insmod

insmod is a command line tool used in UNIX-like operating systems to insert loadable kernel modules into the kernel. It stands for "insert module" and is usually used to add additional functionality to the operating system without the need to recompile the kernel.

1. The insmod command is primarily used in Linux distributions to load kernel modules dynamically at runtime.
2. It requires root privileges to execute, as it interacts directly with the kernel.
3. The main purpose of insmod is to insert a kernel module and maintain its linkage with other modules and the kernel.
4. It loads the module file specified as an argument and performs basic validations before inserting it.
5. The insmod command automatically resolves any dependencies the inserted module might have on other modules.
6. Modules are inserted into the kernel's modular system, allowing them to become part of the running kernel's functionality.
7. It interprets the module's metadata, such as version information and supported kernel versions.
8. If the inserted module conflicts with previously loaded modules or the running kernel, insmod may fail and print an error message.
9. The insmod command also generates the corresponding /proc/modules entry, which provides information about the loaded modules.
10. To remove a module that was inserted using insmod, the rmmod command is usually employed.