Problem compiling a kernel module

Question

I am trying to compile a driver for a USB to serial converter.

I've ran the following commands based on a previous thread:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo rpi-update

I then downloaded rpi-source and ran it without any errors:

rpi-source

When running make in the root directory of the I receive the following error:

make -C /lib/modules/4.9.25-v7+/build SUBDIRS=/home/pi/dmx_usb_module modules
make[1]: Entering directory '/home/pi/linux-525571c4df4066a61166b4b44cf5d757c2c53f5e'
  CC [M]  /home/pi/dmx_usb_module/dmx_usb.o
  Building modules, stage 2.
  MODPOST 1 modules
FATAL: parse error in symbol dump file
scripts/Makefile.modpost:91: recipe for target '__modpost' failed
make[2]: *** [__modpost] Error 1
Makefile:1493: recipe for target 'modules' failed
make[1]: *** [modules] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory '/home/pi/linux-525571c4df4066a61166b4b44cf5d757c2c53f5e'
Makefile:15: recipe for target 'default' failed
make: *** [default] Error 2

I've managed to compile this driver on two seperate Ubuntu desktop installations with no problem.

Any ideas? Thanks

UPDATE

I've changed the kernel back to 4.450. When I run uname -r:

4.4.50-v7+

I re-ran the rpi-source script with no errors. In the kernel source directory I have ran the following commands with no errors:

make prepare
make headers_check
make headers_install
make scripts

However, when running make from the driver folder I received the same error as above:

make -C /lib/modules/4.4.50-v7+/build SUBDIRS=/home/pi/dmx_usb_module modules
make[1]: Entering directory '/home/pi/linux-e223d71ef728c559aa865d0c5a4cedbdf8789cfd'
  Building modules, stage 2.
  MODPOST 1 modules
FATAL: parse error in symbol dump file
scripts/Makefile.modpost:91: recipe for target '__modpost' failed
make[2]: *** [__modpost] Error 1
Makefile:1405: recipe for target 'modules' failed
make[1]: *** [modules] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory '/home/pi/linux-e223d71ef728c559aa865d0c5a4cedbdf8789cfd'
Makefile:15: recipe for target 'default' failed
make: *** [default] Error 2

Here is the Makefile:

#
# $Id: Makefile 38 2004-09-11 11:15:09Z erwin $
#

ifneq ($(KERNELRELEASE),)

obj-m := dmx_usb.o

else

KDIR    := /lib/modules/$(shell uname -r)/build
PWD     := $(shell pwd)

default:
        $(MAKE) -C $(KDIR) SUBDIRS=$(PWD) modules
        gcc -O2 -pipe -Wall dmx_usb_test.c -o dmx_usb_test

endif

clean:
        rm -f *.o *.ko
        rm -f dmx_usb_test
        rm -f dmx_usb.mod.c
        rm -f .dmx_usb.*
        rm -rf .tmp_versions
        rm -f Module.markers  modules.order  Module.symvers

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 29 '17 at 22:47

Your first mistake is in running rpi-update

"In normal circumstances there is NEVER a need to run rpi-update as it always gets you to the leading edge firmware and kernel and because that may be a testing version it could leave your RPi unbootable". https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=916911#p916911 Even the rpi-update documentation now warns "Even on Raspbian you should only use this with a good reason. This gets you the latest bleeding edge kernel/firmware."

sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install --reinstall raspberrypi-bootloader raspberrypi-kernel will put it back to the stock kernel/bootcode.

THEN check that you have kernel headers which match the kernel you are using and try again. The current supported kernel is 4.4.50

I've updated the OP, still running into the same issue when trying to compile on 4.4.50 with correct headers — MO92, Apr 30 '17 at 17:53

Problem compiling a kernel module

1 Answers1