diff --git a/.github/workflows/benchmarks.yml b/.github/workflows/benchmarks.yml
index 8445297..982c515 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/benchmarks.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/benchmarks.yml
@@ -81,11 +81,14 @@ jobs:
           kraft-hyperlight --no-prompt build --plat hyperlight --arch x86_64 || true
           if [ ! -d ".unikraft/unikraft" ] || [ -z "$(ls -A .unikraft/unikraft 2>/dev/null)" ]; then
             echo "::warning::kraft didn't clone unikraft sources; cloning manually"
-            UK_BRANCH=$(grep -E '^  version:' kraft.yaml | head -1 | awk '{print $2}')
+            UK_SOURCE=$(awk '/^unikraft:/{f=1} f && /source:/{print $2; exit}' kraft.yaml)
+            UK_BRANCH=$(awk '/^unikraft:/{f=1} f && /version:/{print $2; exit}' kraft.yaml)
+            ELF_SOURCE=$(awk '/app-elfloader:/{f=1} f && /source:/{print $2; exit}' kraft.yaml)
+            ELF_BRANCH=$(awk '/app-elfloader:/{f=1} f && /version:/{print $2; exit}' kraft.yaml)
             mkdir -p .unikraft/apps .unikraft/libs
             rm -rf .unikraft/unikraft .unikraft/apps/elfloader .unikraft/libs/libelf .unikraft/build
-            git clone --branch $UK_BRANCH --depth 1 https://github.com/unikraft/unikraft.git .unikraft/unikraft
-            git clone --branch $UK_BRANCH --depth 1 https://github.com/unikraft/app-elfloader.git .unikraft/apps/elfloader
+            git clone --branch "$UK_BRANCH" --depth 1 "$UK_SOURCE" .unikraft/unikraft
+            git clone --branch "$ELF_BRANCH" --depth 1 "$ELF_SOURCE" .unikraft/apps/elfloader
             git clone --branch staging --depth 1 https://github.com/unikraft/lib-libelf.git .unikraft/libs/libelf
             kraft-hyperlight --no-prompt build --plat hyperlight --arch x86_64
           fi
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-examples.yml b/.github/workflows/publish-examples.yml
index ca5091d..183652b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-examples.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-examples.yml
@@ -121,11 +121,14 @@ jobs:
           kraft-hyperlight --no-prompt build --plat hyperlight --arch x86_64 || true
           # Fallback: manual source clone + build
           if [ ! -f ".unikraft/build/${{ matrix.example.kernel }}" ]; then
-            UK_BRANCH=$(grep 'version:' kraft.yaml | head -1 | awk '{print $2}')
+            UK_SOURCE=$(awk '/^unikraft:/{f=1} f && /source:/{print $2; exit}' kraft.yaml)
+            UK_BRANCH=$(awk '/^unikraft:/{f=1} f && /version:/{print $2; exit}' kraft.yaml)
+            ELF_SOURCE=$(awk '/app-elfloader:/{f=1} f && /source:/{print $2; exit}' kraft.yaml)
+            ELF_BRANCH=$(awk '/app-elfloader:/{f=1} f && /version:/{print $2; exit}' kraft.yaml)
             mkdir -p .unikraft/apps .unikraft/libs
             rm -rf .unikraft/unikraft .unikraft/apps/elfloader
-            git clone --branch $UK_BRANCH --depth 1 https://github.com/unikraft/unikraft.git .unikraft/unikraft
-            git clone --branch $UK_BRANCH --depth 1 https://github.com/unikraft/app-elfloader.git .unikraft/apps/elfloader
+            git clone --branch "$UK_BRANCH" --depth 1 "$UK_SOURCE" .unikraft/unikraft
+            git clone --branch "$ELF_BRANCH" --depth 1 "$ELF_SOURCE" .unikraft/apps/elfloader
             git clone --branch staging --depth 1 https://github.com/unikraft/lib-libelf.git .unikraft/libs/libelf
             rm -rf .unikraft/build
             kraft-hyperlight --no-prompt build --plat hyperlight --arch x86_64
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-examples.yml b/.github/workflows/test-examples.yml
index 6be68af..0066959 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-examples.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-examples.yml
@@ -118,11 +118,14 @@ jobs:
           # Manually clone the components and rebuild with --no-fetch/--no-update.
           if [ ! -d ".unikraft/unikraft" ] || [ -z "$(ls -A .unikraft/unikraft 2>/dev/null)" ]; then
             echo "::warning::kraft didn't clone unikraft sources; cloning manually"
-            UK_BRANCH=$(grep -E '^  version:' kraft.yaml | head -1 | awk '{print $2}')
+            UK_SOURCE=$(awk '/^unikraft:/{f=1} f && /source:/{print $2; exit}' kraft.yaml)
+            UK_BRANCH=$(awk '/^unikraft:/{f=1} f && /version:/{print $2; exit}' kraft.yaml)
+            ELF_SOURCE=$(awk '/app-elfloader:/{f=1} f && /source:/{print $2; exit}' kraft.yaml)
+            ELF_BRANCH=$(awk '/app-elfloader:/{f=1} f && /version:/{print $2; exit}' kraft.yaml)
             mkdir -p .unikraft/apps .unikraft/libs
             rm -rf .unikraft/unikraft .unikraft/apps/elfloader .unikraft/libs/libelf .unikraft/build
-            git clone --branch $UK_BRANCH --depth 1 https://github.com/unikraft/unikraft.git .unikraft/unikraft
-            git clone --branch $UK_BRANCH --depth 1 https://github.com/unikraft/app-elfloader.git .unikraft/apps/elfloader
+            git clone --branch "$UK_BRANCH" --depth 1 "$UK_SOURCE" .unikraft/unikraft
+            git clone --branch "$ELF_BRANCH" --depth 1 "$ELF_SOURCE" .unikraft/apps/elfloader
             git clone --branch staging --depth 1 https://github.com/unikraft/lib-libelf.git .unikraft/libs/libelf
             kraft-hyperlight --no-prompt build --plat hyperlight --arch x86_64
           fi
@@ -299,11 +302,14 @@ jobs:
           kraft-hyperlight --no-prompt build --plat hyperlight --arch x86_64 || true
           if [ ! -d ".unikraft/unikraft" ] || [ -z "$(ls -A .unikraft/unikraft 2>/dev/null)" ]; then
             echo "::warning::kraft didn't clone unikraft sources; cloning manually"
-            UK_BRANCH=$(grep -E '^  version:' kraft.yaml | head -1 | awk '{print $2}')
+            UK_SOURCE=$(awk '/^unikraft:/{f=1} f && /source:/{print $2; exit}' kraft.yaml)
+            UK_BRANCH=$(awk '/^unikraft:/{f=1} f && /version:/{print $2; exit}' kraft.yaml)
+            ELF_SOURCE=$(awk '/app-elfloader:/{f=1} f && /source:/{print $2; exit}' kraft.yaml)
+            ELF_BRANCH=$(awk '/app-elfloader:/{f=1} f && /version:/{print $2; exit}' kraft.yaml)
             mkdir -p .unikraft/apps .unikraft/libs
             rm -rf .unikraft/unikraft .unikraft/apps/elfloader .unikraft/libs/libelf .unikraft/build
-            git clone --branch $UK_BRANCH --depth 1 https://github.com/unikraft/unikraft.git .unikraft/unikraft
-            git clone --branch $UK_BRANCH --depth 1 https://github.com/unikraft/app-elfloader.git .unikraft/apps/elfloader
+            git clone --branch "$UK_BRANCH" --depth 1 "$UK_SOURCE" .unikraft/unikraft
+            git clone --branch "$ELF_BRANCH" --depth 1 "$ELF_SOURCE" .unikraft/apps/elfloader
             git clone --branch staging --depth 1 https://github.com/unikraft/lib-libelf.git .unikraft/libs/libelf
             kraft-hyperlight --no-prompt build --plat hyperlight --arch x86_64
           fi
@@ -440,11 +446,14 @@ jobs:
           just rootfs
           kraft-hyperlight --no-prompt build --plat hyperlight --arch x86_64 || true
           if [ ! -d ".unikraft/unikraft" ] || [ -z "$(ls -A .unikraft/unikraft 2>/dev/null)" ]; then
-            UK_BRANCH=$(grep -E '^  version:' kraft.yaml | head -1 | awk '{print $2}')
+            UK_SOURCE=$(awk '/^unikraft:/{f=1} f && /source:/{print $2; exit}' kraft.yaml)
+            UK_BRANCH=$(awk '/^unikraft:/{f=1} f && /version:/{print $2; exit}' kraft.yaml)
+            ELF_SOURCE=$(awk '/app-elfloader:/{f=1} f && /source:/{print $2; exit}' kraft.yaml)
+            ELF_BRANCH=$(awk '/app-elfloader:/{f=1} f && /version:/{print $2; exit}' kraft.yaml)
             mkdir -p .unikraft/apps .unikraft/libs
             rm -rf .unikraft/unikraft .unikraft/apps/elfloader .unikraft/libs/libelf .unikraft/build
-            git clone --branch $UK_BRANCH --depth 1 https://github.com/unikraft/unikraft.git .unikraft/unikraft
-            git clone --branch $UK_BRANCH --depth 1 https://github.com/unikraft/app-elfloader.git .unikraft/apps/elfloader
+            git clone --branch "$UK_BRANCH" --depth 1 "$UK_SOURCE" .unikraft/unikraft
+            git clone --branch "$ELF_BRANCH" --depth 1 "$ELF_SOURCE" .unikraft/apps/elfloader
             git clone --branch staging --depth 1 https://github.com/unikraft/lib-libelf.git .unikraft/libs/libelf
             kraft-hyperlight --no-prompt build --plat hyperlight --arch x86_64
           fi
diff --git a/examples/dotnet-nativeaot/kraft.yaml b/examples/dotnet-nativeaot/kraft.yaml
index 69030cc..f5c2b2d 100644
--- a/examples/dotnet-nativeaot/kraft.yaml
+++ b/examples/dotnet-nativeaot/kraft.yaml
@@ -18,8 +18,11 @@ unikraft:
     CONFIG_OPTIMIZE_PIE: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI_INITRD: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBRAMFS: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI_CUSTOM: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_MP: '/'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_DRIVER: 'cpiovfs'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_UKOPTS_IFINITRD0: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBCPIOVFS: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBUKCPIO: 'y'
     CONFIG_APPELFLOADER: 'y'
     CONFIG_APPELFLOADER_VFSEXEC: 'y'
diff --git a/examples/go/kraft.yaml b/examples/go/kraft.yaml
index 7537197..547d6d7 100644
--- a/examples/go/kraft.yaml
+++ b/examples/go/kraft.yaml
@@ -26,8 +26,11 @@ unikraft:
     # VFS and initrd support
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI_INITRD: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBRAMFS: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI_CUSTOM: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_MP: '/'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_DRIVER: 'cpiovfs'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_UKOPTS_IFINITRD0: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBCPIOVFS: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBUKCPIO: 'y'
 
     # ELF loader - Go binary location
diff --git a/examples/helloworld-c/kraft.yaml b/examples/helloworld-c/kraft.yaml
index f149bac..36e45f2 100644
--- a/examples/helloworld-c/kraft.yaml
+++ b/examples/helloworld-c/kraft.yaml
@@ -20,8 +20,11 @@ unikraft:
     CONFIG_OPTIMIZE_PIE: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI_INITRD: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBRAMFS: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI_CUSTOM: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_MP: '/'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_DRIVER: 'cpiovfs'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_UKOPTS_IFINITRD0: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBCPIOVFS: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBUKCPIO: 'y'
     CONFIG_APPELFLOADER: 'y'
     CONFIG_APPELFLOADER_VFSEXEC: 'y'
diff --git a/examples/hostfs-posix-c/kraft.yaml b/examples/hostfs-posix-c/kraft.yaml
index e824d64..d2f937f 100644
--- a/examples/hostfs-posix-c/kraft.yaml
+++ b/examples/hostfs-posix-c/kraft.yaml
@@ -25,8 +25,11 @@ unikraft:
     # VFS + initrd as ramfs (for /bin/hello and the ELF loader)
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI_INITRD: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBRAMFS: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI_CUSTOM: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_MP: '/'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_DRIVER: 'cpiovfs'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_UKOPTS_IFINITRD0: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBCPIOVFS: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBUKCPIO: 'y'
 
     # devfs + /dev/hcall (needed for HYPERLIGHT_HCALL symbol;
diff --git a/examples/hostfs-posix-py/kraft.yaml b/examples/hostfs-posix-py/kraft.yaml
index cc5c251..ec17d14 100644
--- a/examples/hostfs-posix-py/kraft.yaml
+++ b/examples/hostfs-posix-py/kraft.yaml
@@ -25,8 +25,11 @@ unikraft:
     # VFS + initrd as ramfs (for /usr/local/bin/python3 and the ELF loader)
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI_INITRD: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBRAMFS: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI_CUSTOM: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_MP: '/'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_DRIVER: 'cpiovfs'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_UKOPTS_IFINITRD0: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBCPIOVFS: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBUKCPIO: 'y'
 
     # devfs + /dev/hcall (needed for HYPERLIGHT_HCALL symbol;
diff --git a/examples/multifn-c/kraft.yaml b/examples/multifn-c/kraft.yaml
index c8dc628..cc98096 100644
--- a/examples/multifn-c/kraft.yaml
+++ b/examples/multifn-c/kraft.yaml
@@ -19,8 +19,11 @@ unikraft:
     CONFIG_OPTIMIZE_PIE: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI_INITRD: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBRAMFS: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI_CUSTOM: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_MP: '/'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_DRIVER: 'cpiovfs'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_UKOPTS_IFINITRD0: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBCPIOVFS: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBUKCPIO: 'y'
     CONFIG_APPELFLOADER: 'y'
     CONFIG_APPELFLOADER_VFSEXEC: 'y'
diff --git a/examples/powershell/kraft.yaml b/examples/powershell/kraft.yaml
index a0ed3bc..8d3bcc9 100644
--- a/examples/powershell/kraft.yaml
+++ b/examples/powershell/kraft.yaml
@@ -22,18 +22,15 @@ unikraft:
     CONFIG_OPTIMIZE_SIZE: 'y'
     CONFIG_OPTIMIZE_PIE: 'y'
 
-    # VFS and initrd support - cpiovfs for zero-copy mount, ramfs for /tmp
+    # VFS and initrd support - cpiovfs for zero-copy mount
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI_CUSTOM: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBCPIOVFS: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBRAMFS: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_MP: '/'
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_DRIVER: 'cpiovfs'
-    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI1_MP: '/tmp'
-    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI1_DRIVER: 'ramfs'
-    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI2_MP: '/root'
-    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI2_DRIVER: 'ramfs'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_UKOPTS_IFINITRD0: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBCPIOVFS: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBUKCPIO: 'y'
 
     # ELF loader - execute PowerShell binary
     CONFIG_APPELFLOADER: 'y'
diff --git a/examples/python-agent-driver/kraft.yaml b/examples/python-agent-driver/kraft.yaml
index a0181e7..4e4cc2e 100644
--- a/examples/python-agent-driver/kraft.yaml
+++ b/examples/python-agent-driver/kraft.yaml
@@ -11,17 +11,20 @@ unikraft:
     CONFIG_LIBUKINTCTLR_HYPERLIGHT: 'y'
     CONFIG_HYPERLIGHT_MAX_GUEST_LOG_LEVEL: 4
 
-    CONFIG_LIBUKPRINT_KLVL_CRIT: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBUKPRINT_KLVL_INFO: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBUKPRINT_PRINT_TIME: 'n'
-    CONFIG_LIBUKPRINT_PRINT_SRCNAME: 'n'
+    CONFIG_LIBUKPRINT_PRINT_SRCNAME: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBUKBOOT_BANNER_NONE: 'y'
     CONFIG_OPTIMIZE_SIZE: 'y'
     CONFIG_OPTIMIZE_PIE: 'y'
 
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI_INITRD: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBRAMFS: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI_CUSTOM: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_MP: '/'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_DRIVER: 'cpiovfs'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_UKOPTS_IFINITRD0: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBCPIOVFS: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBUKCPIO: 'y'
 
     CONFIG_LIBDEVFS: 'y'
diff --git a/examples/python-agent/kraft.yaml b/examples/python-agent/kraft.yaml
index 51d16b7..d627dc3 100644
--- a/examples/python-agent/kraft.yaml
+++ b/examples/python-agent/kraft.yaml
@@ -25,8 +25,11 @@ unikraft:
     # VFS + initrd as ramfs (for /usr/local/bin/python3 and the ELF loader)
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI_INITRD: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBRAMFS: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI_CUSTOM: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_MP: '/'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_DRIVER: 'cpiovfs'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_UKOPTS_IFINITRD0: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBCPIOVFS: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBUKCPIO: 'y'
 
     # devfs + /dev/hcall (needed for HYPERLIGHT_HCALL symbol;
diff --git a/examples/python-tools/kraft.yaml b/examples/python-tools/kraft.yaml
index 5b13fb4..53de59f 100644
--- a/examples/python-tools/kraft.yaml
+++ b/examples/python-tools/kraft.yaml
@@ -26,8 +26,11 @@ unikraft:
     # VFS and initrd support
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI_INITRD: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBRAMFS: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI_CUSTOM: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_MP: '/'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_DRIVER: 'cpiovfs'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_UKOPTS_IFINITRD0: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBCPIOVFS: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBUKCPIO: 'y'
 
     # devfs and host call device (/dev/hcall)
diff --git a/examples/python/kraft.yaml b/examples/python/kraft.yaml
index 96a8e47..dba5357 100644
--- a/examples/python/kraft.yaml
+++ b/examples/python/kraft.yaml
@@ -29,8 +29,11 @@ unikraft:
     # VFS and initrd support
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI_INITRD: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBRAMFS: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI_CUSTOM: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_MP: '/'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_DRIVER: 'cpiovfs'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_UKOPTS_IFINITRD0: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBCPIOVFS: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBUKCPIO: 'y'
 
     # ELF loader - execute Python binary, script passed via cmdline
diff --git a/examples/rust/kraft.yaml b/examples/rust/kraft.yaml
index 5467c24..962a7e9 100644
--- a/examples/rust/kraft.yaml
+++ b/examples/rust/kraft.yaml
@@ -26,8 +26,11 @@ unikraft:
     # VFS and initrd support
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI_INITRD: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBRAMFS: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI_CUSTOM: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_MP: '/'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_DRIVER: 'cpiovfs'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_UKOPTS_IFINITRD0: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBCPIOVFS: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBUKCPIO: 'y'
 
     # ELF loader - Rust binary location
diff --git a/examples/shell/kraft.yaml b/examples/shell/kraft.yaml
index f94c782..242745b 100644
--- a/examples/shell/kraft.yaml
+++ b/examples/shell/kraft.yaml
@@ -23,12 +23,14 @@ unikraft:
     CONFIG_OPTIMIZE_SIZE: 'y'
     CONFIG_OPTIMIZE_PIE: 'y'
 
-    # VFS and initrd support - use ramfs with CPIO extraction
-    # (ramfs handles symlinks reliably, which BusyBox needs for applet symlinks)
+    # VFS and initrd support - cpiovfs for zero-copy mount from CPIO
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI_INITRD: 'y'
-    CONFIG_LIBRAMFS: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI_CUSTOM: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_MP: '/'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_DRIVER: 'cpiovfs'
+    CONFIG_LIBVFSCORE_AUTOMOUNT_CI0_UKOPTS_IFINITRD0: 'y'
+    CONFIG_LIBCPIOVFS: 'y'
     CONFIG_LIBUKCPIO: 'y'
 
     # ELF loader - execute /bin/sh, script/command passed via cmdline
diff --git a/host/examples/test_cpiovfs.rs b/host/examples/test_cpiovfs.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3d93cdd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/host/examples/test_cpiovfs.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+use hyperlight_unikraft::Sandbox;
+
+fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    let kernel = std::env::args()
+        .nth(1)
+        .expect("usage: test_cpiovfs <kernel> <initrd>");
+    let initrd = std::env::args()
+        .nth(2)
+        .expect("usage: test_cpiovfs <kernel> <initrd>");
+
+    eprintln!("=== Test: build + init + snapshot + restore + call ===");
+    {
+        let mut sbox = Sandbox::builder(&kernel)
+            .initrd_file(&initrd)
+            .heap_size(3 * 512 * 1024 * 1024)
+            .build()?;
+        eprintln!("  build OK");
+        sbox.restore()?;
+        let _: () = sbox.call_named("init", ())?;
+        eprintln!("  init OK");
+        sbox.snapshot_now()?;
+        eprintln!("  snapshot OK");
+
+        let snap_path = "/tmp/cpiovfs_snapshot.hls";
+        sbox.save_snapshot(snap_path)?;
+        let snap_size = std::fs::metadata(snap_path)?.len();
+        eprintln!(
+            "  snapshot size: {} MiB ({} bytes)",
+            snap_size / 1024 / 1024,
+            snap_size
+        );
+
+        sbox.restore()?;
+        eprintln!("  restore OK");
+        let _: () = sbox.call_named("run", "print('test ok')".to_string())?;
+        eprintln!("  call OK");
+    }
+
+    eprintln!("=== All tests passed ===");
+    Ok(())
+}
diff --git a/host/src/bin/pyhl.rs b/host/src/bin/pyhl.rs
index 6df59d0..2014df8 100644
--- a/host/src/bin/pyhl.rs
+++ b/host/src/bin/pyhl.rs
@@ -464,8 +464,12 @@ fn cmd_run(args: RunArgs) -> Result<()> {
         .map(|m| parse_mount(m))
         .collect::<Result<_>>()?;
 
+    let initrd = home.join(INITRD_FILE);
+
     let t_load = Instant::now();
-    let mut sandbox = if run_preopens.is_empty() {
+    let mut sandbox = if initrd.is_file() {
+        Sandbox::from_snapshot_file_with_initrd(&snapshot, &run_preopens, &initrd)?
+    } else if run_preopens.is_empty() {
         Sandbox::from_snapshot_file(&snapshot)?
     } else {
         Sandbox::from_snapshot_file_with(&snapshot, &run_preopens)?
diff --git a/host/src/lib.rs b/host/src/lib.rs
index 0759ada..b3bdf1b 100644
--- a/host/src/lib.rs
+++ b/host/src/lib.rs
@@ -1424,7 +1424,7 @@ impl Sandbox {
     /// a 2.5 GB snapshot — enough to double the whole `pyhl run` wall
     /// time on simple scripts.
     pub fn from_snapshot_file<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P) -> Result<Self> {
-        Self::from_snapshot_file_with(path, &[])
+        Self::from_snapshot_file_full(path, &[], None)
     }
 
     /// Load a previously-persisted snapshot and register a
@@ -1439,6 +1439,26 @@ impl Sandbox {
     /// fixed at setup time because it lives in the snapshot's memory
     /// image.
     pub fn from_snapshot_file_with<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P, preopens: &[Preopen]) -> Result<Self> {
+        Self::from_snapshot_file_full(path, preopens, None)
+    }
+
+    /// Load a snapshot with an initrd file re-mapped at the standard
+    /// guest VA (0xC000_0000). Required when the snapshot was taken
+    /// from a cpiovfs-backed guest whose VFS nodes point into the
+    /// initrd region.
+    pub fn from_snapshot_file_with_initrd<P: AsRef<Path>, I: AsRef<Path>>(
+        path: P,
+        preopens: &[Preopen],
+        initrd: I,
+    ) -> Result<Self> {
+        Self::from_snapshot_file_full(path, preopens, Some(initrd.as_ref().to_path_buf()))
+    }
+
+    fn from_snapshot_file_full<P: AsRef<Path>>(
+        path: P,
+        preopens: &[Preopen],
+        initrd: Option<std::path::PathBuf>,
+    ) -> Result<Self> {
         let loaded = Snapshot::from_file_unchecked(path.as_ref())?;
         let arc = Arc::new(loaded);
 
@@ -1453,13 +1473,18 @@ impl Sandbox {
             tools_ref.dispatch(&payload)
         })?;
 
-        let inner = MultiUseSandbox::from_snapshot(arc.clone(), host_funcs, None)?;
+        let mut inner = MultiUseSandbox::from_snapshot(arc.clone(), host_funcs, None)?;
+
+        const INITRD_MAP_BASE: u64 = 0xC000_0000;
+        if let Some(ref initrd_path) = initrd {
+            inner.map_file_cow(initrd_path, INITRD_MAP_BASE, Some("initrd"))?;
+        }
 
         Ok(Self {
             inner,
             snapshot: Some(arc),
-            file_mapping_path: None,
-            file_mapping_base: 0,
+            file_mapping_path: initrd,
+            file_mapping_base: INITRD_MAP_BASE,
             exit_code,
         })
     }
diff --git a/host/src/pyhl.rs b/host/src/pyhl.rs
index df52d88..0d7d18b 100644
--- a/host/src/pyhl.rs
+++ b/host/src/pyhl.rs
@@ -223,7 +223,10 @@ impl Runtime {
                 snap.display()
             );
         }
-        let sandbox = if mounts.is_empty() {
+        let initrd = home.join(INITRD_FILE);
+        let sandbox = if initrd.is_file() {
+            Sandbox::from_snapshot_file_with_initrd(&snap, mounts, &initrd)?
+        } else if mounts.is_empty() {
             Sandbox::from_snapshot_file(&snap)?
         } else {
             Sandbox::from_snapshot_file_with(&snap, mounts)?