KLDLOAD(8)

NAME
kldload - load a file into the kernel

SYNOPSIS
kldload [-nv] file ...

DESCRIPTION
The kldload utility loads file.ko into the kernel using the kernel linker. Note that if multiple modules are specified then an attempt will be made to load them all, even if some fail. The .ko extension name is not mandatory when loading a given module using kldload. It does not hurt to specify it though.

If a bare filename is requested it will only be loaded if it is found within the module path as defined by the sysctl kern.module_path. To load a module from the current directory it must be specified as a full or relative path. The kldload utility will warn if a module is requested as a bare filename and is present in the current directory.

The following options are available:

-n  Do not try to load module if already loaded.

-v  Be more verbose.

NOTES
The kernel security level settings may prevent a module from being loaded by giving EPERM. Refer to security(7) for details.

FILES
/boot/kernel
    directory containing loadable modules. Modules must have an extension of .ko.
/boot/modules.local
    directory for local loadable kernel modules and wrapped external firmware images; see firmware(9)

EXIT STATUS

EXAMPLES
To load by module name:

    # kldload foo

To load by file name within the module path:

    # kldload foo.ko

To load by relative path:

    # kldload ./foo.ko

To load by full path:

    # kldload /boot/kernel/foo.ko

AUTOMATICALLY LOADING MODULES
Some modules (ipfw, etc.) may be automatically loaded at boot time by having their operation enabled in rc.conf(5). Modules may also be auto-loaded through their addition to loader.conf(5).

Only those modules necessary for booting the system, including those required for mounting the root filesystem, should be handled by loader.conf(5).

SEE ALSO
kenv(1), kldload(2), loader.conf(5), rc.conf(5), security(7), kldconfig(8), kldstat(8), kldunload(8)

HISTORY
The kldload utility first appeared in FreeBSD 3.0, replacing the lkm(4) interface.

AUTHORS
Doug Rabson <dfr@FreeBSD.org>