how can i remove unused but loaded kernel modules?

[Mikkel L. Ellertson]

Mark wrote:
> 
> That`s partly right.
> i did remove all the services that i didn`t want  but the loaded module
> list is still the same.
> i even removed all the modprobe files and it`s still exactly the same.
> (rm -rf /etc/modprobe*) (actually moved them to my personal folder..
> /home/mark)
> 
> This is the list of modules that i have:
> 
>     [root at localhost ~]# lsmod
>     Module                  Size  Used by
>     ipv6                  276673  20
>     i915                   25793  3
>     drm                    78037  4 i915
>     autofs4                24645  2
>     nf_conntrack_ftp       13761  0
>     nf_conntrack_netbios_ns     7105  0
>     nf_conntrack_ipv4      15049  12
>     xt_state                6593  12
>     nf_conntrack           61001  4
>     nf_conntrack_ftp,nf_conntrack_netbios_ns,nf_conntrack_ipv4,xt_state
>     nfnetlink              10841  2 nf_conntrack_ipv4,nf_conntrack
>     xt_tcpudp               7233  14
>     ipt_REJECT              8641  2
>     iptable_filter          6977  1
>     ip_tables              16389  1 iptable_filter
>     x_tables               18757  4 xt_state,xt_tcpudp,ipt_REJECT,ip_tables
>     cpufreq_ondemand       11981  1
>     acpi_cpufreq           14281  1
>     dm_multipath           21705  0
>     video                  21065  0
>     sbs                    19173  0
>     i2c_ec                  9281  1 sbs
>     button                 12113  0
>     dock                   13669  0
>     battery                14149  0
>     ac                      9413  0
>     lp                     15977  0
>     parport                38025  1 lp
>     loop                   19785  0
>     arc4                    6209  2
>     ecb                     7489  2
>     blkcipher              10181  1 ecb
>     rc80211_simple          8257  1
>     sdhci                  21069  0
>     serio_raw              10821  0
>     mmc_core               30661  1 sdhci
>     b44                    29517  0
>     mii                     9409  1 b44
>     iTCO_wdt               14693  0
>     pcspkr                  7105  0
>     iTCO_vendor_support     7877  1 iTCO_wdt
>     iwl3945               141477  0
>     i2c_i801               12241  0
>     intelfb                38629  0
>     mac80211              136005  2 rc80211_simple,iwl3945
>     cfg80211               12105  1 mac80211
>     i2c_algo_bit           11337  1 intelfb
>     i2c_core               24641  4 i2c_ec,i2c_i801,intelfb,i2c_algo_bit
>     sr_mod                 20197  0
>     cdrom                  37217  1 sr_mod
>     snd_hda_intel          24281  0
>     snd_hda_codec         202689  1 snd_hda_intel
>     snd_pcm                74565  2 snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec
>     snd_timer              24773  1 snd_pcm
>     snd                    53189  4
>     snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_pcm,snd_timer
>     soundcore              11553  1 snd
>     snd_page_alloc         13769  2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
>     joydev                 13441  0
>     sg                     37213  0
>     dm_snapshot            20709  0
>     dm_zero                 6209  0
>     dm_mirror              24277  0
>     dm_mod                 57229  9
>     dm_multipath,dm_snapshot,dm_zero,dm_mirror
>     ata_piix               18757  2
>     ata_generic            12101  0
>     libata                115417  2 ata_piix,ata_generic
>     sd_mod                 23873  3
>     scsi_mod              137549  4 sr_mod,sg,libata,sd_mod
>     ext3                  125385  2
>     jbd                    59881  1 ext3
>     mbcache                12357  1 ext3
>     ehci_hcd               35405  0
>     ohci_hcd               23749  0
>     uhci_hcd               26833  0
>     [ root at localhost ~]#
> 
> 
> Now all the modules that have: "Used By 0" can be thrown away because
> nothing is using it.
> that`s what i want. i don`t want to load the modules first and unload
> them at the end of the boot progress (that doesn`t speed up the boot
> progress but slows it down).
> 
> please tell me that it`s possible without recompiling the kernel :) (if
> not.. that will take serveral hours)
> 
> any ideas?
> 
You will want to be careful about removing modules just because they
are listed as used by 0. For example, the last 3 modules in the
list. They are used by 0, but if you going to use USB devices, you
are going to want them.

Mikkel
-- 

  Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons,
for thou art crunchy and taste good with Ketchup!