Re: [gentoo-user] My first initramfs

[thegeezer <thegeezer@thegeezer.net>]

On 11/17/2013 02:34 PM, Tanstaafl wrote:
> On 2013-11-17 8:39 AM, thegeezer <thegeezer@thegeezer.net> wrote:
>> you only need lvm if root/usr is on lvm.
>
> root is on a normal partition, /usr is on a separate lvm partition.
>
you will need the intramfs.mount and lvm
>> do you have kernel modules that are not compiled into the kernel in
>> order to mount root ?
>
> Ummm... I think I was *extremely* clear on this point?
sorry missed in the thread
>
> Directly from the quoted text in my message that you responded to:
>
> "but on my server (that has the separate /usr), modules are disabled
> and so I have every driver and filesystem built into the kernel."
>
> So, again, no modules, zero, nada, everything is compiled into the
> kernel.
>
ya no need for modules in intramfs
> So, I'm not even certain that I need lvm support (since it is built
> into the kernel)?
>
you do in order to premount usr
> And then, how to make sure I have reiserfsck (anything else reiserfs
> related?) support?
>
>
reiser support would appear beacuse you have it compiled in the kernel
any additional tools you would need to add into genkernel.

for reiserfsck, i would suggest looking into your busybox config.  i
know there is an option you can pass to genkernel --busybox-config 
you can look at /usr/share/genkernel/defaults/busy-config but the exact
options i don't know.
I did google it though because i hate not knowing. 
here a suggestion is to use genkernel --initramfs-overlay=<dir>  to add
<dir> into the initramfs
http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-928398-start-0.html
so you could mkdir -p /srv/bin/genkernelextras/tools, put all the tools
you want to use in that folder and pass
--initramfs-overlay=/srv/bin/genkernelextras

but the initramfs is supposed to be the minimal for getting the system
booted,
genkernel is a tool to help get this done.
it's not really for rescue. for rescue i'd suggest a seperate boot,
perhaps if using grub2 boot an iso.

however, a quick google search away and it looks like dracut has a much
more modular approach.  i have never used dracut maybe someone else can
chip in with it
http://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Dracut#Other_Filesystems

you may also consider creating your own initramfs, which gives you the
granular control you perhaps need.
http://gentoo-en.vfose.ru/wiki/Initramfs

my own 2c would be to suggest to create an lvm using not reiser that you
sync your existing root and usr into. but this is way offtopic

finally a quick google of some of the issues you raise found me this guy
doing something almost identical to you with the suggestion that busybox
will be able to support reiser out of the box
https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-912716-start-0.html