The bootloader loads the kernel + a tiny, temporary initial (init) filesystem in RAM (e.g. ramdisk -> rd), where the kernel can load other modules to load the r

The bootloader loads the kernel + a tiny, temporary initial (init) filesystem in RAM (e.g. ramdisk -> rd), where the kernel can load other modules to load the real filesystem (otherwise it would need support for many filesystems compiled in, vs. modules).