MKINITRAMFS(8)		      mkinitramfs manual		MKINITRAMFS(8)



NAME
       mkinitramfs - low-level tool for generating an initramfs image


SYNOPSIS
       mkinitramfs [-d confdir] [-k] -o outfile [-r root] [-v] [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  calls
       mkinitramfs  with  the  relevant  parameters.   update-initramfs  keeps
       sha1sum of generated initramfs. It takes care to generate  backups  and
       eventually runs the bootloader.

       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.


	-v    Set the verbose mode output.


	version
	      Set  the	kernel version of the initramfs image (defaults to the
	      running kernel).


       --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
	      configuration 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.


EXAMPLES
       Create an initramfs for current running kernel:


       mkinitramfs -o ~/tmp/initramfs-$(uname -r)

       Create an initramfs for specific kernel and keep builddirs:


       mkinitramfs -k -o ~/tmp/initramfs-2.6.21-686 2.6.21-686

       Debug initramfs creation (check out written logfile)

       sh -x mkinitramfs -o ~/tmp/initramfs-$(uname -r) 2> ~/tmp/log


AUTHOR
       The initramfs-tools are written by Maximilian Attems ,
       Jeff Bailey  and numerous others.


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



				  2008/08/12			MKINITRAMFS(8)