modulesaliasbin

Modulesaliasbin is a term used to describe a binary-encoded index of module alias mappings in system module loading workflows. It is conceptually related to the traditional text-based modules.alias file used by kernel packaging tools, but exists as a compiled or binary form intended to accelerate alias lookups during module resolution.

In Linux-like environments, the standard source of alias information is the modules.alias file found under /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/, which is generated by depmod and consumed by tools such as modprobe. Modulesaliasbin, when present, functions as a compiled counterpart that enables faster access to alias-to-module mappings by loading a prebuilt database into memory or into a dedicated cache.

Structure and storage of modulesaliasbin typically involve a compact binary database containing records that map alias strings (for example PCI IDs, USB IDs, or other hardware identifiers) to their corresponding module filenames. The data structure may employ a hash table or a prefix tree to support rapid exact or prefix matching, reducing the overhead of on-demand file scanning during device initialization.

Generation and maintenance of a binary alias index usually occur during module packaging or kernel updates. A depmod-like process or a distribution-specific script can build or refresh the binary index, ensuring it remains synchronized with the installed modules and hardware support in the running kernel.

Usage entails the module loader consulting the binary index to resolve an alias to a module without traversing the filesystem, improving boot times on systems with large module sets. However, maintaining consistency with the live module environment is essential to avoid loading failures or stale mappings.

See also: modules.alias, depmod, modprobe, Linux kernel, device identification.