MKINITRAMFS

MKINITRAMFS(8)                mkinitramfs manual                MKINITRAMFS(8)



NAME
       mkinitramfs - generate an initramfs image


SYNOPSIS
       mkinitramfs [-d confdir] [-k] [-o outfile] [-r root] [version]

       mkinitramfs [--supported-host-version= hversion]

       mkinitramfs [--supported-target-version= tversion]


DESCRIPTION
       The  mkinitramfs script generates an initramfs image.  The initramfs is
       a gzipped cpio archive. The archive can be used on a different  box  of
       the  same  arch  with  the  corresponding Linux kernel.  mkinitramfs is
       meant for advanced usage. On your local box update-initramfs should  do
       all necessary steps.

       At boot time, the kernel unpacks that archive into RAM disk, mounts and
       uses it as initial root file system. All finding  of  the  root  device
       happens in this early userspace.


OPTIONS
        -d  confdir
              Set an alternate configuration directory.


        -k    Keep the temporary directory used to make the image.


        -o  outfile
              Write the image to outfile.


        -r  root
              Override the ROOT setting in initramfs.conf.


       --supported-host-version=hversion
              This option queries if mkinitramfs can create ramdisks on a run-
              ning kernel of version hversion.


       --supported-target-version=tversion
              This option queries if mkinitramfs can create ramdisks for  ker-
              nel version tversion.


FILES
       /etc/initramfs-tools/initramfs.conf
              The   default   configuration   file   for   the   script.   See
              initramfs.conf(5) for a description of the available  configura-
              tion parameter.


       /etc/initramfs-tools/modules
              Specified  modules will be put in the generated image and loaded
              when the system boots. The format - one per line - is  identical
              to that of /etc/modules, which is described in modules(5).


       /etc/initramfs-tools/conf.d
              The  conf.d  directory  allows to hardcode bootargs at initramfs
              build time via config snippets.  This  allows  to  set  ROOT  or
              RESUME.  This is especially useful for bootloaders, which do not
              pass an root bootarg.


       /etc/initramfs-tools/DSDT.aml
              If this file exists, it will be appended to the initramfs  in  a
              way that causes it to be loaded by ACPI.



AUTHOR
       The  initramfs-tools  are  written by Jeff Bailey <jbailey AT ubuntu.com>.
       This manual is maintained by Maximilian Attems <maks AT sternwelten.at>.


SEE ALSO
        initramfs.conf(5), initramfs-tools(8), update-initramfs(8).



                              $Date: 2006/08/12 $               MKINITRAMFS(8)