---
name: "ostree-admin-init-fs"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "ostree"
version: "2026.4-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ostree-admin-init-fs"
---

# ostree-admin-init-fs(1)

Initialize a new root filesystem

## NAME

ostree-admin-init-fs - Initialize a new root filesystem

## SYNOPSIS

**ostree admin init-fs** \[OPTIONS...\] {PATH}

## DESCRIPTION

Initialize an empty physical root filesystem in the designated PATH, with normal toplevels and correct permissions for each directory. Primarily useful for operating system installers.

## OPTIONS

- **--modern**

  Equivalent to --epoch=1.

- **--epoch**

  This accepts an integer value in the range \[0-1\], inclusive. The default is zero for compatibility.

  When set to 1, the command will skip adding a number of toplevel "API filesystems" such as /proc to the toplevel of the physical root. These should be unnecessary, as they should only be mounted in the final deployment root. The main exception is /boot, which may need to be mounted in some setups before the target root.

  Epoch 2 is the same as 1, except that the toplevel ostree directory is mode 0700, denying access from unprivileged code. This is a new recommended best practice as it avoids access to old configuration files in /etc in previous deployments, as well as potentially old setuid binaries in /ostree/repo.

## EXAMPLE

**$ mkdir /example**

**$ ostree admin init-fs --epoch=1 /example**

**$ ls /example**

*boot*