I don't even have to load the "snd_driver" kernel module

[Niatross]

I am running FreeBSD-RELEASE 9.0 (amd64).

I noticed that FreeBSD detected my sound card automatically (AKA: Ensoniq AudioPCI ES1371-A) and I did not have to load the snd_driver(4) kernel module (AKA: kldload snd_driver).

The cat /dev/sndstat command returned the following without me having to do anything:

FreeBSD Audio Driver (newpcm: 64bit 2009061500/amd64)
Installed devices:
pcm0: <AudioPCI ES1371-A> (play/rec) default

Anyway, where is this sound driver getting loaded from?

Is it getting it from the kernel? If it is getting loaded from the kernel, where do I find documentation on what sound drivers are built into the GENERIC kernel?

 

[SirDice]

I noticed that FreeBSD detected my sound card automatically (AKA: Ensoniq AudioPCI ES1371-A) and I did not have to load the snd_driver(4) kernel module (AKA: kldload snd_driver).

You don't need it anyway. It's not supposed to be loaded perminently. It's a convenience driver that simply loads all available soundcard drivers. Once you figure out which card you have simply load the specific driver.

Anyway, where is this sound driver getting loaded from?

GENERIC has a few of the more common soundcard drivers already build in.

Is it getting it from the kernel? If it is getting loaded from the kernel, where do I find documentation on what sound drivers are built into the GENERIC kernel?

Read /usr/src/sys/`uname -p`/conf/GENERIC (assuming you have the kernel sources installed)