Where Does DKMS Store Kernel Modules?
DKMS keeps kernel module sources in var lib dkms and rebuilds them automatically on kernel updates.
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DKMS stores out-of-tree kernel module sources under /var/lib/dkms, versioned per module. On every kernel update it rebuilds each module against the new headers automatically.
That automation is invisible until it fails. NVIDIA, VirtualBox, and Wi-Fi drivers all ride this pipeline, and a failed rebuild leaves the new kernel without them. The status command and per-version build logs in the same tree tell you exactly which module broke and why.
Where Linux stores this, by platform
/var/lib/dkms
Module sources versioned per driver, with build logs per kernel. Check dkms status after updates; failed rebuilds leave the new kernel without the driver.
Frequently asked questions
A driver broke after a kernel update. Where do I look?
Check the dkms status output and the make log for the failing version. Missing headers for the new kernel cause most failures; install them and rerun the build.
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