---
name: "mkinitrd"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "dracut-core"
version: "051-1"
release: "Debian 11 (Bullseye)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/mkinitrd"
---

# mkinitrd(8)

is a compat wrapper, which calls dracut to generate an initramfs

## NAME

mkinitrd - is a compat wrapper, which calls dracut to generate an initramfs

## SYNOPSIS

**mkinitrd** \[*OPTION...*\] \[\<initrd-image\>\] \<kernel-version\>

## DESCRIPTION

mkinitrd creates an initramfs image \<initrd-image\> for the kernel with version \<kernel-version\> by calling "dracut".

**Important**\

If a more fine grained control over the resulting image is needed, "dracut" should be called directly.

## OPTIONS

- **--version**

  print info about the version

- **-v, --verbose**

  increase verbosity level

- **-f, --force**

  overwrite existing initramfs file.

**\*--image-version**

append the kernel version to the target image \<initrd-image\>-\<kernel-version\>.

- **--with=\<module\>**

  add the kernel module \<module\> to the initramfs.

- **--preload=\<module\>**

  preload the kernel module \<module\> in the initramfs before any other kernel modules are loaded. This can be used to ensure a certain device naming, which should in theory be avoided and the use of symbolic links in /dev is encouraged.

- **--nocompress**

  do not compress the resulting image.

- **--help**

  print a help message and exit.

## AVAILABILITY

The mkinitrd command is part of the dracut package and is available from **https://dracut.wiki.kernel.org**

## AUTHORS

Harald Hoyer

## SEE ALSO

[**dracut**(8)](/dracut/8.md)