modinfo

8

modinfo

program to show information about a Linux Kernel module

          modinfo
          -0
          -F field
          -k kernel
          modulename|filename

          modinfo -V

          modinfo -h

## DESCRIPTION

`modinfo` extracts information from the Linux Kernel modules given on the command line. If the module name is not a filename, then the `/lib/modules/``version` directory is searched, as done by

modprobe

8.

`modinfo` by default lists each attribute of the module in form `fieldname` : `value`, for easy reading. The filename is listed the same way (although it's not really an attribute).

This version of `modinfo` can understand modules of any Linux Kernel architecture.

## OPTIONS

`-V` `--version`

- Print the modinfo version. Note BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY below: you might be printing the version of `modinfo.old`.

`-F` `--field`

- Only print this field value, one per line. This is most useful for scripts. Field names are case-insenitive. Common fields (which may not be in every module) include `author`, `description`, `license`, `param`, `depends`, and `alias`. There are often multiple `param`, `alias` and `depends` fields. The special field `filename` lists the filename of the module.

`-k `kernel``

Provide information about a kernel other than the running one. This is particularly useful for distributions needing to extract information from a newly installed (but not yet running) set of kernel modules. For example, you wish to find which firmware files are needed by various modules in a new kernel for which you must make an initrd image prior to booting.

`-0` `--null`

- Use the ASCII zero character to separate field values, instead of a new line. This is useful for scripts, since a new line can theoretically appear inside a field.

`-a` `-d` `-l` `-p` `-n`

- These are shortcuts for `author`, `description`, `license`. `param` and `filename` respectively, to ease the transition from the old modutils `modinfo`.

## BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY

This version of `modinfo` is for kernel modules `2.5.48` and above. If it detects a kernel with support for old-style modules, it will attempt to run `modprobe.old` in its place, so it is completely transparent to the user.

Note that the output of this version of `modinfo` is simpler and more regular than the older version: scripts attempting to use the default output may get confused with complex fields.

You can force the new `modinfo` to always be used, by setting the `NEW_MODINFO` environment variable.

## COPYRIGHT

This manual page Copyright 2003, Rusty Russell, IBM Corporation.

## SEE ALSO

modprobe

8 ,

modinfo.old

8