Question

I am compiling and installing the linux kernel. When I do make modules_install, I realize it has two links under the modules directory: build linked to where I output the compile things and source linked to where the kernel source is.

I’d like to know what are the two links doing? I copy the modules to another computer where does not have the directories build and source linked to. It works fine. Can I just remove these two links?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Those symbolic links are relevant only as far as you compile 3rd party kernel drivers – typically make scripts rely on paths like /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/build.

If you don’t intend to do this, they can be safely removed.