Re: Naming of directory from which to load kernel modules

[Paul Goyette <paul%whooppee.com@localhost>]

On Sat, 24 Jan 2009, David Brownlee wrote:

>         (Thread on renaming directory from which to load kernels
>         modules from /stand to /kernel switched from source-changes
>         to tech-kern - please drop source-changes from any reply)
>
> On Sat, 24 Jan 2009, Adam Hoka wrote:
>
> > I dont really think the name matters too much, just
> > make it to be able to use different module dir for
> > different kernels.
> > Like if you boot netbsd.old make it use modules/netbsd.old/,
> > so no symlink magic is required.
>
>         I suspect what may be needed is a searchpath for modules, based
>         on at least the kernel version and potentially the kernel name,
>         eg, booting a /onetbsd of version 5.99.4 would look in
>                /${kernel}/modules-onetbsd-5.99.4
>                /${kernel}/modules-onetbsd
>                /${kernel}/modules-5.99.4
>                /${kernel}/modules
>
>        The first matching path found would be used for all modules - no
>        'mix and match' from different directories
>
>        Replace ${kernel} with top-level-directory-of-choice, which
>        may or may not be /kernel
>
>         Some people prefer /kmods, some /kernel, some /stand, and there
>         are probably other preferences.
>         One question - would people anticipate some users keeping the
>         kernels in this directory as well? so you could boot
>         /kernel/onetbsd ?

To me, it makes sense to keep the kernel itself in the same top-level
directory as its associated modules directory:

        /${kernel}/netbsd       for the kernel image
        /${kernel}/modules/     for the associated modules

where ${kernel} could be anything you want, including null

        Kernel Image    Modules directory
        ------------    -----------------
        /netbsd         /modules/
        /netbsd/netbsd  /netbsd/modules
        /onetbsd/netbsd /onetbsd/modules
        /kernel/netbsd  /kernel/modules/
        /okernel/netbsd /okernel/modules/
        /5.99.7/netbsd  /5.99.7/modules/

        etc

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