Differences between Linux kernel files

VmlinuxThe most original kernel file compiled is not compressed.

ZimageIs a gzip compressed file in vmlinux.

BzimageBZ indicates "Big zimage", which is not compressed with Bzip2. The difference between the two is that zimage decompress the kernel to the low-end memory (the first 640 K), and bzimage decompress the kernel to the high-end memory (more than 1 MB ). If the kernel is small, zimage or bzimage will be used. If the kernel is large, bzimage will be used.

UimageU-boot-specific image file, which is added with a tag with a length of 0x40 before zimage.

VmlinuzIs a copy of The bzimage/zimage file or a link to bzimage/zimage.

InitrdIs short for "Initial ramdisk. It is usually used to temporarily boot the hardware to the State where the actual kernel vmlinuz can take over and continue the boot.