What command can be used to probe dependencies for currently installed kernel modules?

The command that can be used to probe dependencies for currently installed kernel modules is depmod. This command scans the module dependencies and creates a dependency file that holds information about the modules available in the system. When using depmod, the output includes which modules depend on others, along with their paths, thus allowing the Linux kernel to manage and load them efficiently based on their interdependencies.

For instance, before loading a module, it is essential to understand what other modules it depends on to avoid any loading issues. If a kernel module is loaded without its dependencies, it could fail to function properly; hence, knowing these dependencies is crucial for system stability and performance.

While modprobe serves a role in managing module dependencies, its primary function is to load modules along with any of their dependencies. lsmod is used to list currently loaded modules but does not provide dependency information. The insmod command is specifically for inserting a module into the Linux kernel without resolving dependencies, which can cause problems if the necessary dependencies are not already loaded.

This context illustrates why depmod is the appropriate command for probing dependencies for installed kernel modules.