When the kernel loads, it immediately initializes and configures the computer’s memory. Next it configures the various hardware attached to the system, including all processors and I/O subsystems, as well as any storage devices. It then looks for the compressed initrd image in a predetermined location in memory, decompresses it, mounts it, and loads all necessary drivers. Next it initializes file system-related virtual devices, such as LVM or software RAID before unmounting the initrd disk image and freeing up all the memory it once occupied.
After the kernel has initialized all the devices on the system, it creates a root device, mounts the root partition read-only, and frees unused memory.
At this point, with the kernel loaded into memory and operational. However, with no user applications to give the user the ability to provide meaningful input to the system, not much can be done with it.
To set up the user environment, the kernel starts the /sbin/init command.
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