When plugging a USB device into a Linux machine, the kernel automatically identifies vendor IDs and loads the exact kernel driver module (.ko) required. This automatic device matching relies on MODALIAS uevent broadcasts.

Tracing MODALIAS Strings in sysfs

Terminal Commandsbash
# Read MODALIAS string for a USB device in sysfs
cat /sys/bus/usb/devices/1-1/modalias
# Output: usb:v18D1p4EE7d0223dc00dsc00dp00icFFisc42ip01in00
 
# Query module matching the MODALIAS string via modprobe
modprobe -R "usb:v18D1p4EE7d0223dc00dsc00dp00icFFisc42ip01in00"