Linux驱动中的EXPORT_SYMBOL

一、什么是symbol

In a programming language, a symbol is either a variable or a function. Or more generally, we can say, a symbol is a name representing space in the memory, which stores data (variable, for reading and writing) or instructions (function, for executing).

When some symbols (variables or functions) are using EXPORT_SYMBOL macro (ex. EXPORT_SYMBOL(func_name)), those symbols are exposed to all the loadable kernel drivers. You can call them directly in your kernel module without modifying the kernel code. In other words, It tells the kbuild mechanism that the symbol referred to should be part of the global list of kernel symbols. That allows the kernel modules to access them.

EXPORT_SYMBOL exports the symbol to any loadable module.
EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL exports the symbol only to GPL-licensed modules.

二、如何使用EXPORT_SYMBOL

• Declare and define the symbol (functions or variables) which you want to make it visible to other kernel modules. Then below the definition, use EXPORT_SYMBOL(symbol name). Now it is visible to all loadable modules.
• Now take the kernel driver who is gonna use the above-exported symbol. Declare the symbol using extern. Then use the symbol directly.
• Finally, load the module first, who has the definition of the export symbol. Then load the caller module using insmod“.

三、驱动示例

/***************************************************************************//**
*  \file       driver1.c
*
*  \details    Simple Linux device driver (EXPORT_SYMBOL)
*
*  \author     EmbeTronicX
*
*  \Tested with Linux raspberrypi 5.10.27-v7l-embetronicx-custom+
*
*******************************************************************************/
#include <linux/kernel.h>
#include <linux/init.h>
#include <linux/module.h>
#include <li