[RFC PATCH v2 0/5] Add support for dracut

[RFC PATCH v2 0/5] Add support for dracut

['Quirin Gylstorff' via isar-users]

From: Quirin Gylstorff <quirin.gylstorff@siemens.com>

Debian intends to change the default initrd generator from
initramfs-tools to dracut[1],[2].

This is a first draft to support multiple initrd generator in
ISAR. I tested it with bookworm and trixie.

Currently missing is the possibility to generate custom dracut initrd.
This will be added in a future revision of this patch set.

[1]: https://salsa.debian.org/kernel-team/meetings/-/wikis/20250730
[2]: https://meetbot.debian.net/debian-kernel/2025/debian-kernel.2025-08-06-19.00.log.html

Changes v2:
 - extract the initramfs-cmd from the cmdline
 - increase version of enable-fsck
 - add function to print an error in case a invalid package is installed

Quirin Gylstorff (5):
  enable-fsck: remove dependency to initramfs-tools
  add dracut to custom kernel builds
  rootfs: Allow to overwrite the initramfs generation cmds
  rootfs Add dracut to initramfs generator
  initramfs: allow to set the generator command

 meta/classes/initramfs.bbclass                | 19 +++++++++++++--
 meta/classes/rootfs.bbclass                   | 23 ++++++++++++++++---
 meta/recipes-kernel/linux/linux-custom.inc    |  2 +-
 ...{enable-fsck_0.2.bb => enable-fsck_0.3.bb} |  2 +-
 4 files changed, 39 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-)
 rename meta/recipes-support/enable-fsck/{enable-fsck_0.2.bb => enable-fsck_0.3.bb} (89%)

-- 
2.50.1

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[RFC PATCH v2 1/5] enable-fsck: remove dependency to initramfs-tools

['Quirin Gylstorff' via isar-users]

From: Quirin Gylstorff <quirin.gylstorff@siemens.com>

The packages doesn't use any artifacts provided by initramfs-tools.

Signed-off-by: Quirin Gylstorff <quirin.gylstorff@siemens.com>
---
 .../enable-fsck/{enable-fsck_0.2.bb => enable-fsck_0.3.bb}      | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)
 rename meta/recipes-support/enable-fsck/{enable-fsck_0.2.bb => enable-fsck_0.3.bb} (89%)

diff --git a/meta/recipes-support/enable-fsck/enable-fsck_0.2.bb b/meta/recipes-support/enable-fsck/enable-fsck_0.3.bb
similarity index 89%
rename from meta/recipes-support/enable-fsck/enable-fsck_0.2.bb
rename to meta/recipes-support/enable-fsck/enable-fsck_0.3.bb
index 2d0ec950..8a11990f 100644
--- a/meta/recipes-support/enable-fsck/enable-fsck_0.2.bb
+++ b/meta/recipes-support/enable-fsck/enable-fsck_0.3.bb
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ inherit dpkg-raw
 
 DESCRIPTION = "This service enables fsck on first boot"
 
-DEBIAN_DEPENDS = "systemd, sed, mount, initramfs-tools"
+DEBIAN_DEPENDS = "systemd, sed, mount"
 
 SRC_URI = " \
     file://enable-fsck.service \
-- 
2.50.1

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Re: [RFC PATCH v2 1/5] enable-fsck: remove dependency to initramfs-tools

['Jan Kiszka' via isar-users]

On 05.09.25 16:28, Quirin Gylstorff wrote:
> From: Quirin Gylstorff <quirin.gylstorff@siemens.com>
> 
> The packages doesn't use any artifacts provided by initramfs-tools.
> 
> Signed-off-by: Quirin Gylstorff <quirin.gylstorff@siemens.com>
> ---
>  .../enable-fsck/{enable-fsck_0.2.bb => enable-fsck_0.3.bb}      | 2 +-
>  1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)
>  rename meta/recipes-support/enable-fsck/{enable-fsck_0.2.bb => enable-fsck_0.3.bb} (89%)
> 
> diff --git a/meta/recipes-support/enable-fsck/enable-fsck_0.2.bb b/meta/recipes-support/enable-fsck/enable-fsck_0.3.bb
> similarity index 89%
> rename from meta/recipes-support/enable-fsck/enable-fsck_0.2.bb
> rename to meta/recipes-support/enable-fsck/enable-fsck_0.3.bb
> index 2d0ec950..8a11990f 100644
> --- a/meta/recipes-support/enable-fsck/enable-fsck_0.2.bb
> +++ b/meta/recipes-support/enable-fsck/enable-fsck_0.3.bb
> @@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ inherit dpkg-raw
>  
>  DESCRIPTION = "This service enables fsck on first boot"
>  
> -DEBIAN_DEPENDS = "systemd, sed, mount, initramfs-tools"
> +DEBIAN_DEPENDS = "systemd, sed, mount"
>  
>  SRC_URI = " \
>      file://enable-fsck.service \

NACK. We need to fix this recipe first, and then you need to re-create
the initramfs, thus have a dependency on initramfs-tools | dracut.

Jan

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[RFC PATCH v2 2/5] add dracut to custom kernel builds

['Quirin Gylstorff' via isar-users]

From: Quirin Gylstorff <quirin.gylstorff@siemens.com>

Signed-off-by: Quirin Gylstorff <quirin.gylstorff@siemens.com>
---
 meta/recipes-kernel/linux/linux-custom.inc | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/meta/recipes-kernel/linux/linux-custom.inc b/meta/recipes-kernel/linux/linux-custom.inc
index 01e9bff7..3415db35 100644
--- a/meta/recipes-kernel/linux/linux-custom.inc
+++ b/meta/recipes-kernel/linux/linux-custom.inc
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ KBUILD_DEPENDS ?= "build-essential:native, \
                    linux-image-${KERNEL_NAME_PROVIDED}:${DISTRO_ARCH} <kbuild !kernel>, \
                    rsync,"
 
-KERNEL_DEBIAN_DEPENDS ?= "initramfs-tools | linux-initramfs-tool, \
+KERNEL_DEBIAN_DEPENDS ?= "initramfs-tools | linux-initramfs-tool | dracut, \
                           kmod, \
                           linux-base (>= 4.3~),"
 
-- 
2.50.1

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[RFC PATCH v2 3/5] rootfs: Allow to overwrite the initramfs generation cmds

['Quirin Gylstorff' via isar-users]

From: Quirin Gylstorff <quirin.gylstorff@siemens.com>

This is in preparation to support additional initramfs generators
like dracut.

Signed-off-by: Quirin Gylstorff <quirin.gylstorff@siemens.com>
---
 meta/classes/rootfs.bbclass | 20 +++++++++++++++++---
 1 file changed, 17 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/meta/classes/rootfs.bbclass b/meta/classes/rootfs.bbclass
index 7b7859b9..70758cce 100644
--- a/meta/classes/rootfs.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes/rootfs.bbclass
@@ -5,7 +5,20 @@ inherit deb-dl-dir
 
 ROOTFS_ARCH ?= "${DISTRO_ARCH}"
 ROOTFS_DISTRO ?= "${DISTRO}"
+
+def initramfs_generator_cmd(d):
+    cmdline =  d.getVar('ROOTFS_INITRAMFS_GENERATOR_CMDLINE') or ''
+    cmd = cmdline.split()
+    if len(cmd):
+        return cmd[0]
+    return ''
+
+def initramfs_generator_cmdline(d):
+    return "update-initramfs -u -v -k \"$kernel_version\""
+
 ROOTFS_PACKAGES ?= ""
+ROOTFS_INITRAMFS_GENERATOR_CMD ?= "${@ initramfs_generator_cmd(d)}"
+ROOTFS_INITRAMFS_GENERATOR_CMDLINE ?= "${@ initramfs_generator_cmdline(d)}"
 ROOTFS_BASE_DISTRO ?= "${BASE_DISTRO}"
 
 # Features of the rootfs creation:
@@ -183,7 +196,7 @@ rootfs_disable_initrd_generation[weight] = "1"
 rootfs_disable_initrd_generation() {
     # fully disable initrd generation
     sudo mkdir -p "${ROOTFSDIR}${ROOTFS_STUBS_DIR}"
-    sudo cp -a ${ROOTFSDIR}/usr/bin/true ${ROOTFSDIR}${ROOTFS_STUBS_DIR}/update-initramfs
+    sudo cp -a ${ROOTFSDIR}/usr/bin/true ${ROOTFSDIR}${ROOTFS_STUBS_DIR}/${ROOTFS_INITRAMFS_GENERATOR_CMD}
 }
 
 ROOTFS_INSTALL_COMMAND += "rootfs_install_pkgs_update"
@@ -485,11 +498,12 @@ rootfs_generate_initramfs() {
             export kernel_version=$(basename /boot/vmlinu[xz]-* | cut -d'-' -f2-); \
             echo "Total number of modules: $mods_total"; \
             echo "Generating initrd for kernel version: $kernel_version"; \
-            update-initramfs -u -v -k "$kernel_version";'
+            ${ROOTFS_INITRAMFS_GENERATOR_CMDLINE};'
         if [ -n "${INITRD_DEPLOY_FILE}" ]; then
             if [ -f "${ROOTFSDIR}/initrd.img" ]; then
                 # debian (mkinitramfs)
-                cp ${ROOTFSDIR}/initrd.img ${DEPLOYDIR}/${INITRD_DEPLOY_FILE}
+                sudo cp ${ROOTFSDIR}/initrd.img ${DEPLOYDIR}/${INITRD_DEPLOY_FILE}
+                sudo chown $(id -u):$(id -g) ${DEPLOYDIR}/${INITRD_DEPLOY_FILE}
             else
                 # ubuntu (dracut)
                 cp ${ROOTFSDIR}/boot/initrd.img ${DEPLOYDIR}/${INITRD_DEPLOY_FILE}
-- 
2.50.1

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Re: [RFC PATCH v2 3/5] rootfs: Allow to overwrite the initramfs generation cmds

['Jan Kiszka' via isar-users]

On 05.09.25 16:28, Quirin Gylstorff wrote:
> From: Quirin Gylstorff <quirin.gylstorff@siemens.com>
> 
> This is in preparation to support additional initramfs generators
> like dracut.
> 
> Signed-off-by: Quirin Gylstorff <quirin.gylstorff@siemens.com>
> ---
>  meta/classes/rootfs.bbclass | 20 +++++++++++++++++---
>  1 file changed, 17 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)
> 
> diff --git a/meta/classes/rootfs.bbclass b/meta/classes/rootfs.bbclass
> index 7b7859b9..70758cce 100644
> --- a/meta/classes/rootfs.bbclass
> +++ b/meta/classes/rootfs.bbclass
> @@ -5,7 +5,20 @@ inherit deb-dl-dir
>  
>  ROOTFS_ARCH ?= "${DISTRO_ARCH}"
>  ROOTFS_DISTRO ?= "${DISTRO}"
> +
> +def initramfs_generator_cmd(d):
> +    cmdline =  d.getVar('ROOTFS_INITRAMFS_GENERATOR_CMDLINE') or ''
> +    cmd = cmdline.split()
> +    if len(cmd):
> +        return cmd[0]
> +    return ''

Not needed, see below.

> +
> +def initramfs_generator_cmdline(d):
> +    return "update-initramfs -u -v -k \"$kernel_version\""
> +
>  ROOTFS_PACKAGES ?= ""
> +ROOTFS_INITRAMFS_GENERATOR_CMD ?= "${@ initramfs_generator_cmd(d)}"

"${@ d.getVar('ROOTFS_INITRAMFS_GENERATOR_CMDLINE').split()[0]]" that
variable is always defined and always contains at least one word.

Jan

> +ROOTFS_INITRAMFS_GENERATOR_CMDLINE ?= "${@ initramfs_generator_cmdline(d)}"
>  ROOTFS_BASE_DISTRO ?= "${BASE_DISTRO}"
>  
>  # Features of the rootfs creation:
> @@ -183,7 +196,7 @@ rootfs_disable_initrd_generation[weight] = "1"
>  rootfs_disable_initrd_generation() {
>      # fully disable initrd generation
>      sudo mkdir -p "${ROOTFSDIR}${ROOTFS_STUBS_DIR}"
> -    sudo cp -a ${ROOTFSDIR}/usr/bin/true ${ROOTFSDIR}${ROOTFS_STUBS_DIR}/update-initramfs
> +    sudo cp -a ${ROOTFSDIR}/usr/bin/true ${ROOTFSDIR}${ROOTFS_STUBS_DIR}/${ROOTFS_INITRAMFS_GENERATOR_CMD}
>  }
>  
>  ROOTFS_INSTALL_COMMAND += "rootfs_install_pkgs_update"
> @@ -485,11 +498,12 @@ rootfs_generate_initramfs() {
>              export kernel_version=$(basename /boot/vmlinu[xz]-* | cut -d'-' -f2-); \
>              echo "Total number of modules: $mods_total"; \
>              echo "Generating initrd for kernel version: $kernel_version"; \
> -            update-initramfs -u -v -k "$kernel_version";'
> +            ${ROOTFS_INITRAMFS_GENERATOR_CMDLINE};'
>          if [ -n "${INITRD_DEPLOY_FILE}" ]; then
>              if [ -f "${ROOTFSDIR}/initrd.img" ]; then
>                  # debian (mkinitramfs)
> -                cp ${ROOTFSDIR}/initrd.img ${DEPLOYDIR}/${INITRD_DEPLOY_FILE}
> +                sudo cp ${ROOTFSDIR}/initrd.img ${DEPLOYDIR}/${INITRD_DEPLOY_FILE}
> +                sudo chown $(id -u):$(id -g) ${DEPLOYDIR}/${INITRD_DEPLOY_FILE}
>              else
>                  # ubuntu (dracut)
>                  cp ${ROOTFSDIR}/boot/initrd.img ${DEPLOYDIR}/${INITRD_DEPLOY_FILE}


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[RFC PATCH v2 4/5] rootfs Add dracut to initramfs generator

['Quirin Gylstorff' via isar-users]

From: Quirin Gylstorff <quirin.gylstorff@siemens.com>

Signed-off-by: Quirin Gylstorff <quirin.gylstorff@siemens.com>
---
 meta/classes/rootfs.bbclass | 3 +++
 1 file changed, 3 insertions(+)

diff --git a/meta/classes/rootfs.bbclass b/meta/classes/rootfs.bbclass
index 70758cce..62b470f5 100644
--- a/meta/classes/rootfs.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes/rootfs.bbclass
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ def initramfs_generator_cmd(d):
     return ''
 
 def initramfs_generator_cmdline(d):
+    rootfs_packages =  d.getVar('ROOTFS_PACKAGES') or ''
+    if 'dracut' in rootfs_packages:
+        return "dracut --force /initrd.img \"$kernel_version\""
     return "update-initramfs -u -v -k \"$kernel_version\""
 
 ROOTFS_PACKAGES ?= ""
-- 
2.50.1

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[RFC PATCH v2 5/5] initramfs: allow to set the generator command

['Quirin Gylstorff' via isar-users]

From: Quirin Gylstorff <quirin.gylstorff@siemens.com>

This allows to exchange the initramfs generator.

Signed-off-by: Quirin Gylstorff <quirin.gylstorff@siemens.com>
---
 meta/classes/initramfs.bbclass | 19 +++++++++++++++++--
 1 file changed, 17 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/meta/classes/initramfs.bbclass b/meta/classes/initramfs.bbclass
index 658ef0ac..862bd873 100644
--- a/meta/classes/initramfs.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes/initramfs.bbclass
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ INITRAMFS_INSTALL ?= ""
 INITRAMFS_PREINSTALL ?= ""
 INITRAMFS_ROOTFS ?= "${WORKDIR}/rootfs"
 INITRAMFS_IMAGE_NAME = "${INITRAMFS_FULLNAME}.initrd.img"
+INITRAMFS_GENERATOR_PKG ??= "initramfs-tools"
 INITRD_DEPLOY_FILE = "${INITRAMFS_IMAGE_NAME}"
 
 # Install proper kernel
@@ -26,6 +27,20 @@ DEPENDS += "${INITRAMFS_INSTALL}"
 
 ROOTFSDIR = "${INITRAMFS_ROOTFS}"
 ROOTFS_FEATURES = "generate-manifest"
-ROOTFS_PACKAGES = "initramfs-tools ${INITRAMFS_PREINSTALL} ${INITRAMFS_INSTALL}"
-
+ROOTFS_PACKAGES = "${INITRAMFS_GENERATOR_PKG} ${INITRAMFS_PREINSTALL} ${INITRAMFS_INSTALL}"
+
+# validate if have incompatible packages in the installation list
+python do_validate_rootfs_packages () {
+    # in Debian initramfs-tools specific packages should end or star
+    # with initramfs
+    # dracut specific packages end with dracut
+    incompatible_initrd_packages = { 'initramfs-tools':['dracut'],
+                                     'dracut':['initramfs']}
+    initrd_generator = d.getVar("INITRAMFS_GENERATOR_PKG")
+    for invalid_generator_idenitifier in incompatible_initrd_packages.get(initrd_generator):
+        for pkg in d.getVar('ROOTFS_PACKAGES').split():
+            if invalid_generator_idenitifier  in pkg:
+                bb.error(f"{pkg} is incompatible with the selected generator '{initrd_generator}'")
+}
+addtask do_validate_rootfs_packages before do_rootfs_install
 inherit rootfs
-- 
2.50.1

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