Question regarding EXPORT_SYMBOL again

[jeff_zzz2001@yahoo.com]

Hi,

I'm pretty new to kernel programming in linux, and got this question in my
mind when I read some articles regarding loadable kernel module(LKM), as
well as the questions-answers in this mailing list about the "EXPORT_SYMBOL"
a while ago.

It seems to me that "EXPORT_SYMBOL" can be used to "make those symbols
visible to the rest of the kernel". But even without using it, aren't the
symbols in my module still visible/accessible by the rest of the kernel?
After all, kernel is a big, single program, with all the symbols in the same
address space.

I think I probably didn't fully understand what exactly "EXPORT_SYMBOL" do?
Could someone give me some hints here?

Thanks.

--Jeff D.



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