I'm using openwrt (backfire branch) on some custom hardware and having some issues with getting kernel modules built and loaded at runtime.  I don't want them built and loaded as packages but as normal kernel modules.  So is the proper method to (1) use make menuconfig, then go enable desired modules under 'Kernel modules' or (2) use make kernel_menuconfig and enable desired modules within the kernel config environment?  Which method takes priority over the other?  Which method results in the kernel modules being loaded automatically (by /etc/init.d/boot loading whatever is defined in /etc/modules.d/*) at system startup? 

Thanks.