MKINITRD(8)

NAME
       mkinitrd  -  creates initial ramdisk images for preloading
       modules

SYNOPSIS
       mkinitrd [-fv] [--with=module] image kernel-version

DESCRIPTION
       mkinitrd creates filesystem images which are suitable  for
       use  as Linux initial ramdisk (initrd) images. Such images
       are often used for preloading  the  block  device  modules
       (such as SCSI or RAID) which are needed to access the root
       filesystem.    mkinitrd    automatically     loads     all
       scsi_hostadapter entries in /etc/conf.modules, which makes
       it simple to build and  use  kernels  using  moduler  SCSI
       devices.

       Any  module  options  specified  in  /etc/conf.modules are
       passed to the modules as they are loaded  by  the  initial
       ramdisk.

OPTIONS
       -f     Allows  mkinitrd  to  overwrite  an  existing image
              file.

       --ifneeded
              Only builds the image if  their  are  modules  that
              need to be loaded at boot time.

       --needs-scsi-modules
              Loads  the  'scsi_mod'  and 'sd_mod' modules before
              the hardware-specific SCSI modules, but  after  the
              --preload modules.

       --preload=module
              Load  the  module  module  in  the  initial ramdisk
              image. The module gets loaded before any SCSI  mod-
              ules  which  are  specified  in  /etc/conf.modules.
              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  mod-
              ules which are specified in /etc/conf.modules. 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.

       /etc/conf.modules   Specified  SCSI  modules  to be loaded
                           and module options to be used.

SEE ALSO
       insmod(1) kerneld(8) lilo(8) 

AUTHOR
       Erik Troan lt;ewt@redhat.com