Loading modules for the hardware

All modules and settings are controlled in /etc/modules.conf for mandrake and /etc/conf.modules for redhat. Other methods are using the lilo.conf and /boot/grub/menu.lst.

By using the lilo.conf the modules are load as part of the kernel (built in), but the correct way of doing this is using the modules.conf file.

Before I go to the actual configuration, you may want to try some of these commands related to modules:

Note: For all new modules downloaded or compiled must be moved to /lib/modules/[kernel version]/ for the system to be able to use it.

After moving the modules to the appropriate directory, run depmod -a to let the system know about the new module, to test the module run this: modprobe [module name] if the module is loaded without error that means everything is OK. If you get any error messages, that means the module is wrong, or maybe the device is already running with the appropriate driver. Believe me it happens.

Modules loaded in the /etc/modules.conf, are loaded as alias of drivers. For example:

          Alias          Device          Driver
          alias          eth0            8139too

Many of the modules require further configurations, like I/O addresses and IRQ numbers. The following is an example of a parallel port assigned in the file modules.conf

        alias parport_lowlevel parport_pc
        options parport_pc io=0x378 irq = 7

It is very easy to identify, io=0x378 and irq = 7, is the address and irq assigned to the first onboard parallel port in your system.

When you install additional hardware in your system, you have to manually edit the modules.conf, unless hard drake allows you to configure it.

Step 2

From the assumption of our next two-port installation we continue…

The modules.conf already contains some information; edit it to add the new information.

This port1 (integrated on the motherboard):

       alias parport_lowlevel parport_pc
       options parport_pc io=0x378 irq=7

You could just add the parameters required in the same line or create it separately for each port.
Combination of the ports 1,2,3:

alias parport_lowlevel parport_pc
options parport_pc io=0x378, 0x6400, 0x6500 irq=7, 5, auto

As you can see in the io=0x378, 0x6400, 0x6500 are the IO address for each parallel port1, port2 port3. The port2 and port3 belongs to the dual ports B&C.

The IRQs= 7, 5, auto are assigned to the port1, port2 and port3. You can either set the IRQ number manually or set it to get first available IRQ automatically.

As I have already stated, you could also separate the settings as in the following:

Separation of ports by line

       alias parport_lowlevel parport_pc
       options parport_pc io=0x378 irq=7
	
       alias parport_lowlevel parport_pc
       options parport_pc io=0x6400 irq=5

       alias parport_lowlevel parport_pc
       options parport_pc io=0x6500 irq=auto

If you exit the editor and save the file, restart the system. The parallel ports lp0, lp1 and lp2 should be enabled now and is ready to use.
Other hardware may require special procedures, read the documentations or browse the web for help. You could also load modules or special configuration in other way such as search for it and execute it at boot time, this could be accomplished by creating a bash file.
Call it whatever you want, makes it +x executable and add it in /etc/rc.d/ Before you attempt the rc.d, try adding it in /etc/modules this file is used to load from the kernel; as far as the documentation concerns. Note I am not referring to modules.conf, which is in the same directory.