Initramfs zfs boot

Overview

Both Debian and Ubuntu fail to boot when there is an arbitrarily more complex zpool than a single vdev that contains the bootfs.

Notes on Boot Process

• The linux kernel is initially bootstrapped.
• The compiled-in initramfs is mounted and executed.
  • It mounts the external initramfs; Deletes everything under its own initramfs; Executes the external initramfs /init

(External) initramfs init

• Create
  • /dev
  • /root
  • /sys
  • /proc
  • /tmp
  • /var/lock
• Mount
  • /sys
  • /proc
  • /dev
  • /dev/pts
  • /run
• Create
  • /run/initramfs
• Setup bash exports
• Setup hostname
• Source
  • /conf/initramfs.conf
  • /conf/conf.d/*
  • /scripts/functions
• Parse command line options
  • init root rootflags rootfstype rootdelay resumedelay loop loopflags loopfstype crytopts nfsroot netboot ip ip6 boot ubi.mtd resume resume_offset noresume drop_capabilities panic quiet ro rw debug break blacklist netconsole BOOTIF hwaddr fastboot forcefsck fsckfix fsckmode fsck.repair recovery