initrd
initrd is a temporary file system used by the Linux kernel during the boot process.
“Initrd” stands for initial ramdisk (which translates as an output partition in the main memory ). The initrd is a reserved area in the main memory that is treated by the kernel like a hard disk partition (see also RAM disk ). It contains the image of a file system with the files required to start the system. The initrd can be mounted as the root directory of the Linux kernel and other Unix- related operating systems when booting . A program (linuxrc) on the initrd is then started. In the case of embedded systems , the entire functionality of the system can be contained in the initrd. Personal computers often only use the initrd as an intermediate step to load drivers and make other preparations for starting the actual system. The initrd made it possible to make the boot process under Linux more flexible and to outsource functionality from the operating system core to the user space.
The mkinitrd program is commonly used to create initrd images . In addition to this, there are other alternatives such as B. Yaird and Dracut. The Dracut project is now part of the kernel project.
Differences from initramfs
initrd is outdated or superseded by initramfs , which no longer has some of initrd's weaknesses:
- initrd requires at least one file system driver compiled into the kernel.
- The initrd has a fixed size.
- All accesses to the initrd are buffered again in the main memory.
Web links
- Information from IBM (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Yaird, Yet Another Mkinitrd ( Memento of the original dated February 8, 2006 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ↑ dracut. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ↑ Dracut Wiki for the Kernel Project:
