The documentation suggests that server-id is an optional argument but ip_to_var fails if it is not specified. Fix the documentation. --- Index: dracut/dracut.cmdline.7.xml =================================================================== --- dracut.orig/dracut.cmdline.7.xml 2011-12-27 09:02:05.424745613 +1100 +++ dracut/dracut.cmdline.7.xml 2011-12-27 09:02:31.321211186 +1100 @@ -452,9 +452,9 @@ with a valid DHCP root-path. - ip=<client-IP>: + ip=<client-IP>: <server-id> - :<gateway-IP>:<netmask>:<client_hostname>:<interface>:{none|off} + :<gateway-IP>:<netmask>:<client_hostname>:<interface>:{none|off} explicit network configuration. If you want do define a IPv6 address, put it in brackets (e.g. [2001:DB8::1]). This parameter can be specified multiple times.