Managing dynamically loadable kernel modules

Automatic loading of a DLKM

Automatic loading of a DLKM by the kernel occurs when a user requests the functionality provided in a module and that module is not loaded. When the kernel cannot find the module in memory, it loads and link edits the module, and does any other internal ``administrative'' work that is needed. For example, the kernel autoloads a dynamically loadable device driver on the first open of any of the driver's configured devices. A loadable STREAMS module is autoloaded on the first I_PUSH of the module.

NOTE: Loadable HBA drivers cannot be autoloaded. However, HBA drivers can be demand loaded using the modadmin(1M) command or demand loaded by init(1M) using the idmodload(1M) command during a system reboot.

Once loaded, an HBA driver remains loaded until the next system reboot (no DLKM unload mechanism exists for HBA drivers).