MKINITFS(1)

📦
version 3.14.1 · 3 versions
, in alpine 3.24

🌸 mkinitfs — the manual, bestie edition ✨

Okay so this is the MKINITFS(1) manual page (it lives in the "Early startup" section, slay) and I'm about to give you the whole tea on mkinitfs. No cap. 💅

🌈 NAME 🌈

mkinitfs — Generate an initramfs. That's the whole vibe, bestie. 🎀

✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

mkinitfs [OPTIONS] [KERNELVERSION]

🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

Okay so here's the tea: mkinitfs collects files from the root file system and creates a compressed initramfs from it. Periodt. Like, it's literally giving "build me a tiny early-userspace world" energy and I'm obsessed. 💖

💅 OPTIONS 💅

  • -b BASEDIR — Don't use files from the root file system — use the specified path instead. It's giving "bring your own base directory" energy. 🫶
  • -c CONFIGFILE — Use configfile instead of /etc/mkinitfs/mkinitfs.conf. Lowkey a vibe check for your config. ✨
  • -C ALGORITHM — Compress the initramfs using gzip (that's the default, bestie), xz, zstd, lz4 or none. Pick your fighter. 🔥
  • -f FSTAB — Use fstab instead of /usr/share/mkinitfs/fstab. Highkey useful if your fstab is doing main character things. 💀
  • -F FEATURES — Use the specified features. Simple as that, fr fr. 🧚
  • -h — Print this help. The classic "help me help you" moment. 🙈
  • -i INITFILE — Use initfile as init instead of /usr/share/mkinitfs/initramfs-init. Not me swapping the first program in early userspace like it's nothing. 👑
  • -k — Do not clean up temporary files. Leave the mess, iconic behavior. 🎀
  • -K — Also copy host apk keys to the initramfs. Gotta bring the keys to the party. 🔑
  • -l — Do a dry run and only list files that would have been used. Literally the "window shopping" flag. 🛍️
  • -L — List all available features. The way this just shows you the whole menu, slay. 📋
  • -n — Don't include kernel modules or firmware into the initramfs. Minimalist era. ✨
  • -o OUTFILE — Set another outfile. Choose your own destination, bestie. 🦋
  • -P FEATURESDIR — Prepend the features.d search path. Use this if you want to define your own features outside of the system-wide directories. Custom features? We love to see it. 💜
  • -q — Quiet mode. Shhh, it's giving stealth. 🤫
  • -s — Include modloop signature. Signature move, literally. 💅
  • -t TMPDIR — Use tempdir when creating the initramfs image. Temporary but make it fashion. 🌸

🎀 FILES 🎀

  • /etc/mkinitfs/mkinitfs.conf — Default configuration file. It contains the list of default features in the format of features="...". Your starting point, bestie. 💖
  • /etc/mkinitfs/features.d/FEATURE.modules — Contains a list of kernel modules. Using the feature will cause the given kernel modules to be included in the initramfs. The modules are given by their filesystem paths, relative to /lib/modules/KERNELVERSION/. Like a guest list for modules. 🫶
  • /etc/mkinitfs/features.d/FEATURE.files — Contains a list of absolute file names which will be included into the generated initramfs if the feature is enabled. The "you're invited" list for files. ✨
  • /usr/share/mkinitfs/initramfs-init — Shell script which will be placed as /init in the initramfs. This functions as the first executed program in early userspace. The main character of early boot, no cap. 👑

🌟 AUTHOR 🌟

Written by Natanael Copa <ncopa@alpinelinux.org>, Timo Teräs <timo.teras@iki.fi> and others. Legends, fr fr. 🙌

🐛 REPORTING BUGS 🐛

Alpine Linux GitLab: https://gitlab.alpinelinux.org/alpine/mkinitfs/-/issues — go snitch (kindly) if something's off. 💀

👀 SEE ALSO 👀

mkinitfs-bootparam(7) — the sequel you didn't know you needed. 🍓

This page is from mkinitfs 3.14.1-r0, dated July 2018 — it's the MKINITFS(1) manual, iykyk. Mwah, love you, bye! 💋✨

📦 where this page comes from