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amc252

Member

From: Italy/México

Registered: 2021-01-16

Posts: 51  

[SOLVED] optimized initramfs howto

Today I installed Debian Bookworm on a spare partition using the expert mode.
At some point, the installer offered the option to create an optimized initramfs containing only the needed module for the system. I accepted and the resulting initrd.img is 7.8 M as opposite of 27.5 M on Chimaera.
I googled around but couldn't find instructions as to how do that on my installed Chiamera.
Could anyone point me to an howto?

Head_on_a_Stick

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From: London

Registered: 2019-03-24

Posts: 3,125  

Website

Re: [SOLVED] optimized initramfs howto

Read the MODULES section in

man initramfs.conf

Once the changes have been made regenerate the initramfs:

# update-initramfs -u -k all

EDIT: or try

dpkg-reconfigure initramfs-tools

But that's just a guess. I've never tried it and I'm not in De{vu,bi}an atm.

Last edited by Head_on_a_Stick (2022-10-08 07:01:09)

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Brianna Ghey — Rest In Power

amc252

Member

From: Italy/México

Registered: 2021-01-16

Posts: 51  

Re: [SOLVED] optimized initramfs howto

It seems to have worked.
I changed the value in /etc/initramfs-tools/conf.d/driver-policy to MODULES=dep and ran update-initramfs -u -k all.
The resulting initrd.img is 6.6 M instead of 27.5 M.
I rebooted and everything seems fine so far.
Thanks for the suggestion.

Altoid

Member

Registered: 2017-05-07

Posts: 1,581  

Re: [SOLVED] optimized initramfs howto

Hello:

... anyone point me to an howto?

Besides following HoaS' instructions, to may find this link (or parts of it) useful.

If you need udev, your minimization efforts will most likely be in vain.

Best,

A.

Last edited by Altoid (2022-10-08 11:19:36)

amc252

Member

From: Italy/México

Registered: 2021-01-16

Posts: 51  

Re: [SOLVED] optimized initramfs howto

Thanks.
Well, as far as I can tell, my system uses eudev and I can't see no problem so far. Everything works normally and the boot time was shorter.

Last edited by amc252 (2022-10-08 16:09:27)

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: London

Registered: 2019-03-24

Posts: 3,125  

Website

Re: [SOLVED] optimized initramfs howto

If you need udev, your minimization efforts will most likely be in vain.

That statement refers to Arch's udev hook. Debian does not use the same methods as Arch so the statement is irrelevant.

For the record I'm using a "minified" initramfs in my Arch box and even with zstd compression[0] it's still double the size of the OP's in this thread — klibc ftw!

[0] I prefer no compression with my images 'cos I have a hellafast hard drive.

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Brianna Ghey — Rest In Power

Altoid

Member

Registered: 2017-05-07

Posts: 1,581  

Re: [SOLVED] optimized initramfs howto

Hello:

... refers to Arch's udev hook.
Debian does not use the same methods as Arch ...

Indeed ...
I noted that after posting but forgot all about it.
Sorry about that.

... so the statement is irrelevant.

Quite so.

But I'm sure it had not escaped you that the OP had already answered my post.
And in doing so, gracefully pointed out the difference between Debian and Arch to me.

Nevertheless, thanks for your input.   8^D

Best,

A.