# man > update-initramfs(8)

[UPDATE-INITRAMFS(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/UPDATE-INITRAMFS/8/markdown)                     System Administration                    [UPDATE-INITRAMFS(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/UPDATE-INITRAMFS/8/markdown)



## NAME
       update-initramfs - generate an initramfs image


## SYNOPSIS
       **update-initramfs** {**-c**|**-d**|**-u**} [**-k** _version_] [**-v**] [**-b** _directory_]
### 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,  up‐
       date 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 hap‐
       pens in this early userspace.


## OPTIONS
### -k
              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


### -u


### -d


### -v
              tion.


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


### -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  <jbai‐
       <ley@raspberryginger.com>> and numerous others.


## SEE ALSO
        [_initramfs.conf_(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/initramfs.conf/5/markdown), [_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), [_lsinitramfs_(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/lsinitramfs/8/markdown).



initramfs-tools                              2014/10/16                          [UPDATE-INITRAMFS(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/UPDATE-INITRAMFS/8/markdown)