DKMS

Dynamic Kernel Module Support (DKMS) is a framework and set of tools that automates the building and installation of kernel modules for multiple kernel versions. It enables out-of-tree modules to be compiled against new kernels without requiring manual intervention, and is widely used for drivers and other kernel extensions that are not part of the main kernel.

A module’s source is placed in /usr/src/<name>-<version> with a dkms.conf file describing the module, its version, supported kernels, and build steps. The dkms utility can add, build, and install the module for a given kernel (for example: dkms add -m name -v version, dkms build -v version -k kernel, dkms install -m name -v version -k kernel). When a new kernel is installed, the system can automatically rebuild affected modules so they load under the new kernel. Built modules are installed into the appropriate kernel module directory and loaded with modprobe.

In practice, DKMS is used by many Linux distributions and by third-party installers to support drivers such as NVIDIA, VirtualBox, VMware, and several wireless devices. It helps maintain module compatibility after kernel upgrades and across multiple installed kernels, reducing the need for manual rebuilds and reinstallation.

Requirements and limitations include having the kernel headers and development tools installed, and some modules may not be provided in DKMS form. Closed-source drivers may impose redistribution constraints. DKMS remains a widely supported component in Linux distributions and is compatible with major kernel versions, contributing to smoother kernel module maintenance across updates.