want to prevent from loading, you can blacklist it by editing the configuration file. Open the blacklist configuration file using a text editor, such as nano: sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf. At the end of the file, add a line that says blacklist modulename (replacing modulename with the actual name of the module you wish to blacklist). Save your changes and exit the editor.

      Furthermore, if you accidentally blacklist a module that is essential for your system, you can simply remove or comment out the line you added in the blacklist configuration file, and then regenerate the initramfs with the command sudo update-initramfs -u. To check if a module is currently loaded after making changes, run lsmod again or use modinfo modulename to get detailed information about a specific module. As a good practice before blacklisting, consider whether the module is crucial for other hardware or system functionalities. With these steps, you should be able to troubleshoot your system’s performance by managing kernel module loading effectively.


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