Lilo-multiboot and initramfs

igadoter · 04-13-2011, 12:03 PM

Hi,
recently I installed a Linux distro (Pardus) which boots using initramfs. I am completely novice here. In the former configuration I used lilo to boot OpenBSD, Debian and W2k (it is easy for me to configure lilo to boot OpenBSD). But initramfs is a something completely new for me. As I understand it is a virtual file system with a standard directory tree and the information stored on that system is used (to boot the kernel?) to mount the true (physical) root device. The first question is how to properly describe a system (kernel image) booted with initramfs in the lilo.conf.
Any remarks are welcomed.

hitest · 04-13-2011, 12:13 PM

Is this what you're looking for? I'm a little confused by your post.

http://slackware.osuosl.org/slackwar.../README.initrd

bonixavier · 04-13-2011, 12:19 PM

This is how you add an initram to lilo.conf. (Taken from mine)

Code:

image = /boot/vmlinuz-generic-2.6.37.6
  initrd = /boot/initrd.gz
  root = /dev/sda1
  label = Linux
  read-only

After you add it, you run /sbin/lilo.

hitest · 04-13-2011, 12:40 PM

The procedure in the link I provided for building an initrd works like a charm. It is written by the man himself.

igadoter · 04-13-2011, 02:49 PM

Seems initramfs and initrd are different flavours of the same thing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Initrd
I tried initrd but it doesn't work with initramfs.

imitheos · 04-14-2011, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by igadoter

Seems initramfs and initrd are different flavours of the same thing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Initrd
I tried initrd but it doesn't work with initramfs.

The lilo "command" you put in lilo.conf is initrd as bonixavier showed. The procedure is the same regardless of whether you use initrd or initramfs. After you specified the init image in lilo.conf did you re-run lilo ? If yes, did it mention any errors/warnings ?

igadoter · 04-14-2011, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imitheos

The lilo "command" you put in lilo.conf is initrd as bonixavier showed. The procedure is the same regardless of whether you use initrd or initramfs.

There is no initrd.gz file under /boot. There is initramfs-2.6.37. In fact lilo boots but afterthat the kernel (Pardus) is unable to mount the /root device (partition). Instead of I had a simple console and I was able to do some thing with this virtual fielsystem, say ls /. But is was not of much help to me cause as I mentioned I am a complete novice using initramfs.

igadoter · 04-14-2011, 12:44 PM

But probably mistake is mine. After an install I changed /etc/fstab. In the original fstab the root device was described by UUID. I prefer to use /dev/sd in the fstab. Now it seems for me that afterthat I should rebuild initramfs. But it desn't seems to be such easy as in the case of initrd. It would much simpler to use UUID in the lilo.conf.