MKINITRD(8) MKINITRD(8)
NAME
mkinitrd - creates initial ramdisk images for preloading modules
SYNOPSIS
mkinitrd [--version] [-v] [-f]
[--preload=module] [--omit-scsi-modules]
[--omit-raid-modules] [--omit-lvm-modules]
[--with=module] [--image-version]
[--fstab=fstab] [--nocompress]
[--builtin=module] [--nopivot]
image kernel-version
DESCRIPTION
mkinitrd creates an initial image used by the kernel for preloading the block device mod-
ules (such as IDE, SCSI or RAID) which are needed to access the root filesystem. mkinitrd
automatically loads filesystem modules (such as ext3 and jbd), IDE modules, all
scsi_hostadapter entries in /etc/modprobe.conf, and raid modules if the system's root par-
tition is on raid, which makes it simple to build and use kernels using modular device
drivers.
Any module options specified in /etc/modprobe.conf are passed to the modules as they are
loaded by the initial ramdisk.
The root filesystem used by the kernel is specified in the boot configuration file, as
always. The traditional root=/dev/hda1 style device specification is allowed. If a label
is used, as in root=LABEL=rootPart the initrd will search all available devices for an
ext2 or ext3 filesystem with the appropriate label, and mount that device as the root
filesystem.
OPTIONS
--builtin=module
Act as if module is built into the kernel being used. mkinitrd will not look for
this module, and will not emit an error if it does not exist. This option may be
used multiple times.
-f Allows mkinitrd to overwrite an existing image file.
--fstab=fstab
Use fstab to automatically determine what type of filesystem the root device is on.
Normally, /etc/fstab is used.
--image-version
The kernel version number is appended to the initrd image path before the image is
created.
--nocompress
Normally the created initrd image is compressed with gzip. If this option is speci-
fied, the compression is skipped.
--nopivot
Do not use the pivot_root system call as part of the initrd. This lets mkinitrd
build proper images for Linux 2.2 kernels at the expense of some features. In par-
ticular, some filesystems (such as ext3) will not work properly and filesystem
options will not be used to mount root. This option is not recommended, and will be
removed in future versions.
--omit-lvm-modules
Do not load any lvm modules, even if /etc/fstab expects them.
--omit-raid-modules
Do not load any raid modules, even if /etc/fstab and /etc/raidtab expect them.
--omit-scsi-modules
Do not load any scsi modules, including 'scsi_mod' and 'sd_mod' modules, even if
they are present.
--preload=module
Load the module module in the initial ramdisk image. The module gets loaded before
any SCSI modules which are specified in /etc/modprobe.conf. This option may be
used as many times as necessary.
-v Prints out verbose information while creating the image (normally the mkinitrd runs
silently).
--version
Prints the version of mkinitrd that's being used and then exits.
--with=module
Load the modules module in the initial ramdisk image. The module gets loaded after
any SCSI modules which are specified in /etc/modprobe.conf. This option may be used
as many times as necessary.
FILES
/dev/loop* A block loopback device is used to create the image, which makes this
script useless on systems without block loopback support available
(only used on kernels < 2.6)
/etc/modprobe.conf Specifies SCSI modules to be loaded and module options to be used.
/etc/modules.conf Specifies SCSI modules to be loaded and module options to be used.
(only used on kernels < 2.6)
SEE ALSO
fstab(5), insmod(1), kerneld(8), lilo(8)
AUTHOR
Erik Troan <>
Tue Aug 10 2004 MKINITRD(8)
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