Kernel compilation & initrm

ddaas · 09-07-2007, 11:00 AM

Hi,
I have a question regarding initrd. As I know initrd is a RAM Disk that includes modules the system needs in the early stage of booting (ex: sata).

My question is: how can the the system get this file which resides on the root partition (or boot partition) which is not mounted? (it doesn't have the modules it needs to mount the partition).

Further, how can the system get the binary compressed image of the kernel (vmlinuz) if the partition is not YET mounted?

Thanks for your clarification.

trickykid · 09-07-2007, 12:56 PM

This page kind of goes thru the steps of a Linux boot process.. not too many details but if you understand what BIOS, Lilo or Grub and beyond are, it sort of makes sense how things get loaded before you get to the login prompt.

http://oldfield.wattle.id.au/luv/boot.html

A google search had tons of hits, this was the first one in the list.