# How to retreive old kernel headers?

**URL:** <https://forums.suse.com/t/how-to-retreive-old-kernel-headers/23532>\
**Category:** SLES Configure-Administer\
**Created:** [January 19, 2013, 9:07pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/how-to-retreive-old-kernel-headers/23532 "2013-01-19T21:07:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mrcryo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f4b2a3/32.png) [@mrcryo](https://forums.suse.com/u/mrcryo)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 9:07pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/how-to-retreive-old-kernel-headers/23532/1 "2013-01-19T21:07:39Z")

</div>

We develop a product that includes our own kernel module, the product supports SLES11 and newer.  
We ship our kernel module to SLES-customers as object-file to link it with dkms-system on customers systems.

As customers could have any of old kernel versions, we need all kernel headers for SLES11 to build our module. Could someone please help us to get them all.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bob-O-Rama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@Bob-O-Rama](https://forums.suse.com/u/Bob-O-Rama)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 1:00am UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/how-to-retreive-old-kernel-headers/23532/2 "2013-01-20T01:00:37Z")

</div>

Excuse the non-responsive question… why do you need that? What sort of module is this? Perhaps someone has an idea that will help you not need all that. I

The entire point of dkms is that you don’t need any of that. You would write a shim that is rebuilt by dkms. That module would only care about the local system, for which the headers are available. Your core logic would be built in two flavors only based on architecture and talk to the shim KAPI which you manage. The shim abstracts the variable portions of the kernel interfaces and insulates your core logic from knowing / caring about it.

But to your question, I have no idea. A couple of us ( non-employee, volunteers who live in the forums ) are asking around.

But more details on the project would be good, meanwhile.

– Bob

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![HvdHeuvel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HvdHeuvel](https://forums.suse.com/u/HvdHeuvel)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/how-to-retreive-old-kernel-headers/23532/3 "2013-01-21T17:25:03Z")

</div>

Hi mrcryo

[QUOTE=mrcryo;11278]We develop a product that includes our own kernel module, the product supports SLES11 and newer.  
We ship our kernel module to SLES-customers as object-file to link it with dkms-system on customers systems.

As customers could have any of old kernel versions, we need all kernel headers for SLES11 to build our module. Could someone please help us to get them all.[/QUOTE]

You can download any required kernel sources from our website.

But, whilst you refer to the ‘dkms’ process, are you aware that we have a more ‘sophisticated’ driver process on our hand than what dkms can do for you ?  
It is called the “The Partner Linux Driver Program” and this [1] [2] [3] would be a great place to start reading up on the details off this program.

Additionally, in case you have additional questions on the topic, can you please send me a direct email ?  
Please send it to “hvdheuvel [at] novell [dot] com” and I can bring you in contact with the correct SUSE people for this program.

Kindest regards  
Hans

[1] [https://www.suse.com/partners/linux-driver-program/](https://www.suse.com/partners/linux-driver-program/)  
[2] [http://www.novell.com/developer/partner\_linux\_driver.html](http://www.novell.com/developer/partner_linux_driver.html)  
[3] [http://www.novell.com/developer/partner\_linux\_driver\_process\_faq.html](http://www.novell.com/developer/partner_linux_driver_process_faq.html)