The new modules can absolutely be updated independently of the kernel.
The modules need to be built against your version of the kernel, but MANY versions of the modules work (and are compiled against) different kernel versions.
Just look at nvidia, a nearly duplicate version of this exact problem. They have MANY versions you can install at any given time for their cards.
But also, fundamentally… Those modules are the device drivers, regardless of whether they’re separable from the kernel. That’s part of why they’re organised under the drivers directory in the kernel source tree.
Those can’t really be updated independently of the kernel so they are effectively baked it.
Also the modules are dependent on how it is compiled you can include them in the kernel binary or you can have them separate.
……… what are you talking about?
The new modules can absolutely be updated independently of the kernel.
The modules need to be built against your version of the kernel, but MANY versions of the modules work (and are compiled against) different kernel versions.
Just look at nvidia, a nearly duplicate version of this exact problem. They have MANY versions you can install at any given time for their cards.
But also, fundamentally… Those modules are the device drivers, regardless of whether they’re separable from the kernel. That’s part of why they’re organised under the drivers directory in the kernel source tree.