NAME

       update-initramfs - generate an initramfs image

SYNOPSIS

       update-initramfs {-c|-d|-u} [-k version] [-v] [-b directory] [-s timestamp]
       update-initramfs --version
       update-initramfs -h

DESCRIPTION

       The  update-initramfs  script  manages  your  initramfs  images on your local box.  It keeps track of the
       existing initramfs archives in /boot.  There are three modes of operation create, update or delete.   You
       must at least specify one of those modes.

       The  initramfs  is  a gzipped cpio archive.  At boot time, the kernel unpacks that archive into RAM disk,
       mounts and uses it as initial root file system. All finding of the root  device  happens  in  this  early
       userspace.

OPTIONS

       -k  version
              Set  the specific kernel version for whom the initramfs will be generated.  For example the output
              of uname -r for your currently running kernel.  This argument is optional for update. The  default
              is the latest kernel version.

              The  use  of  "all"  for  the version string specifies that update-initramfs should operate on all
              installed kernel versions (with -c), or on all installed kernel  versions  that  already  have  an
              initramfs (with -d or -u).

       -c     This mode creates a new initramfs.

       -u     This mode updates an existing initramfs.

       -d     This mode deletes an existing initramfs.

       -v     This option increases the amount of information you are given during the chosen action.

       -b  directory
              Set an different bootdir for the image creation.

       -s  timestamp
              This  parameter  sets  a  Unix  time  stamp (seconds since 1970) for the update mode.  An existing
              initramfs will only be updated if it is not newer  than  the  specified  Unix  time  stamp.   This
              parameter will be ignored if set to an empty string.

       --version
              Print the version information of the underlying initrd generation tool and exit.

       -h, --help
              Print a short help page describing the available options in update-initramfs.

EXAMPLES

       Update the initramfs of the newest kernel:

       update-initramfs -u

       Create the initramfs for a specific kernel:

       update-initramfs -c -k 2.6.18-1-686

FILES

       /etc/initramfs-tools/update-initramfs.conf

AUTHOR

       The    initramfs-tools    are    written    by   Maximilian   Attems   <maks@debian.org>,   Jeff   Bailey
       <jbailey@raspberryginger.com> and numerous others.

SEE ALSO

       initramfs.conf(5), initramfs-tools(7), mkinitramfs(8), lsinitramfs(8).

initramfs-tools                                    2014/10/16                                UPDATE-INITRAMFS(8)