# Build SUSE kernel doesn't need "make modules"? **URL:** \ **Category:** SLES Install-Boot\ **Created:** [October 7, 2015, 2:12pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/build-suse-kernel-doesnt-need-make-modules/27499 "2015-10-07T14:12:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nanxiao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@nanxiao](https://forums.suse.com/u/nanxiao)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 2:12pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/build-suse-kernel-doesnt-need-make-modules/27499/1 "2015-10-07T14:12:08Z")
From README.SUSE, I can see the following instructions to compile the kernel: (1) Install kernel-source.$ARCH.rpm. Change to the /usr/src/linux directory. (2) Create a build directory for use in configuring and building the kernel. Using /usr/src/linux directly requires root priviledges and will cause problems if you need to build kernel modules for other installed kernels. (2) Configure the kernel (for example, `make -C /usr/src/linux O=$(pwd) oldconfig'' or `make -C /usr/src/linux O=$(pwd) cloneconfig’’, see HOW TO CONFIGURE THE KERNEL SOURCES). (3) Build the kernel and all its modules (``make’’). (5) Make sure that /etc/modprobe.d/unsupported-modules contains ``` allow_unsupported_modules 1 otherwise modprobe will refuse to load any modules. ``` (6) Install the kernel and the modules (`make modules_install'', followed by `make install’’). This will automatically create an initrd for the new kernel as well (see ``mkinitrd -h’’). (7) Add the kernel to the boot manager. When using lilo, run ``lilo’’ to update the boot map. But I can’t see “make modules” command. Doesn’t building SUSE kernel need “make modules”? ---
**Author:** ![malcolmlewis](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forums.suse.com/malcolmlewis/32/11375_2.png) [@malcolmlewis](https://forums.suse.com/u/malcolmlewis)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 3:44pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/build-suse-kernel-doesnt-need-make-modules/27499/2 "2015-10-07T15:44:13Z")
> [@](#): > > On Wed 07 Oct 2015 11:14:01 AM CDT, nanxiao wrote: > > From README.SUSE, I can see the following instructions to compile the > kernel: > > (1) Install kernel-source.$ARCH.rpm. Change to the /usr/src/linux > directory. > > (2) Create a build directory for use in configuring and building > the kernel. Using /usr/src/linux directly requires root > priviledges > and will cause problems if you need to build kernel modules for > other installed kernels. > > (2) Configure the kernel (for example, `make -C /usr/src/linux O=$(pwd) oldconfig'' or `make -C /usr/src/linux O=$(pwd) > cloneconfig’', > see HOW TO CONFIGURE THE KERNEL SOURCES). > > (3) Build the kernel and all its modules (``make’'). > > (5) Make sure that /etc/modprobe.d/unsupported-modules contains > > allow\_unsupported\_modules 1 > > otherwise modprobe will refuse to load any modules. > > (6) Install the kernel and the modules (`make modules_install'', followed by `make install’‘). This will automatically create > an initrd for the new kernel as well (see ``mkinitrd -h’'). > > (7) Add the kernel to the boot manager. When using lilo, run > ``lilo’’ > to update the boot map. > > But I can’t see “make modules” command. Doesn’t building SUSE kernel > need “make modules”? Hi It should build all the relevant (as in Y set) modules automatically via copying the config file to PWD via the following command; ```auto zcat /proc/config.gz >.config ``` Or are you trying to build a specific module not in the default kernel (as in a kmp)? – Cheers Malcolm °¿° LFCS, SUSE Knowledge Partner (Linux Counter #276890) SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 | GNOME 3.10.1 | 3.12.44-52.18-default If you find this post helpful and are logged into the web interface, please show your appreciation and click on the star below… Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![nanxiao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@nanxiao](https://forums.suse.com/u/nanxiao)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 11:50am UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/build-suse-kernel-doesnt-need-make-modules/27499/3 "2015-10-08T11:50:43Z")
Hi malcolmlewis, Firstly, thanks very much for your response! I am a little confused, is “make modules” optional in building kernel? No “make modules” command, we can also execute “make modules\_install” command? Thanks very much! Best Regards Nan Xiao ---
**Author:** ![malcolmlewis](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forums.suse.com/malcolmlewis/32/11375_2.png) [@malcolmlewis](https://forums.suse.com/u/malcolmlewis)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 5:01am UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/build-suse-kernel-doesnt-need-make-modules/27499/4 "2015-10-09T05:01:00Z")
> [@](#): > > On Thu 08 Oct 2015 08:54:02 AM CDT, nanxiao wrote: > > Hi malcolmlewis, > > Firstly, thanks very much for your response! > > I am a little confused, is “make modules” optional in building kernel? > No “make modules” command, we can also execute “make modules\_install” > command? > > Thanks very much! > > Best Regards > Nan Xiao Hi AFAIK if just building a kernel module by itself you need to run make modules and make modules\_install but if rebuilding the whole kernel it should be taken care off. What are you trying to build, a missing module you need? If so it’s better to just build that module and install rather than the whole kernel. – Cheers Malcolm °¿° LFCS, SUSE Knowledge Partner (Linux Counter #276890) SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 | GNOME 3.10.1 | 3.12.44-52.18-default If you find this post helpful and are logged into the web interface, please show your appreciation and click on the star below… Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![nanxiao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@nanxiao](https://forums.suse.com/u/nanxiao)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 8:39am UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/build-suse-kernel-doesnt-need-make-modules/27499/5 "2015-10-10T08:39:19Z")
Hi I just want to make sure whether “make” includes “make modules”. After posting the issue on [SO](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/33029390/is-it-meaningful-to-execute-make-modules-install-without-executing-make-modul), I get the answer: that is yes! Thanks very much for your kind help! Best Regards Nan Xiao