PCINITRD(8)

NAME
       pcinitrd - create a PCMCIA initrd ram disk image

SYNOPSIS
       pcinitrd    [-v]    [-a]    [--all]    [-d alternate-root]
       [--dir=alternate-root] [-r kernel-release] [--release=ker-
       nel-release]   [-s image-size]   [--size=image-size]  [-u]
       [--update] initrd-image [modules ...]

DESCRIPTION
       The pcinitrd script creates an initrd ram disk  image  for
       booting  with  the root filesystem on a PCMCIA device.  If
       the target is a block  special  device  (i.e.,  /dev/fd0),
       then  the  initrd image is created on that device.  If the
       target does not already exist or  if  it  is  an  ordinary
       file,  then  pcinitrd will create the image file using the
       ``loopback'' device.

       Modules are specified with  paths  relative  to  /lib/mod-
       ules/[kernel-release].   The  core  PCMCIA  modules  (pcm-
       cia/pcmcia_core  and  pcmcia/ds)  will  automatically   be
       installed  in the target image.  All other device-specific
       modules need to be listed on the command line, along  with
       the  appropriate  socket  driver  (pcmcia/i82365.o or pcm-
       cia/tcic.o).  Alternatively, if -a is specified, then  all
       available  PCMCIA  socket drivers and block device drivers
       will be included in the image.

       The startup script in the resulting  image,  linuxrc,  may
       need  to  be  customized for a particular system.  It con-
       tains the same variable definitions as the  normal  PCMCIA
       startup  scripts  (i.e., PCIC=, PCIC_OPTS=, and CORE_OPTS=
       variables).  The /etc/config.opts file may also need to be
       edited.   Any  changes  to  linuxrc or config.opts will be
       preserved if pcinitrd is executed in ``update'' mode.

       Another feature of the generated linuxrc is  that  if  the
       DEBUG  variable  is  set to a non-blank string at the boot
       prompt, then cardmgr will echo all its status messages  to
       the console, and after linuxrc executes, it will fire up a
       shell on the console.  This can be helpful  for  debugging
       initrd  problems.   However, few commands are available in
       the normal initrd environment.

OPTIONS
       -v     Verbose mode.  Identify files as they are copied.

       -a, --all
              Install all socket drivers and  block-style  PCMCIA
              device  drivers,  including memory card, SCSI card,
              and fixed-disk drivers.  This  is  mainly  intended
              for use by package maintainers.

       -d alternate-root, --dir=alternate-root
              Specifies an alternate directory tree to search for
              all the files  used  to  put  together  the  initrd
              image.   This  may  be helpful for running pcinitrd
              after  booting  from  an  installation  or   rescue
              diskette.

       -r kernel-release, --release=kernel-release
              Specifies  the kernel release number (i.e., 2.0.28)
              to use when looking for  modules  in  /lib/modules.
              The default is the release of the running kernel.

       -s image-size, --size=image-size
              Specifies the filesystem size to create on the tar-
              get file or device, in 1k blocks.  The  default  is
              1440.

       -u, --update
              Update  mode:  updates  cardmgr  and all the kernel
              modules in an existing initrd image, but  does  not
              modify other files.

AUTHOR
       David Hinds - dhinds@hyper.stanford.edu

SEE ALSO
       pcmcia(5) cardmgr(8) lilo(8).