[ILUG] insmod problem

[John P. Looney]

On Mon, Jul 16, 2001 at 09:46:22PM -0700, saeed babadi nia mentioned:
>  I have a linux kernel ver 2.2.13-0.13  and I must
> write a driver for it, this os haven't any development
> software to write  (cc or gcc and its library),
> therfore I install redhat 6.2 with kernel vertion 
> 2.2.14-15.0 after writing my driver I culdn't attach
> it to the first kernel (2.2.13-0.13), and give me the
> uncompatible vertion error,
> How I can write a driver that could be attached to
> every version without error ? is it possible?

 No, it is not possible. What you must do is distribute the source, so
people can compile the module with their own kernel. Some vendors (like
nVidia for instance) distribute the kernel as a some source as a wrapper
for their binary file, and then they compile up complete binaries for a
few common operating system versions for convenience. 

 3Com however, just distribute their whole driver, as source.

 The reason you are having that problem is that Linus does not want to
have a fixed binary interface for kernel modules - that would mean he
could not change that interface, when needed.

 Have a look at 
    ftp://ftp1.detonator.nvidia.com/pub/drivers/english/XFree86_40/
 to see how nVidia do it.

John

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