UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users

Hi all

Can anyone tell me if it is possible to compile modules individually without having to recompile the whole kernel?

I have recently compiled a new kernel but forgot to compile in lp.o which would allow me to print. I can see lp.c in /usr/src/linux/kernel/drivers/char sometimes in these .c files there is a line telling u the syntax to compile it on the command line but not so here. Does anyone know what flags i shoud pass to the compile or if this is even possible...or am i just going to have to recompile the whole thing!

many thanks

I was eventually able to do this.

1. Copy the makefile in /usr/src/linux

2. Edit the copied makefile , comment out/edit the line starting SUBDIRS so that only the directories for the modules you want are quoted. Usually looks something ike this

SUBDIRS =kernel drivers mm fs net ipc lib grsecurity crypto

I changed it to look like this

SUBDIRS =drivers/char

I also added a line in the DRIVERS section of the copied makefile like this (there are many that look like this)

DRIVERS-$(CONFIG_PRINTER) += drivers/char/lp.o




3 I added a line in /usr/src/linux/.config to reflect the printer module (CONFIG_PRINTER=m)

4. issued command

make -f mycopiedmakefile modules

I ended up with module lp.o which i was then able to slot into the running kernel

hope this of use to someone