file command does not understand xz-compressed initrd

Solution Verified - Updated 2024-08-07T05:02:23+00:00 -

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Environment

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
• file-5.04-6.el6

Issue

• file command does not understand xz-compressed initrd.

$file initrd.img 
initrd.img: data

Resolution

• Upgrade to file-5.04-13. For information on the advisory, and where to find the updated files, follow the link below.
  • http://access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2012:0391

Root Cause

• Previously, the file utility did not parse the name of an RPM package from the RPM file. As a consequence, the utility did not print the name of the RPM package. This update adds a "magic" pattern for RPM package name parsing, and the name is now printed as expected.

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