mkinitrd... syntax

[Harry Putnam]

A recent custom build of kernel linux-2.6.4-1.286
failed to complete and never returned the prompt.  A ^C after 1/2
hour wait ended the session with no further output.
It seems most things were done but /boot/grub/grub.conf was not
edited and no initrd file was produced.

Trying to finish up manually I ran into mkinitrd and find I don't
really know how to use it... and further that the man page fails to
make it clear as well:

man mkinitrd says:
SYNOPSIS
       mkinitrd [--version] [-v] [-f]
                [--preload=module] [--omit-scsi-modules]
                [--omit-raid-modules] [--omit-lvm-modules]
                [--with=module] [--image-version]
                [--fstab=fstab] [--nocompress]
                [--builtin=module] [--nopivot]
                image kernel-version

The last line:
  image kernel-version

What does `image' refer too.

Is this the desired name for the output file or what?  Maybe the
target vmlinuz we need initrid for?

Trying the later with this syntax:

  mkinitrd -v --omit-scsi-modules --omit-raid-modules --omit-lvm-modules
  /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.4-1.286custom 2.6.4-1.286custom 

I get a message `/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.4-1.286custom already exists.'

And it does, but its not an initrd so what is supposed to go there?

trying the former with this syntax
  mkinitrd -v --omit-scsi-modules --omit-raid-modules --omit-lvm-modules
  myinitrd  2.6.4-1.286custom 

ouputs this much:
  Looking for deps of module ide-disk
  Looking for deps of module ext3
  Using modules: 

And never returns the prompt from there.  I've given it 1/2 hour.

ps wwaux reports a total of 2 pids for that command 1 minute apart
but `top' doesn't report any activity on them