Bug 12458

Latest working kernel version: 2.6.27
Earliest failing kernel version: 2.6.26
Distribution: SUSE 11
Hardware Environment: 
Software Environment: Linux
Problem Description:

I am facing EXPORT_SYMBOL problem for kernel "2.6.27" kernel.
If I have defined a symbol (say "a") in file "p/dir1/file1" and exported it and try to use in "p/dir2/file2" file, symbol "a" isn't accessible to "file2".

Not acceptable solution :-
Don't want to copy Module.symvers file to "p/dir2" as it introduces a dependency of "file2" on "file1". 

Note:
Run-time dependency is perfectly ok, but don't want compile time dependency.
(as in 2.6.18 kernel, check_version didn't reqd. the symbol to be present in its version table, it will return 1 (success). find_symbol (in 2.6.18) function will help find the symbol present in any other external module, and it will be used. In 2.6.26 onwards, even if find_symbol returns success, but if the external symbol isn't present in module's version table, the symbol will just not be visible to the module. ).

Most probably a bug. If not, what is the solution? (Else insmod of external modules is no longer possible - until and unless all dependent modules are compiled together.) WEIRD???


Steps to reproduce:
(1) write a simple hello world program in file say p/dir1/file1 and export a symbol "a" from it.
(2) write just another program in file say p/dir2/file2 and try using symbol "a" of p/dir1/file1.

It fails and gives kernel panic.