If you tried recently to build your kernel with genkernel (4.0.0_beta17, but you will have the same problem with 3.x) you may end up with the following error:
* ERROR: Unable to generate splash, 'splash_geninitramfs' was not found!
The splash_geninitramfs was part of the removed Gentoo ebuild package – “media-gfx/splashutils“. The software in the package splashutils had not been maintained for a really long time and eventually, it was removed. At present, there is no package offering the splash_geninitramfs. Still, the same functionality could be archived with “sys-boot/plymouth“, but the genkernel does not have the option to use it.
The genkernel command option, which triggers the error is “–splash” you must remove it. And check whether the following option in “/etc/genkernel.conf” is set to “no” (at least, in genkernel version 3.x is the default set to “yes”):
SPLASH="no"
When you instruct the genkernel not to add boot splash using splashutils the error will be gone and the kernel build will be successful.
The output error
We include the output error when using “–splash” with genkernel and the last part of genkernel.log.
livecd ~ # genkernel --splash --install --clean --no-mrproper --menuconfig all * Gentoo Linux Genkernel; Version 4.0.0_beta17 * Using genkernel configuration from '/etc/genkernel.conf' ... * Running with options: --splash --install --clean --no-mrproper --menuconfig all * Working with Linux kernel 5.3.1-gentoo for x86_64 * Using kernel config file '/usr/share/genkernel/arch/x86_64/generated-config' ... * * Note: The version above is subject to change (depends on config and status of kernel sources). * kernel: >> Initializing ... * >> Running 'make clean' ... * >> --no-mrproper is set; Skipping 'make mrproper' ... * >> Running 'make oldconfig' ... * >> Invoking menuconfig ... * >> Re-running 'make oldconfig' due to changed kernel options ... * >> Kernel version has changed (probably due to config change) since genkernel start: * We are now building Linux kernel 5.3.1-gentoo-x86_64 for x86_64 ... * >> Compiling 5.3.1-gentoo-x86_64 bzImage ... * >> Compiling 5.3.1-gentoo-x86_64 modules ... * >> Installing 5.3.1-gentoo-x86_64 modules (and stripping) ... * >> Generating module dependency data ... * >> Saving config of successful build to '/etc/kernels/kernel-config-5.3.1-gentoo-x86_64' ... * initramfs: >> Initializing ... * >> Appending devices cpio data ... * >> Appending base_layout cpio data ... * >> Appending auxilary cpio data ... * >> Appending blkid cpio data ... * >> Appending busybox cpio data ... * >> Appending mdadm cpio data ... * >> Appending modprobed cpio data ... * >> Appending splash cpio data ... * ERROR: Unable to generate splash, 'splash_geninitramfs' was not found! * Please consult '/var/log/genkernel.log' for more information and any * errors that were reported above. * * Report any genkernel bugs to bugs.gentoo.org and * assign your bug to genkernel@gentoo.org. Please include * as much information as you can in your bug report; attaching * '/var/log/genkernel.log' so that your issue can be dealt with effectively. * * Please do *not* report kernel compilation failures as genkernel bugs! livecd ~ # cat /var/log/genkernel.log ..... ..... * >> Appending splash cpio data ... * ERROR: Unable to generate splash, 'splash_geninitramfs' was not found! * Please consult '/var/log/genkernel.log' for more information and any * errors that were reported above. * * Report any genkernel bugs to bugs.gentoo.org and * assign your bug to genkernel@gentoo.org. Please include * as much information as you can in your bug report; attaching * '/var/log/genkernel.log' so that your issue can be dealt with effectively. * * Please do *not* report kernel compilation failures as genkernel bugs! * * mount: >> '/boot' is not a mountpoint; Nothing to restore ... >>> Ended on: 2019-09-30 18:11:20 (after 0 days 0 hours 08 minutes 06 seconds)