The “dkms” command in Linux is used to manage Dynamic Kernel Module Support (DKMS) modules. DKMS is a system that allows for the automatic installation, rebuilding, and removal of kernel modules when a new kernel version is installed or removed. Essentially, the dkms command allows you to automatically rebuild kernel modules when a new kernel version is installed, ensuring that the modules are always up-to-date and compatible with the current kernel. This is particularly useful for proprietary or third-party modules that may not be included in the official Linux kernel. The dkms command is typically used by system administrators and developers to manage and maintain kernel modules on Linux systems.
If you encounter the below error while running the command dkms:
dkms: command not found
you may try installing the below package as per your choice of distribution:
| Distribution | Command |
|---|---|
| Debian | apt-get install dkms |
| Ubuntu | apt-get install dkms |
| Arch Linux | pacman -S dkms |
| Kali Linux | apt-get install dkms |
| Fedora | dnf install dkms |
| Raspbian | apt-get install dkms |
dkms Command Examples
1. List currently installed modules:
# dkms status
2. Rebuild all modules for the currently running kernel:
# dkms autoinstall
3. Install version 1.2.1 of the acpi_call module for the currently running kernel:
# dkms install -m acpi_call -v 1.2.1
4. Remove version 1.2.1 of the acpi_call module from all kernels:
# dkms remove -m acpi_call -v 1.2.1 --all