---
name: "mindi"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "mindi"
version: "2.20-2"
release: "Debian 4.0 (Etch)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/mindi"
---

# mindi(8)

a tool for creating boot/root disks

## NAME

mindi - a tool for creating boot/root disks

## SYNOPSIS

**mindi**\
 **mindi -v**\| **--version**\| **-V**\| **-version**\
 **mindi --findkernel**\
 **mindi --makemountlist** *file*\
 **mindi \[--max-compressed-size** *max***\] --custom** *parameters*

## DESCRIPTION

**mindi** creates a set of boot/root floppy disk images and/or a bootable ISO image using files from the system it runs on. **mindi** will try hard to reproduce the environment of its host system including loaded modules to ensure that the system can be booted properly from the created rescue media. **mindi** is used by **monodarchive(8)** to produce the required boot/root floppy or CD images but can also be used stand-alone.

For stand-alone usage, **mindi** is called without any parameters or switches. It will then interactively ask the user for all information required to create a set of boot/root media.

The probably more frequent way of calling **mindi** is non-interactively from **[mondoarchive(8)](/mondoarchive/8.md)** using the **--custom** switch. All required information is then provided via command line parameters. The sequence of these parameters is listed below.

## OPTIONS

- **-v**\| **--version**\| **-V**\| **-version**

  Prints the version of mindi.

- **--findkernel**

  Finds the image of the running kernel in the file system.

- **--makemountlist** *file*

  Creates a mount list and writes it to file *file*.

- **--max-compressed-size** *max*

  Maximum size for disk image in KB.

- **--custom** *parameters*

  Provide all required parameters to **mindi** for non-interactive calling. This usually means a call from **[mondoarchive(8)](/mondoarchive/8.md)**. The following parameters are used:\
   01\) directory to use for temporary files\
   02\) directory to put disk images in\
   03\) path to kernel image\
   04\) tape device\
   05\) tape size \[MB\]\
   06\) total number of files in file list\
   07\) use LZO \[yes\|no\]\
   08\) CD recovery media \[yes\|no\]\
   09\) devices to include\
   10\) conservative LiLo settings \[yes\|no\]\
   11\) number of last file list\
   12\) estimated total number of slices\
   13\) devices to exclude\
   14\) compare mode \[yes\|no\]\
   15\) use lilo \[yes\|no\]\
   16\) use star (rather than tar) \[yes\|no\]\
   17\) internal tape block size \[bytes\]\
   18\) number of diffenrential backup\
   19\) make non-bootable \[yes\|no\]\
   (Blank parameters must be specified as "" on the command line.)

## DIAGNOSTICS

**mindi** writes some output to the console and extensive information to log file */var/log/mindi.log*. When seeking technical support for **mindi**, please attach this file to your email.

## FILES

- */var/log/mindi.log*

  Log file of mindi run. Contains important information to analyze mindi problem reports.

- */etc/mindi/deplist.txt*

  List of files to be included on boot/root disks.

- */root/images/mindi/N.tar.gz*

  Number N of multiple tar balls together containing root file system for rescue media.

- */root/images/mindi/all.tar.gz*

  Single tar ball of root file system for rescue media.

- */root/images/mindi/initrd.img*

  initrd image for bootable ISO image.

- */root/images/mindi/mindi-boot.F.img*

  **mindi** boot floppy of size F \[KB\].

- */root/images/mindi/mindi-root.F.img*

  **mindi** root floppy of size F \[KB\].

- */root/images/mindi/mindi-data.N.img*

  **mindi** data floppy number N for boot/root floppies.

- */root/images/mindi/mindi.iso*

  **mindi** bootable ISO image.

## SEE ALSO

[mondoarchive(8)](/mondoarchive/8.md), [mondorestore(8)](/mondorestore/8.md).

- See mailing list at http://www.mondorescue.org for technical support.

  ## BUGS

The target location for the image files created by **mindi** is hard-coded to */root/images/mindi*. As a workaround, it is suggested to make */root/images* a symbolic link to the desired location for the image files.

## AUTHORS

Bruno Cornec (lead-development)  *bcornec\_at\_mondorescue.org*\
 Andree Leidenfrost (co-developper)  *aleidenf\_at\_bigpond.net.au*\

## ORIGINAL AUTHORS

Hugo Rabson (original author) *hugo.rabson\_at\_mondorescue.org*\
 Jesse Keating (packaging) *hosting\_at\_j2solutions.net*\
 Stan Benoit (testing) *troff\_at\_nakedsoul.org*\
 Mikael Hultgren (docs) *mikael\_hultgren\_at\_gmx.net*\