Chapter 9. Modules

The use of modules is a standard practice in well-designed programs. The Linux kernel for instance makes use of modules. The kernel itself is very small with basic functionality. This functionality is extended by loading kernel modules. The kernel will, for instance, load a module for the display card or load a module for the Wi-Fi network card. This allows for the exclusion of unnecessary functionality, which in turn results in a faster and more secure system.

FreeRADIUS follows the same philosophy and can be extended with ease. This allows you to run a fast and secure server; however, this server's functionality can be extended easily through the use of modules.

The aim of this chapter is to give you a thorough understanding of modules as a core component of the FreeRADIUS server. This will help you to populate the various sections that can be contained inside a virtual server definition with more wisdom and better understanding.

In this chapter we shall...