mkinitfs

Generate an initramfs with features from /etc/mkinitfs/mkinitfs.conf

$ mkinitfs

$ mkinitfs -c [path/to/config]

$ mkinitfs -C [gzip|xz|zstd|lz4|none]

$ mkinitfs -l

$ mkinitfs -L

$ mkinitfs [kernel_version]

$ mkinitfs -o [path/to/initramfs.img]

mkinitfs [-c configfile] [-C algorithm] [-f fstab] [-F features] [-o outfile] [-l] [-L] [kernelversion]

mkinitfs collects files from the root filesystem and creates a compressed initramfs for Alpine Linux. The initramfs provides early userspace tools needed to mount the real root filesystem during boot.
Features control which modules, binaries, and configuration files are included. Common features include base system tools, filesystem support, encryption (cryptsetup), LVM, and network booting (dhcp, nfs).

-b _basedir_

Use specified directory instead of root filesystem

Use alternative configuration file; default is /etc/mkinitfs/mkinitfs.conf

Compression method: gzip (default), xz, zstd, lz4, or none

Specify alternate fstab file

Enable specified features

Use custom init script

Keep temporary files after completion

Include host APK keys in initramfs

Dry run; list files that would be included

Show all available features

Exclude kernel modules and firmware

Specify output file path

Add custom features directory to search path

Quiet mode; suppress output messages

Set temporary directory location

Alpine Linux specific tool; not compatible with other distributions. Missing features can prevent boot. The configuration file must list all required features for successful system boot.

mkinitfs was developed as part of Alpine Linux to create minimal, efficient initramfs images suitable for the distribution's focus on security and simplicity. It integrates with Alpine's apk package manager and uses a feature-based modular system.

mkinitcpio(8), dracut(8), update-initramfs(8)