dh_dkms

dh_dkms [debhelper options] [--dlmod=<MODULE>]

--dlmod=<MODULE>
    Sets DKMS module name (default: package name minus -dkms or -source suffixes).

--package=<PACKAGE>, -p<PACKAGE>
    Operate only on specified package (standard debhelper option).

-v, --verbose
    Verbose operation (standard debhelper option).

--no-act, -n
    Show what would be done without acting (standard debhelper option).

dh_dkms is a debhelper(7) program that automates packaging of kernel modules using Dynamic Kernel Module Support (DKMS). DKMS ensures modules are automatically rebuilt for new kernels, maintaining compatibility.

Key operations:
During package build, dh_dkms:
- Installs module source to debian/<package>/usr/src/<module>-<version>/.
- Locates dkms.conf from standard paths (debian/<pkg>.dkms/, debian/, source root).
- Generates maintainer scripts for DKMS management: dkms add in postinst, dkms remove in prerm, status checks, etc.

This creates -dkms or -source packages installable via apt, ideal for out-of-tree modules like VirtualBox or NVIDIA.

Integration:
Use in debian/rules via dh $@ --with dkms (requires debhelper >= 9). Module name auto-derives from package (strips -dkms, -source); version from source or dkms.conf.

Supports multi-package builds; skips if no dkms.conf found. Build-Depends: dkms.

Requires dkms in Build-Depends. Needs valid dkms.conf; version must match upstream_version (no ~ or +). Source must be complete build tree. Not for binary-only modules. Test with dkms mkdeb.

1. debian/<package>.dkms/dkms.conf
2. debian/dkms.conf
3. dkms.conf (source root)

DH_DKMS_DIRS: Space-separated dirs to copy (default: . or debian/dkms/)

override_dh_auto_build:
  make modules
dh $@ --with dkms

Introduced in debhelper 7.4.9 (2009) for standardized DKMS source packaging in Debian. Evolved with debhelper v9+ sequences and multiarch support.

dkms(8), dh(1), debhelper(7), dkms.conf(5)