Compile kernel module for non running kernel

[Wolfgang.Klein]

Hello,

is it possible to compile the kernel module for a non running kernel? It would make a kernel update much easier if it was possible to compile the new kernel and the necessary Vbox module in one go.

If it isn't possible: may I make this possibility a wish for future versions?


Thanks in advance.

[Sasquatch]

If you have DKMS installed, it should install the module upon installation of the kernel, or at boot time. You can also run DKMS install manually. You can even add the build process and all taken from DKMS in your kernel build config.

[Wolfgang.Klein]

I haven't used DKMS yet. I use a little bash script to update the kernel: the script fetches the latest vanilla kernel source from kernel.org, unpacks it and compiles it. After that it installs the modules and copies the new kernel to /boot. It would be nice if I could compile the necessary VBox module for the new kernel before I reboot into the new kernel.

Can DKMS do this?

[Sasquatch]

Yes, DKMS is made for things like this. If you're already compiling kernels yourself, I'm sure it would be quite easy to learn what DKMS is doing and how to use it.

[Wolfgang.Klein]

Thank you very much for the information!

I will take a look at DKMS and I hope it won't take me too long to understand.