dracut

initramfs image generator

TLDR

Generate initramfs for current kernel

$ dracut

Generate and overwrite existing

$ dracut -f

Generate for specific kernel

$ dracut --kver [kernel_version]

List available modules

$ dracut --list-modules

SYNOPSIS

dracut [options] [image] [kernel-version]

dracut generates initramfs images to boot the Linux kernel. The initramfs contains modules and tools needed to mount the root filesystem.
Configuration files in /etc/dracut.conf, /etc/dracut.conf.d/, and /usr/lib/dracut/dracut.conf.d/ customize the initramfs content.

PARAMETERS

-f, --force

Overwrite existing initramfs

--kver version

Generate for specific kernel version

--list-modules

List available dracut modules

--add modules

Add modules to initramfs

--omit modules

Omit modules from initramfs

-H, --hostonly

Only include drivers for current host

CONFIGURATION

/etc/dracut.conf

Main configuration file for dracut behavior and module selection.

/etc/dracut.conf.d/

Directory for additional configuration files.

/usr/lib/dracut/dracut.conf.d/

System-wide dracut configuration directory.

CAVEATS

Used on Fedora, RHEL, and other distributions. Debian/Ubuntu typically use mkinitramfs instead. Improper configuration can make system unbootable.