mkinitcpio

creates initial ramdisk environments for booting the Linux kernel

TLDR

Show what would be built, without writing anything

$ mkinitcpio

Rebuild every preset, which is what a config change calls for

$ sudo mkinitcpio --allpresets

Rebuild one preset

$ sudo mkinitcpio --preset linux

Build an image for a kernel that is not running

$ sudo mkinitcpio --kernel [6.6.1-arch1-1] --generate [path/to/initramfs.img]

Build using a different configuration file

$ sudo mkinitcpio --config [path/to/mkinitcpio.conf] --generate [path/to/initramfs.img]

Add a hook on top of the configured ones

$ sudo mkinitcpio --addhooks [encrypt] --preset linux

Skip a hook that is causing trouble

$ sudo mkinitcpio --skiphooks [fsck] --preset linux

Choose the compression for the image

$ sudo mkinitcpio --compress [zstd] --preset linux

Build a unified kernel image for secure boot

$ sudo mkinitcpio --preset linux --uki [path/to/linux.efi]

Show the modules autodetection would include

$ mkinitcpio --automods

List the hooks available

$ mkinitcpio --listhooks

Read the documentation for one hook

$ mkinitcpio --hookhelp [encrypt]

Show verbose output while building

$ sudo mkinitcpio --verbose --preset linux

SYNOPSIS

mkinitcpio [-p preset] [-P] [-c config] [-g filename] [-k version] [-A hooks] [-S hooks] [-L] [-H hook] [-v]

mkinitcpio creates initial ramdisk environments for booting the Linux kernel. The initramfs loads early in the boot process, providing kernel modules and tools needed to mount the real root filesystem.The tool uses hooks to modularly include features like encryption support, LVM, RAID, and filesystem drivers. Presets in /etc/mkinitcpio.d/ define standard image generation parameters for installed kernels.

PARAMETERS

-g, --generate _filename_

Output CPIO image to specified file

-U, --uki _filename_

Generate unified kernel image for UEFI booting

-k, --kernel _version_

Specify kernel version or path; default is current running kernel

-c, --config _file_

Use custom configuration file; default is /etc/mkinitcpio.conf

-p, --preset _preset_

Build from preset in /etc/mkinitcpio.d/

-P, --allpresets

Process all available presets

-A, --addhooks _hooks_

Add additional hooks (comma-separated)

-S, --skiphooks _hooks_

Skip specified hooks during build

-L, --listhooks

List all available hooks

-H, --hookhelp _hookname_

Display documentation for specified hook

-d, --generatedir _dir_

Set initramfs build location

-t, --builddir _tmpdir_

Use alternate temporary directory for build

-z, --compress _method_

Override compression program (gzip, xz, lz4, zstd)

-s, --save

Retain build directory for debugging

-v, --verbose

Display detailed build information

INSTALL

sudo pacman -S mkinitcpio

CAVEATS

Incorrect hook configuration can render a system unbootable. Always keep a working kernel and initramfs as fallback. The tool requires root privileges for most operations. After modifying /etc/mkinitcpio.conf, regenerate images with -P flag.

HISTORY

mkinitcpio was created by the Arch Linux development team as a replacement for older initramfs generation tools. It uses a modular hook-based architecture and has been the standard initramfs generator for Arch Linux and derivatives since 2006.