Disabling Linux Device

There is two ways to disable a device on Linux, at boot time and at runtime:

1. Execute: sudo lspci -k
2. Find the device you are trying to disable and search for the Kernel modules: line.

Both of this steps work for Boot time and runtime

At Boot Time

1. Use the command: lsmod | grep <kernel_module> to see if the module is enabled first.
2. Blacklist the kernel module creating a /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf file.
3. Inside the file, write one line containing blacklist <kernel_module>, replacing <kernel_module> by the kernel module you want to disable.
4. Regenerate the initramfs using the following command:
   • In Arch Linux:

   sudo mkinitcpio -P

   • In Debian:

   sudo depmod -ae

   update-initramfs -u

5. Reboot
6. Verify that the module has been removed by running: lsmod | grep <kernel_module>. If the module is no longer listed, the module has been disabled and the device will be ignored by the Linux kernel.

At Runtime

1. Use the command: lsmod | grep <kernel_module> to see if the module is enabled first.
2. Use the command: sudo modprobe -r <kernel_module> to disable the module.
3. Verify that the module has been removed by running: lsmod | grep <kernel_module>. If the module is no longer listed, the module has been disabled and the device will be ignored by the Linux kernel.

See also

• Blacklisting modules - ArchWiki
• KernelModuleBlacklisting - Debian