+.SH "The ``load\-kmod'' command"
+.
+.PP
+The \fBload\-kmod\fR command loads the openvswitch kernel modules if
+they are not already loaded. This operation also occurs as part of
+the \fBstart\fR command. The motivation for providing the \fBload\-kmod\fR
+command is to allow errors when loading modules to be handled separatetly
+from other errors that may occur when running the \fBstart\fR command.
+.
+.PP
+By default the \fBload\-kmod\fR command attempts to load the
+openvswitch kernel module. If the \fB\-\-brcompat\fR option is
+specified then the brcompat kernel module is also loaded.
+.