MKINITRD(8)                                           MKINITRD(8)

NAME
       mkinitrd  -  creates initial ramdisk images for preloading
       modules

SYNOPSIS
       mkinitrd [-fv] [--with=module] [--preload=module]
                [--omit-scsi-modules] [--version] 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.

       --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 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 <ewt@redhat.com>

                         Sat Mar 27 1999                        1