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Old 05-13-2007, 05:31 PM   #1
kushalkoolwal
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Differece: mkinitrd and mkinitramfs?

Hi,

I would like to know what is the difference between mkinitrd and mkinitramfs utility? I read the man page of each one of them but I was not able to figure out which is used when. Recently I upgraded my system to Etch (keeping my existing kernel 2.6.15). During upgradation, I saw a something like:
Code:
updating initrd 2.6.15......
Here are the package site for both of them on Debian Repo.

http://packages.debian.org/stable/utils/initramfs-tools for mkinitramfs

http://packages.debian.org/stable/utils/initrd-tools for mkinitrd


Please advice. Thanks
 
Old 05-13-2007, 09:09 PM   #2
farslayer
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Quote:
Debian kernels require an initial ramdisk to work

Debian has for some time distributed and installed modular kernels by default, depending on the helper package initrd-tools to add the needed modules in a cramfs initrd-image.

2.6 has a newer format, initramfs, which is an cpio gzipped archive. The handoff to early userspace is much earlier. Initramfs allows a cleaner interface. The initrd hacks for nfs root and such are scheduled to be removed for 2.7.

Initrd-tools relies on devfs and on removed or deprecated /proc interfaces. It has no maintainer. Its CodingStyle is weird. There is no support for sata thus responsible for many sarge install failures nor scsi for kernels >= 2.6.10. Its use with recent 2.6 linux kernels is discouraged.

Several tools produce initramfs images, each with some spiffy features and annoying limitations...the comparison below use the following symbols:
Old
http://kernel-handbook.alioth.debian.org/ch-initrd.html

New
http://kernel-handbook.alioth.debian...initramfs.html

Comparison
http://wiki.debian.org/InitrdReplacementOptions
Last edited by farslayer; 05-13-2007 at 09:10 PM.
 
Old 05-14-2007, 03:14 PM   #3
kushalkoolwal
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Thanks dude, that was quick and helpful.
 
  


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