Red Hat Enterprise Linux: Compiling and installing drivers using source code

In this article, we take the X710 network interface controller (NIC) as an example. Other Linux source codes are similar to work with.

Install the required packages for compilation:

[root@rhel87 ~]# yum groupinstall "Development Tools"
[root@rhel87 ~]# yum install kernel-devel-$(uname -r)

1.) Download the driver from the Dell Support Portal.
2.) Extract and get the source code:

[root@rhel87 i40e]# tar xf Intel_LAN_21.5.0_Linux_Source_A02.tar.gz
[root@rhel87 i40e]# cd Source/base_driver/
[root@rhel87 base_driver]# tar xf i40e-2.20.12.tar.gz
[root@rhel87 base_driver]# cd i40e-2.20.12/
[root@rhel87 i40e-2.20.12]# ls
COPYING  i40e.7  i40e.spec  pci.updates  README  scripts  src  SUMS
root@rhel87 i40e-2.20.12]# cd src/
[root@rhel87 src]# ls
auxiliary.c         i40e_client.h   i40e_diag.c           i40e_hmc.c        i40e_ptp.c          i40e_virtchnl_pf.c  kcompat_impl.h         linux
auxiliary_compat.h  i40e_common.c   i40e_diag.h           i40e_hmc.h        i40e_register.h     i40e_virtchnl_pf.h  kcompat_overflow.h     Makefile
common.mk           i40e_dcb.c      i40e_ethtool.c        i40e_lan_hmc.c    i40e_status.h       i40e_xsk.c          kcompat_rhel_defs.h    Module.supported
i40e_adminq.c       i40e_dcb.h      i40e_ethtool_stats.h  i40e_lan_hmc.h    i40e_trace.h        i40e_xsk.h          kcompat_sles_defs.h    virtchnl.h
i40e_adminq_cmd.h   i40e_dcb_nl.c   i40e_filters.c        i40e_main.c       i40e_txrx.c         kcompat.c           kcompat_std_defs.h
i40e_adminq.h       i40e_ddp.c      i40e_filters.h        i40e_nvm.c        i40e_txrx_common.h  kcompat_defs.h      kcompat_ubuntu_defs.h
i40e_alloc.h        i40e_debugfs.c  i40e.h                i40e_osdep.h      i40e_txrx.h         kcompat_gcc.h       kcompat_vfd.c
i40e_client.c       i40e_devids.h   i40e_helper.h         i40e_prototype.h  i40e_type.h         kcompat.h           kcompat_vfd.h

3.) Compile the driver:

[root@rhel87 src]# make
*** The target kernel has CONFIG_MODULE_SIG_ALL enabled, but
*** the signing key cannot be found. Module signing has been
*** disabled for this build.
make[1]: Entering directory '/usr/src/kernels/4.18.0-80.el8.x86_64'
/root/i40e/Source/base_driver/i40e-2.20.12/src/Makefile:38: 2
  CC [M]  /root/i40e/Source/base_driver/i40e-2.20.12/src/i40e_main.o
...skipped...
  LD [M]  /root/i40e/Source/base_driver/i40e-2.20.12/src/i40e.o
  CC [M]  /root/i40e/Source/base_driver/i40e-2.20.12/src/auxiliary.o
  Building modules, stage 2.
/root/i40e/Source/base_driver/i40e-2.20.12/src/Makefile:38: 2
  MODPOST 2 modules
  CC      /root/i40e/Source/base_driver/i40e-2.20.12/src/auxiliary.mod.o
  LD [M]  /root/i40e/Source/base_driver/i40e-2.20.12/src/auxiliary.ko
  CC      /root/i40e/Source/base_driver/i40e-2.20.12/src/i40e.mod.o
  LD [M]  /root/i40e/Source/base_driver/i40e-2.20.12/src/i40e.ko
make[1]: Leaving directory '/usr/src/kernels/4.18.0-80.el8.x86_64'
[root@rhel87 src]# echo $?
0
[root@rhel87 src]# modinfo ./i40e.ko
filename:       /root/i40e/Source/base_driver/i40e-2.20.12/src/./i40e.ko
version:        2.20.12
license:        GPL
description:    Intel(R) 40-10 Gigabit Ethernet Connection Network Driver
author:         Intel Corporation, <e1000-devel@lists.sourceforge.net>
rhelversion:    8.0
srcversion:     A92CB6A1AD515E14A84C283
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000158Bsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
...skipped...
alias:          pci:v00008086d00001572sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
depends:        auxiliary
name:           i40e
vermagic:       4.18.0-80.el8.x86_64 SMP mod_unload modversions
parm:           debug:Debug level (0=none,...,16=all) (int)
parm:           l4mode:L4 cloud filter mode: 0=UDP,1=TCP,2=Both,-1=Disabled(default) (int)
[root@rhel87 src]#

3.a) Issue troubleshooting: If you saw error as following when running the command "make," like the below:

common.mk:82: *** Kernel header files not in any of the expected locations.
common.mk:83: *** Install the appropriate kernel development package, e.g.
common.mk:84: *** kernel-devel, for building kernel modules and try again.  Stop.

Ensure the package "kernel-devel" with the same kernel version installed (in the first step):

[root@rhel87 ~]# yum install kernel-devel-$(uname -r)

3.b) Issue troubleshooting: Test the driver before installing. If you received the following error: "Required key not available." It means that the server has "Secure Boot" enabled which is not allowed to load self-compiled drivers. You can boot into BIOS to disable "Secure Boot."

[root@rhel87 src]# modprobe -r i40e
[root@rhel87 src]# insmod ./i40e.ko
insmod: ERROR: could not insert module ./i40e.ko: Required key not available

4.) Install the driver:

[root@rhel87 src]# make install

5.) Reboot the server and the new driver loads automatically when the OS is booting.
 

Optional:

To create an RPM for installing this driver on other servers with the same kernel version, run the following commands:

[root@rhel87 src]# cd ../..

[root@rhel87 base_driver]# ls -lh i40e-2.20.12.tar.gz

-rw-r--r-- 1 5714316 1049089 673K Jul 11  2022 i40e-2.20.12.tar.gz

[root@rhel87 base_driver]# rpmbuild -tb i40e-2.20.12.tar.gz

...skipped...

[root@rhel87 base_driver]# ls /root/rpmbuild/RPMS/x86_64/

Copy the RPM to the target server to install.