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OpenBSD Drops Support For Loadable Kernel Modules

jones_supa writes: The OpenBSD developers have decided to remove support for loadable kernel modules from the BSD distribution's next release. Several commits earlier this month stripped out the loadable kernel modules support. Phoronix's Michael Larabel has not yet found an official reason for the decision to drop support. He wagers that it is due to security or code quality/openness ideals.

4 of 162 comments (clear)

  1. Phoronix, why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "...Michael Larabel has not yet found an official reason for the decision to drop support. He wagers that it is due to security or code quality/openness ideals."

    I know Phoronix is infamous, but, wow...

    The OpenBSD mailing lists are right there. You're already reading them! Many developers frequent them daily. All you need to do is post a question! Hell, send an email to Ted himself if you're that shy. Why bother writing this article without doing the most basic of research?

  2. Re:If they're doing it, it's correct. by ThePhilips · · Score: 3, Insightful

    As far as I'm concerned, the OpenBSD developers are as close to infallable as software developers could ever hope to get.

    If they've decided to do this, then it's just the correct thing to be doing.

    HP rep - a HP-UX sales guy - once told me that their kernel doesn't support loadable modules to prevent even the remote possibility of a malicious driver.

    But why OpenBSD choose to do it, I have no idea. Frankly, I was under impression that OpenBSD didn't support loadable kernel modules at all.

    To some the kernel drivers might seem a norm, but even 15 years ago they were still considered a novelty. And everybody was still making jokes about Microsoft's Plug-n-Play.

    --
    All hope abandon ye who enter here.
  3. Not Your Typical Loadable Kernel Modules by chriscappuccio · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is it. Old implementation, low quality, and NOTHING USES IT. Bye bye!

  4. Re:Djeezus by ndato · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The official changelog also says they removed LKM http://www.openbsd.org/faq/cur...