[klibc] initramfs memory requirements

[H. Peter Anvin]

Andreas Jellinghaus wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> please correct me if I'm wrong:
>  - the kernel needs enough ram for the compressed initramfs and the
>    same files decompressed, so it can decompress the files and boot
>    the /init on the initramfs.
>  - if the kernel does not have enough ram, it will kernel panic.
> 
> my tests were done on a server with 256 mb ram and a 80MB
> compressed initrd. I removed some packages and now it fits
> and the kernel no longer segfaults. I know this is maybe not
> the intendet audience for initramfs, but otherwise it works
> fine.
> 
> Regards, Andreas
> 

That is correct.  It would be possible to reduce the total memory 
requirement by making the decompressor free the compressed pages as it 
works, but that is not currently done.

	-hpa