# man > INITRAMFS.CONF(5)

[INITRAMFS.CONF(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/INITRAMFS.CONF/5/markdown)                        File Formats Manual                       [INITRAMFS.CONF(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/INITRAMFS.CONF/5/markdown)



## NAME
       initramfs.conf - configuration file for mkinitramfs


## DESCRIPTION
       The behaviour of **mkinitramfs** can be modified by its configuration file.

       Each  line in the file can be a configuration variable, a blank line, or a comment. The value
       of an variable is assigned by an statement of the form: _name_=[_value_]

       Configuration options can be broken out into configuration snippets and placed in  individual
       files  in the /etc/initramfs-tools/conf.d directory.  Files in this directory are always read
       **after** the main configuration file, so you can override the settings in the main  config  file
       without editing it directly.


## GENERAL VARIABLES
        **MODULES**
              Specifies the modules for the initramfs image.

              Modules  listed  in  _/etc/initramfs-tools/modules_  and _/usr/share/initramfs-tools/mod__‐
              _ules.d/*_ are always included in the initramfs,  and  are  loaded  early  in  the  boot
              process.


              _list_  doesn't load any additional modules at boot time, other than those listed in the
              above files.

              _most_ adds most file system, all ata, sata, scsi and usb drivers.

              _dep_ tries to guess which modules are necessary for the running box and only adds those
              modules.

              _netboot_ adds the base and network modules, but skips block devices.


              The default setting is _most_.


        **BUSYBOX**
              Include  busybox utilities for the boot scripts.  If set to 'n' **mkinitramfs** will build
              an initramfs without busybox.  Beware that many boot scripts need busybox utilities.


        **COMPRESS**
              Specifies the compression method used for the initramfs image.  **mkinitramfs**  will  de‐
              fault  to  gzip if the kernel lacks support (CONFIG_RD) or the corresponding userspace
              utility is not present.


        **UMASK** Set the umask value of the generated initramfs file.  Useful to not disclose  eventual
              keys.


        **BOOT**  Allows  one to use an nfs drive as the root of the drive.  The default is to boot from
              _local_ media (hard drive, USB stick).  Set to _nfs_ for an NFS root share.


        **RUNSIZE**
              The size of the _/run_ tmpfs mount point in bytes (suffixes are supported)  or  as  per‐
              centage  of  your  physical RAM. This parameter is used as the value of the size mount
              option to  tmpfs.  See  **<https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/filesystems/tmpfs.txt>**
              for details. Can be overridden by an optional **initramfs.runsize=** bootarg.  The default
              is 10%.


## VARIABLES FOR LOCAL BOOT
        **RESUME**
              Specifies the device used for suspend-to-disk (hibernation), which the initramfs  code
              should  attempt to resume from.  If this is not defined or is set to _auto_, **mkinitramfs**
              will automatically select the largest available swap partition.  Set  it  to  _none_  to
              disable resume from disk.


        **FSTYPE**
              Specifies  the filesystem type(s) to support, separated by commas.  If this is not de‐
              fined or is set to _auto_, **mkinitramfs** will automatically detect the  current  root  and
              _/usr_ filesystem types.


## VARIABLES FOR NFS BOOT
        **DEVICE**
              Specifies  the default network interface to use, like eth0.  The _ip_ or _BOOTIF_ bootargs
              may override this.


        **VLAN**  Specifies the VLAN tag id to setup, e.g. VLAN=eth0.1:eth0.  The _vlan_ bootarg may over‐
              ride this.


        **ROOT**  Allows  optional  root bootarg hardcoding, when no root bootarg can be passed.  A root
              bootarg overrides that special setting.


        **NFSROOT**
              Defaults to _auto_ in order to pick up value from DHCP server.  Otherwise  you  need  to
              specify _HOST:MOUNT_.


## FILES
       _/etc/initramfs-tools/initramfs.conf_


## AUTHOR
       The  initramfs-tools  are  written by Maximilian Attems <<maks@debian.org>>, Jeff Bailey <jbai‐
       <ley@raspberryginger.com>> and numerous others.  Loosely based on mkinitrd.conf by Herbert Xu.


## SEE ALSO
        [_initramfs-tools_(7)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/initramfs-tools/7/markdown), [_mkinitramfs_(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/mkinitramfs/8/markdown), [_update-initramfs_(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/update-initramfs/8/markdown).



initramfs-tools                              2018/07/18                            [INITRAMFS.CONF(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/INITRAMFS.CONF/5/markdown)