ipmi_si module is missing and can't be found

Question

Looked all over google and stackoverflow; can't find an answer to this "simple" problem.

Background: I have a Supermicro server running centos 6.5 kernal 2.6.32-431.29.2.el6.x86_64. I have been trying to configure IPMI, and after much troubleshooting, I realize that the problem is likely due to the ipmi_si (and ipmi_msghandler) module not being present. I believe that the only way to obtain these modules is by upgrading the kernel:

[blah@localhost]$ yum provides "*/ipmi_msg*.ko"
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, refresh-packagekit, security
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * base: centos.mirror.constant.com
 * epel: ftp.osuosl.org
 * extras: linux.cc.lehigh.edu
 * updates: mirror.metrocast.net
kernel-debug-2.6.32-504.el6.x86_64 : The Linux kernel compiled with extra debugging enabled
Repo        : base
Matched from:
Filename    : /lib/modules/2.6.32-    504.el6.x86_64.debug/kernel/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_msghandler.ko

kernel-2.6.32-504.el6.x86_64 : The Linux kernel
Repo        : base
Matched from:
Filename    : /lib/modules/2.6.32-       504.el6.x86_64/kernel/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_msghandler.ko

...etc

Agreed? I'd rather obtain these modules without upgrading the kernel. Furthermore, assuming that I must upgrade the kernel, can someone confirm that the reason for this is simply that those modules are not "compatible" with the current kernel?

Thanks.

Solution

On your system (Centos 6.5 kernel 2.6.32-431) ipmi_si module is not present because it's built-in in the kernel. Double check with the following command:

[root@host ~]# cat /proc/kallsyms  | grep init_ipmi_si
ffffffff814fb086 t init_ipmi_si
ffffffff81d26f50 t __initcall_init_ipmi_si6

init_ipmi_si is the initialization function of the ipmi_si module. Same applies to ipmi_msghandler (look for ipmi_init_msghandler). So, your issues must be related to something else.

Have you loaded ipmi_devintf instead? Do you have a /dev/ipmiX device?