using initrd on debian

knobby67 · 08-14-2007, 12:11 PM

hello all

For the first time in many years I;ve had to make a kernel rather than just downloading the debian image.
I've configured, make,make modules_install then make install. All appears well. I then use mkinitrd to get ramdisk, from inside /usr/src/linux-2.6.22 I type mkinitrd -o /boot/testinitrd.

I then add it to grub.
When I boot it all starts up then I get messages like
mount:unknown filesystem type 'devfs'
modprobe:FATAL: could not load /lib/modules/2.6.22/modules.dep:No such file or irectory

and lots of similar errors and finally

mount:devfs:not monted
kernel panic -not syncing:attempted to kill init!

I should add I'm using Etch, raiserfs partitions and a SATA harddrive, and have tried with several kernel buils, Can anyone advise. I should also add lib/mod/2.6.2 exists

And sorry if this mesage seems starange (spelling gramma, my text box will only open 4 characters wide :s

farslayer · 08-14-2007, 02:52 PM

I think you are supposed to be using initramfs at this point, instead of initrd.. http://wiki.debian.org/InitrdReplacementOptions

Quote:

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.

knobby67 · 08-14-2007, 03:57 PM

Thanks for that.
Could someone be kind enough to give me or point me in the direction of how to use this?
For example with initrd I'd just mkinitrd -o /root/kernelname module name eg makinitrd -o /root/custombuild 2.6,22

Thanks

utanja · 08-14-2007, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knobby67

Thanks for that.
Could someone be kind enough to give me or point me in the direction of how to use this?
For example with initrd I'd just mkinitrd -o /root/kernelname module name eg makinitrd -o /root/custombuild 2.6,22

Thanks

why not recompile your kernel the debian way?
http://myrddin.org/howto/debian-kernel-recompiling/

everything done for you...

knobby67 · 08-15-2007, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by utanja

why not recompile your kernel the debian way?
http://myrddin.org/howto/debian-kernel-recompiling/

everything done for you...

bugger I was trying that but couldn't find sources, however I was searching under kernel-source not linux-source

jlinkels · 08-15-2007, 06:09 AM

Compiling the kernel the Debian way is a good idea. However, for a kernel compiled for just one machine you don't need initrd. If you compile the device driver support for your IDE and or SCSI disks and the support for the file system you use, you can do without initrd.

jlinkels

JackieBrown · 08-15-2007, 07:15 AM

It won't hurt to compile it with initrd until you are more familiar with your hardware. It will save you some frustrations while you get the hand of it.

In fact, if you follow the how to mentioned, it will do it for you.

utanja · 08-15-2007, 07:32 AM

i know my hardware but still i use initrd on most of my networked stations....that why i never worry about adding something a little different...