This is the documentation for the "Update Modules" (Update Drivers)
feature.

This feature aims to propose new modules or replacement modules for the
install and afterwards. This is useful when there is a firmware update for a
given driver, an additional driver needed for something, etc.


You must use a floppy disk with e2fs filesystem (NOT vfat/windows
formatted). Use "mke2fs /dev/fd0" on your own box to format a floppy with
e2fs filesystem.

This disk may contain a number of kernel modules; some of them 
may replace existing modules, some of them may be added.
This disk must contain a special file, named "to_load", on
the root (not in a subdirectory). This file will contain a series of
module names, with optional module options; the program will try to load
all these modules one after another, using file on the floppy if present,
else using file within standard module repository ("marfile" on the boot
floppy). It can contain comments, these are strictly defined by the
presence of a hash (#) character on column 0 of any line.

This disk may also contain some update or new modules for installed kernels. 
Those modules must be placed in directory <kernel-version>. They must be
gzipped if the installed kernel modules are gzipped.

You may need to specify the "category" so that new modules are used correctly.
For example, a scsi module should be put in category disk/scsi so that it is
put in scsi_hostadapter and initrd.


Here's a typical scenario:


1. Boot the floppy (or cdrom) with the option "updatemodules"

   (you may do that by pressing F1 then entering "linux updatemodules")


2. At the very beginning of the User Interface, you are asked to insert
   the Update Modules disk. Insert the Update Modules disk and press
   Enter.

--=----=----=----=----=----=----=----=----=--
Our example disk contains:

[root@obiwan mnt]# ll floppy/
total 77
drwxr-xr-x    2 root     root        12288 Jul 26 12:02 lost+found/
-rw-r--r--    1 root     root         9051 Jul 26 12:43 msdos.ko
-rw-r--r--    1 root     root        13660 Jul 26 12:04 ppa.ko
-rw-r--r--    1 root     root           54 Jul 26 12:46 to_load
-rw-r--r--    1 root     root        32108 Jul 26 12:04 uhci.ko
-rw-r--r--    1 root     root         6572 Jul 26 12:04 wacom.ko
drwxr-xr-x    4 root     root         4096 Jul 26 12:04 2.6.8.1-20mdk
drwxr-xr-x    4 root     root         4096 Jul 26 12:04 2.6.8.1-20mdksmp
[root@obiwan mnt]# cat floppy/to_load 
# Update Drivers description file
3c59x
# fat is a dep for msdos
fat
# updated msdos (handling of 9+4 filenames)
msdos
ppa
# ISA network card needing options
ne io=0x300 irq=7
# New module [list_modules: disk/scsi]
a320raid
[root@obiwan mnt]# (cd floppy/2.6.8.1-20mdk ; find -type f)
./kernel/fs/msdos/msdos.ko.gz
./kernel/drivers/scsi/ppa.ko.gz
./kernel/drivers/usb/host/uhci-hcd.ko.gz
./kernel/drivers/usb/input/wacom.ko.gz
[root@obiwan mnt]# 
--=----=----=----=----=----=----=----=----=--


3. The program reads the special file "to_load" and processes the files.

	a- 3c59x   loaded from the marfile on the boot floppy
	b- fat     loaded from the marfile on the boot floppy
	c- msdos   loaded from the update modules floppy
	d- ppa     loaded from the update modules floppy
        e- ne      loaded from the marfile on the boot floppy



!!! Beware !!!, the dependencies are not handled automatically in
the case of load from the update modules floppy, that's why on
our example we need to load "fat" from the standard modules
before "msdos" from the update floppy.


4. When system is installed, update floppy is asked again so that update
modules for the installed kernels can be copied. Then depmod is called.