]> git.ipfire.org Git - thirdparty/dracut.git/blame - dracut.8.asc
dracut.sh: Fix [no-]early-microcode parameter and add documentation.
[thirdparty/dracut.git] / dracut.8.asc
CommitLineData
888d53f2
HH
1DRACUT(8)
2=========
3:doctype: manpage
4:man source: dracut
5:man manual: dracut
6
7NAME
8----
9dracut - low-level tool for generating an initramfs image
10
11SYNOPSIS
12--------
13*dracut* ['OPTION...'] [<image> [_<kernel version>_]]
14
15DESCRIPTION
16-----------
4c3be42c
HH
17
18Create an initramfs <image> for the kernel with the version <kernel version>.
19If <kernel version> is omitted, then the version of the actual running
20kernel is used. If <image> is omitted or empty, then the default location
21/boot/initramfs-<kernel version>.img is used.
22
888d53f2
HH
23dracut creates an initial image used by the kernel for preloading the block
24device modules (such as IDE, SCSI or RAID) which are needed to access the root
25filesystem, mounting the root filesystem and booting into the real system.
26
27At boot time, the kernel unpacks that archive into RAM disk, mounts and uses it
28as initial root file system. All finding of the root device happens in this
29early userspace.
30
4c3be42c
HH
31For a complete list of kernel command line options see *dracut.cmdline*(7).
32
64d144ae 33If you are dropped to an emergency shell, while booting your initramfs,
c33488fe 34the file _/run/initramfs/rdsosreport.txt_ is created, which can be safed to a
64d144ae
HH
35(to be mounted by hand) partition (usually /boot) or a USB stick.
36Additional debugging info can be produced by adding **rd.debug** to the kernel command line.
c33488fe 37_/run/initramfs/rdsosreport.txt_ contains all logs and the output of some tools.
64d144ae
HH
38It should be attached to any report about dracut problems.
39
4c3be42c
HH
40EXAMPLE
41-------
42
43To create a initramfs image, the most simple command is:
44----
45# dracut
46----
47
48This will generate a general purpose initramfs image, with all possible
49functionality resulting of the combination of the installed dracut modules and
50system tools. The image is /boot/initramfs-_++<kernel version>++_.img and
51contains the kernel modules of the currently active kernel with version
52_++<kernel version>++_.
53
54If the initramfs image already exists, dracut will display an error message, and
55to overwrite the existing image, you have to use the --force option.
56----
57# dracut --force
58----
59
60If you want to specify another filename for the resulting image you would issue
61a command like:
62----
63# dracut foobar.img
64----
65
66To generate an image for a specific kernel version, the command would be:
67----
68# dracut foobar.img 2.6.40-1.rc5.f20
69----
70
71A shortcut to generate the image at the default location for a specific kernel
72version is:
73----
74# dracut --kver 2.6.40-1.rc5.f20
75----
76
77If you want to create lighter, smaller initramfs images, you may want to specify
ea3c4e82 78the --hostonly or -H option. Using this option, the resulting image will
4c3be42c
HH
79contain only those dracut modules, kernel modules and filesystems, which are
80needed to boot this specific machine. This has the drawback, that you can't put
81the disk on another controller or machine, and that you can't switch to another
82root filesystem, without recreating the initramfs image. The usage of the
ea3c4e82 83--hostonly option is only for experts and you will have to keep the broken
4c3be42c
HH
84pieces. At least keep a copy of a general purpose image (and corresponding
85kernel) as a fallback to rescue your system.
86
888d53f2
HH
87
88OPTIONS
89-------
e65caf36
HH
90**--kver** _<kernel version>_::
91 set the kernel version. This enables to specify the kernel version, without
92 specifying the location of the initramfs image. For example:
93----
94# dracut --kver 3.5.0-0.rc7.git1.2.fc18.x86_64
95----
96
888d53f2
HH
97**-f, --force**::
98 overwrite existing initramfs file.
99
100**-m, --modules** _<list of dracut modules>_::
0cec2304
HH
101 specify a space-separated list of dracut modules to call when building the
102 initramfs. Modules are located in _/usr/lib/dracut/modules.d_. This
103 parameter can be specified multiple times.
888d53f2
HH
104+
105[NOTE]
106===============================
107If [LIST] has multiple arguments, then you have to put these in quotes. For
108example:
109----
110# dracut --modules "module1 module2" ...
111----
112===============================
113
114**-o, --omit** _<list of dracut modules>_::
0cec2304
HH
115 omit a space-separated list of dracut modules. This parameter can be
116 specified multiple times.
18595ced 117+
888d53f2
HH
118[NOTE]
119===============================
120If [LIST] has multiple arguments, then you have to put these in quotes. For
121example:
122----
123# dracut --omit "module1 module2" ...
124----
125===============================
126
127**-a, --add** _<list of dracut modules>_::
128 add a space-separated list of dracut modules to the default set of modules.
129 This parameter can be specified multiple times.
130+
131[NOTE]
132===============================
133If [LIST] has multiple arguments, then you have to put these in quotes. For
134example:
135----
136# dracut --add "module1 module2" ...
137----
138===============================
139
140**--force-add** _<list of dracut modules>_::
141 force to add a space-separated list of dracut modules to the default set of
142 modules, when -H is specified. This parameter can be specified multiple
143 times.
144+
145[NOTE]
146===============================
147If [LIST] has multiple arguments, then you have to put these in quotes. For
148example:
149----
150# dracut --force-add "module1 module2" ...
151----
152===============================
153
154**-d, --drivers** _<list of kernel modules>_::
155 specify a space-separated list of kernel modules to exclusively include
156 in the initramfs. The kernel modules have to be specified without the ".ko"
157 suffix. This parameter can be specified multiple times.
158+
159[NOTE]
160===============================
161If [LIST] has multiple arguments, then you have to put these in quotes. For
162example:
163----
164# dracut --drivers "kmodule1 kmodule2" ...
165----
166===============================
167
168**--add-drivers** _<list of kernel modules>_::
169 specify a space-separated list of kernel modules to add to the initramfs.
170 The kernel modules have to be specified without the ".ko" suffix. This
171 parameter can be specified multiple times.
172+
173[NOTE]
174===============================
175If [LIST] has multiple arguments, then you have to put these in quotes. For
176example:
177----
178# dracut --add-drivers "kmodule1 kmodule2" ...
179----
180===============================
181
182**--omit-drivers** _<list of kernel modules>_::
183 specify a space-separated list of kernel modules not to add to the
184 initramfs.
185 The kernel modules have to be specified without the ".ko" suffix. This
186 parameter can be specified multiple times.
187+
188[NOTE]
189===============================
190If [LIST] has multiple arguments, then you have to put these in quotes. For
191example:
192----
193# dracut --omit-drivers "kmodule1 kmodule2" ...
194----
195===============================
196
197**--filesystems** _<list of filesystems>_::
198 specify a space-separated list of kernel filesystem modules to exclusively
199 include in the generic initramfs. This parameter can be specified multiple
200 times.
18595ced 201+
888d53f2
HH
202[NOTE]
203===============================
204If [LIST] has multiple arguments, then you have to put these in quotes. For
205example:
206----
207# dracut --filesystems "filesystem1 filesystem2" ...
208----
209===============================
210
211**-k, --kmoddir** _<kernel directory>_::
212 specify the directory, where to look for kernel modules
213
214**--fwdir** _<dir>[:<dir>...]++_::
215 specify additional directories, where to look for firmwares. This parameter
216 can be specified multiple times.
217
d20fb951
HH
218**--kernel-cmdline <parameters>**::
219 specify default kernel command line parameters
220
221
888d53f2
HH
222**--kernel-only**::
223 only install kernel drivers and firmware files
224
225**--no-kernel**::
226 do not install kernel drivers and firmware files
227
b7c770e1
DS
228**--early-microcode**::
229 Combine early microcode with ramdisk
230
231**--no-early-microcode**::
232 Do not combine early microcode with ramdisk
233
1743473b
HH
234**--print-cmdline**::
235 print the kernel command line for the current disk layout
236
888d53f2
HH
237**--mdadmconf**::
238 include local _/etc/mdadm.conf_
239
240**--nomdadmconf**::
241 do not include local _/etc/mdadm.conf_
242
243**--lvmconf**::
244 include local _/etc/lvm/lvm.conf_
245
246**--nolvmconf**::
247 do not include local _/etc/lvm/lvm.conf_
248
249**--fscks** [LIST]::
250 add a space-separated list of fsck tools, in addition to _dracut.conf_'s
251 specification; the installation is opportunistic (non-existing tools are
252 ignored)
253+
254[NOTE]
255===============================
256If [LIST] has multiple arguments, then you have to put these in quotes. For
257example:
258----
259# dracut --fscks "fsck.foo barfsck" ...
260----
261===============================
262
263**--nofscks**::
264 inhibit installation of any fsck tools
265
266**--strip**::
6c128565 267 strip binaries in the initramfs (default)
888d53f2
HH
268
269**--nostrip**::
6c128565 270 do not strip binaries in the initramfs
04d18f55
HH
271
272**--hardlink**::
273 hardlink files in the initramfs (default)
274
275**--nohardlink**::
276 do not hardlink files in the initramfs
888d53f2
HH
277
278**--prefix** _<dir>_::
279 prefix initramfs files with the specified directory
280
281**--noprefix**::
282 do not prefix initramfs files (default)
283
888d53f2
HH
284**-h, --help**::
285 display help text and exit.
286
287**--debug**::
288 output debug information of the build process
289
290**-v, --verbose**::
291 increase verbosity level (default is info(4))
292
293**-q, --quiet**:: decrease verbosity level (default is info(4))
294
295**-c, --conf** _<dracut configuration file>_::
296 specify configuration file to use.
297+
298Default:
299 _/etc/dracut.conf_
300
301**--confdir** _<configuration directory>_::
302 specify configuration directory to use.
303+
304Default:
305 _/etc/dracut.conf.d_
306
4dd68ca4
307**--tmpdir** _<temporary directory>_::
308 specify temporary directory to use.
309+
310Default:
311 _/var/tmp_
312
888d53f2
HH
313**--sshkey** _<sshkey file>_:: ssh key file used with ssh-client module.
314
315**-l, --local**::
316 activates the local mode. dracut will use modules from the current working
317 directory instead of the system-wide installed modules in
318 _/usr/lib/dracut/modules.d_.
319 This is useful when running dracut from a git checkout.
320
321**-H, --hostonly**::
1d97bb8b
322 Host-Only mode: Install only what is needed for booting the local host
323 instead of a generic host and generate host-specific configuration.
888d53f2
HH
324+
325[WARNING]
326====
0cec2304
HH
327If chrooted to another root other than the real root device, use "--fstab" and
328provide a valid _/etc/fstab_.
888d53f2
HH
329====
330
472189da 331**-N, --no-hostonly**::
cb74b382
HH
332 Disable Host-Only mode
333
324ea606
HH
334**--persistent-policy** _<policy>_::
335 Use _<policy>_ to address disks and partitions.
336 _<policy>_ can be any directory name found in /dev/disk.
337 E.g. "by-uuid", "by-label"
338
888d53f2
HH
339**--fstab**::
340 Use _/etc/fstab_ instead of _/proc/self/mountinfo_.
341
bd66d2b5 342**--add-fstab** _<filename>_ ::
888d53f2
HH
343 Add entries of _<filename>_ to the initramfs /etc/fstab.
344
345**--mount** "_<device>_ _<mountpoint>_ _<filesystem type>_ _<filesystem options>_"::
f0690513
HH
346 Mount _<device>_ on _<mountpoint>_ with _<filesystem type>_ and _<filesystem
347 options>_ in the initramfs
888d53f2 348
c586b033
CG
349**--add-device** _<device>_ ::
350 Bring up _<device>_ in initramfs, _<device>_ should be the device name.
351 This can be useful in hostonly mode for resume support when your swap is on
352 LVM or an encrypted partition.
353 [NB --device can be used for compatibility with earlier releases]
52f1b041 354
888d53f2
HH
355**-i, --include** _<SOURCE>_ _<TARGET>_::
356 include the files in the SOURCE directory into the
357 TARGET directory in the final initramfs. If SOURCE is a file, it will be
358 installed to TARGET in the final initramfs. This parameter can be specified
359 multiple times.
360
361**-I, --install** _<file list>_::
362 install the space separated list of files into the initramfs.
363+
364[NOTE]
365===============================
366If [LIST] has multiple arguments, then you have to put these in quotes. For
367example:
888d53f2
HH
368----
369# dracut --install "/bin/foo /sbin/bar" ...
370----
371===============================
372
373**--gzip**::
374 Compress the generated initramfs using gzip. This will be done by default,
375 unless another compression option or --no-compress is passed. Equivalent to
376 "--compress=gzip -9"
377
378**--bzip2**::
379 Compress the generated initramfs using bzip2.
380+
381[WARNING]
382====
383Make sure your kernel has bzip2 decompression support compiled in, otherwise you
384will not be able to boot. Equivalent to "--compress=bzip2"
385====
386
387**--lzma**::
388 Compress the generated initramfs using lzma.
389+
390[WARNING]
391====
392Make sure your kernel has lzma decompression support compiled in, otherwise you
ea3c4e82 393will not be able to boot. Equivalent to "lzma --compress=lzma -9"
888d53f2
HH
394====
395
396**--xz**::
397 Compress the generated initramfs using xz.
398+
399[WARNING]
400====
401Make sure your kernel has xz decompression support compiled in, otherwise you
ea3c4e82 402will not be able to boot. Equivalent to "lzma --compress=xz --check=crc32 --lzma2=dict=1MiB"
888d53f2
HH
403====
404
405**--compress** _<compressor>_::
406 Compress the generated initramfs using the passed compression program. If
407 you pass it just the name of a compression program, it will call that
408 program with known-working arguments. If you pass a quoted string with
409 arguments, it will be called with exactly those arguments. Depending on what
410 you pass, this may result in an initramfs that the kernel cannot decompress.
411
412**--no-compress**::
413 Do not compress the generated initramfs. This will override any other
414 compression options.
415
416**--list-modules**::
417 List all available dracut modules.
418
419**-M, --show-modules**::
420 Print included module's name to standard output during build.
421
422**--keep**::
423 Keep the initramfs temporary directory for debugging purposes.
424
ea3c4e82
HH
425**--printsize**::
426 Print out the module install size
427
428**--profile**:
429 Output profile information of the build process
430
431**--ro-mnt**:
432 Mount / and /usr read-only by default.
433
434**-L, --stdlog** _<level>_::
435 [0-6] Specify logging level (to standard error)
436----
437 0 - suppress any messages
438 1 - only fatal errors
439 2 - all errors
440 3 - warnings
441 4 - info
442 5 - debug info (here starts lots of output)
443 6 - trace info (and even more)
444----
445
7d848c55
HH
446**--regenerate-all**::
447 Regenerate all initramfs images at the default location with the kernel versions found on the system.
448 Additional parameters are passed through.
449
888d53f2
HH
450FILES
451-----
452_/var/log/dracut.log_::
453 logfile of initramfs image creation
454
455_/tmp/dracut.log_::
456 logfile of initramfs image creation, if _/var/log/dracut.log_ is not
457 writable
458
459_/etc/dracut.conf_::
460 see dracut.conf5
461
462_/etc/dracut.conf.d/*.conf_::
463 see dracut.conf5
464
c4e098a5
HH
465_/usr/lib/dracut/dracut.conf.d/*.conf_::
466 see dracut.conf5
467
888d53f2
HH
468Configuration in the initramfs
469~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
470_/etc/conf.d/_::
471 Any files found in _/etc/conf.d/_ will be sourced in the initramfs to
472 set initial values. Command line options will override these values
473 set in the configuration files.
474
475_/etc/cmdline_::
3cff5fb5
HH
476 Can contain additional command line options. Deprecated, better use /etc/cmdline.d/*.conf.
477
478_/etc/cmdline.d/*.conf::
888d53f2
HH
479 Can contain additional command line options.
480
481AVAILABILITY
482------------
483The dracut command is part of the dracut package and is available from
484link:$$https://dracut.wiki.kernel.org$$[https://dracut.wiki.kernel.org]
485
486AUTHORS
487-------
9f355169 488Harald Hoyer
888d53f2 489
9f355169 490Victor Lowther
888d53f2 491
9f355169 492Philippe Seewer
888d53f2 493
9f355169 494Warren Togami
888d53f2 495
9f355169 496Amadeusz Żołnowski
888d53f2 497
9f355169 498Jeremy Katz
888d53f2 499
9f355169 500David Dillow
888d53f2 501
9f355169 502Will Woods
888d53f2
HH
503
504SEE ALSO
505--------
506*dracut.cmdline*(7) *dracut.conf*(5)