Kernel 2.6.2, initrd, /dev/ram

Kernel 2.6.2, initrd, /dev/ram

[Martin Bogomolni]

I have a mini-distribution that runs from CD-ROM using H Peter Anvin's 
ISOLINUX/SYSLINUX boot loader.  While upgrading it to kernel 2.6, I have 
come across a behavioral difference between 2.4 and 2.6 that may impact 
other users of the 2.6 kernel.

With kernel 2.4, to boot an initial ramdisk, I would use the following 
arguments appended to the kernel :

linux24 ramdisk_size=32000 root=/dev/ram rw 

----

With kernel 2.6, the same arguments result in an error message.  Neither 
devfs nor udev are enabled, the distribution relies on pre-created /dev 
entries in the ramdisk.

However, the kernel will boot but -not- enter the ramdisk if root=/dev/ram.  
The entry has to be changed to root=/dev/ram0 in order for a successful boot.

Why has this change of behavior occured?

Martin B.

Re: Kernel 2.6.2, initrd, /dev/ram

[der.eremit]

On Wed, 11 Feb 2004 03:20:08 +0100, you wrote in linux.kernel:

> However, the kernel will boot but -not- enter the ramdisk if
> root=/dev/ram. The entry has to be changed to root=/dev/ram0 in order
> for a successful boot.

Just use /dev/ram0, works in 2.4, too...

No idea why it was changed, but /dev/ram0 is at least a real LSB device
name, unlike /dev/ram (look on a real /dev, /dev/ram is usually a symlink
only present for backwards compatibility).

-- 
Ciao,
Pascal