special-tools

🧩 How to install custom kernel modules

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This guide explains how to "install" your newly compiled kernel modules (.ko files) into a stock boot image, like vendor_boot.img or vendor_dlkm.img.

The method is simple: you replace the original module directory with your new one.

What you need

1. An unpacked stock image (the contents of your vendor_boot.img).
2. The prepared lib/modules folder created by our lkm_installer script.

You will also need a tool to unpack and repack the image. I use Android_boot_image_editor.

The steps

1. Unpack: Unpack the stock vendor_boot.img. This will give you a directory with the original files.

2. Nuke: Go into the unpacked directory and completely delete the original lib/modules folder.

3. Replace: Copy the new lib/modules folder (the one created by our script) into the unpacked directory where the old one used to be.

4. Repack: Use your tool to repack the modified directory back into a flashable .img file.

That's it. The new image now contains all of your custom-built kernel modules.

Example run of the script

gitpod /workspace/gitpod/hi (main) $ ./do.sh

Enter the full path to the STOCK modules.dep file: /workspace/gitpod/android_kernel_a166p/custom_defconfigs/modules.dep

Enter the full path to the STOCK modules.load file (for the final step): /workspace/gitpod/android_kernel_a166p/custom_defconfigs/vendor_boot.modules.load

Enter the full path to the CUSTOM compiled module directory (.../staging/lib/modules/kernel_version folder): /workspace/gitpod/android_kernel_a166p/out/target/product/a16xm/obj/KERNEL_OBJ/staging/lib/modules/5.15.167-android13-8-ravindu644-dev

Enter the full path to the System.map file: /workspace/gitpod/android_kernel_a166p/out/target/product/a16xm/obj/KERNEL_OBJ/dist/System.map

Enter the full path to the llvm-strip tool: /workspace/gitpod/android_kernel_a166p/kernel/prebuilts/clang/host/linux-x86/clang-r450784e/bin/llvm-strip

Enter the full path for the FINAL output directory: /workspace/gitpod/hi/vendor_boot

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