init_module, cleanup_module - module load and unload
       functions

SYNOPSIS

       #include <linux/module.h>
       #include <linux/modversions.h>

       int init_module(void);
       void cleanup_module(void);

DESCRIPTION

       These functions are not  part  of  the  kernel  but  entry
       points  into  loadable modules. These are the only symbols
       that must be externally defined in order to load a  module
       into a running kernel.

       When  a  module  is  loaded  into  a  running  kernel, the
       init_module(9) function within that object file is  called
       to  set up the module. The implementation of that function
       initializes local features and uses functions such as reg­
       ister_chrdev(9)  to  attach  itself to the kernel. It then
       returns zero(0) if it succeeds. If there is a  problem  or
       the  module  decides  that it cannot be loaded, it returns
       instead an error  code  (i.e.   -ENODEV)  and  the  kernel
       releases the module again.

       Once loaded, the cleanup_module(9) function of a module is
       used by the kernel to remove the module again. The  module
       detaches itself from the kernel and returns.

RETURN VALUE

       The  init_module(9)  function  returns 0 on success, or an
       error code <0 if the module cannot be initialized.

AVAILABILITY

       Linux 1.0+

SEE ALSO

       MOD_INC_USE_COUNT(9), insmod(1)

       Also list some source files for the kernel that  implement
       the functions of the page.

AUTHOR

       Stephen Williams <steve@icarus.com>

BUGS

       It  is entirely up to the driver to be sure it is detached
       from the kernel when unloaded. If a module makes an  error
       in this regard, bad things may happen.