Re: What is z3fold and do I need it? (error: /usr/sbin/mkinitramfs: 12: /etc/initramfs-tools/conf.d/local.conf: z3fold: not found)

[Greg Wooledge <greg@wooledge.org>]

On Thu, Mar 03, 2022 at 10:21:45AM +0000, Ottavio Caruso wrote:
> I was following this guide:
> https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.com/p/speed-mint.html#ID1.2
> 
> So I added:
> 
> # cat /etc/initramfs-tools/conf.d/local.conf
> # List of modules that you want to include in your initramfs.
> # They will be loaded at boot time in the order below.
> #
> # Syntax: module_name [args ...]
> #
> # You must run update-initramfs(8) to effect this change.
> #
> # Examples:
> #
> # raid1
> # sd_mod
> z3fold
> lz4
> 
> Then:
> 
> # update-initramfs -u
> 
> And I get error:
> 
> /usr/sbin/mkinitramfs: 12: /etc/initramfs-tools/conf.d/local.conf: z3fold:
> not found

Well, as your file says, this is supposed to be a kernel module.  On my
system, I have this:

unicorn:~$ locate z3fold
/lib/modules/5.10.0-10-amd64/kernel/mm/z3fold.ko
/lib/modules/5.10.0-11-amd64/kernel/mm/z3fold.ko

However, you're running an oldstable (buster, Debian 10) kernel.  I don't
know whether buster's kernels have this module.

The dangers of following a guide that's written for a *different* operating
system (Mint in this case) is that some or all of it might not apply
to *your* operating system.  This is especially true when you're not on
the current stable release of your operating system.