diff --git a/automation/gitlab-ci/test.yaml b/automation/gitlab-ci/test.yaml
index 59a2de28c8..51229cbe56 100644
--- a/automation/gitlab-ci/test.yaml
+++ b/automation/gitlab-ci/test.yaml
@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@
   - project: xen-project/hardware/test-artifacts
     job: linux-6.6.86-arm64
     ref: master
-  - alpine-3.18-arm64-rootfs-export
+  - project: xen-project/hardware/test-artifacts
+    job: alpine-3.18-arm64-rootfs
+    ref: master
   - qemu-system-aarch64-6.0.0-arm64-export
 
 .arm32-test-needs: &arm32-test-needs
@@ -22,7 +24,7 @@
     job: linux-6.6.56-x86_64
     ref: master
   - project: xen-project/hardware/test-artifacts
-    job: x86_64-rootfs-alpine-3.18
+    job: alpine-3.18-x86_64-rootfs
     ref: master
 
 .qemu-arm64:
@@ -243,7 +245,7 @@ xilinx-smoke-dom0-x86_64-gcc-debug-argo:
       job: x86_64-kernel-linux-6.6.56
       ref: master
     - project: xen-project/hardware/test-artifacts
-      job: x86_64-rootfs-alpine-3.18
+      job: alpine-3.18-x86_64-rootfs
       ref: master
     - project: xen-project/hardware/test-artifacts
       job: x86_64-argo-linux-6.6.56
diff --git a/automation/scripts/qemu-alpine-x86_64.sh b/automation/scripts/qemu-alpine-x86_64.sh
index 569bd766d3..c7dd121978 100755
--- a/automation/scripts/qemu-alpine-x86_64.sh
+++ b/automation/scripts/qemu-alpine-x86_64.sh
@@ -28,16 +28,14 @@ cd initrd
 find . | cpio -H newc -o | gzip > ../domU-rootfs.cpio.gz
 cd ..
 
-# initrd.tar.gz is Dom0 rootfs
+# Dom0 rootfs
+cp rootfs.cpio.gz dom0-rootfs.cpio.gz
+
+# test-local configuration
 mkdir -p rootfs
 cd rootfs
-tar xvzf ../initrd.tar.gz
-mkdir proc
-mkdir run
-mkdir srv
-mkdir sys
-rm var/run
 cp -ar ../dist/install/* .
+mkdir -p root etc/local.d
 mv ../domU-rootfs.cpio.gz ./root
 cp ../bzImage ./root
 echo "name=\"domU\"
@@ -60,9 +58,7 @@ xl -vvv create -c /root/domU.cfg
 
 " > etc/local.d/xen.start
 chmod +x etc/local.d/xen.start
-echo "rc_verbose=yes" >> etc/rc.conf
-# rebuild Dom0 rootfs
-find . | cpio -H newc -o | gzip > ../dom0-rootfs.cpio.gz
+find . | cpio -H newc -o | gzip >> ../dom0-rootfs.cpio.gz
 cd ../..
 
 cat >> binaries/pxelinux.0 << EOF
diff --git a/automation/scripts/qemu-smoke-dom0-arm64.sh b/automation/scripts/qemu-smoke-dom0-arm64.sh
index e8e49ded24..c0cf61ff8f 100755
--- a/automation/scripts/qemu-smoke-dom0-arm64.sh
+++ b/automation/scripts/qemu-smoke-dom0-arm64.sh
@@ -27,15 +27,14 @@ cd initrd
 find . | cpio -H newc -o | gzip > ../domU-rootfs.cpio.gz
 cd ..
 
+# Dom0 rootfs
+cp rootfs.cpio.gz dom0-rootfs.cpio.gz
+
+# test-local configuration
 mkdir -p rootfs
 cd rootfs
-tar xvzf ../initrd.tar.gz
-mkdir proc
-mkdir run
-mkdir srv
-mkdir sys
-rm var/run
 cp -ar ../dist/install/* .
+mkdir -p etc/local.d root
 mv ../domU-rootfs.cpio.gz ./root
 cp ../Image ./root
 echo "name=\"domU\"
@@ -56,8 +55,7 @@ xl -vvv create -c /root/domU.cfg
 
 " > etc/local.d/xen.start
 chmod +x etc/local.d/xen.start
-echo "rc_verbose=yes" >> etc/rc.conf
-find . | cpio -H newc -o | gzip > ../dom0-rootfs.cpio.gz
+find . | cpio -H newc -o | gzip >> ../dom0-rootfs.cpio.gz
 cd ../..
 
 # XXX QEMU looks for "efi-virtio.rom" even if it is unneeded
diff --git a/automation/scripts/qemu-smoke-dom0less-arm64.sh b/automation/scripts/qemu-smoke-dom0less-arm64.sh
index f72d209361..8e939f0b72 100755
--- a/automation/scripts/qemu-smoke-dom0less-arm64.sh
+++ b/automation/scripts/qemu-smoke-dom0less-arm64.sh
@@ -114,16 +114,14 @@ cd initrd
 find . | cpio --create --format='newc' | gzip > ../binaries/initrd
 cd ..
 
-# DOM0 rootfs
+# Dom0 rootfs
+cp binaries/rootfs.cpio.gz binaries/dom0-rootfs.cpio.gz
+
+# test-local configuration
 mkdir -p rootfs
 cd rootfs
-tar xzf ../binaries/initrd.tar.gz
-mkdir proc
-mkdir run
-mkdir srv
-mkdir sys
-rm var/run
 cp -ar ../binaries/dist/install/* .
+mkdir -p etc/local.d
 
 echo "#!/bin/bash
 
@@ -142,8 +140,7 @@ xl network-attach 1 type=vif
 ${dom0_check}
 " > etc/local.d/xen.start
 chmod +x etc/local.d/xen.start
-echo "rc_verbose=yes" >> etc/rc.conf
-find . | cpio -H newc -o | gzip > ../binaries/dom0-rootfs.cpio.gz
+find . | cpio -H newc -o | gzip >> ../binaries/dom0-rootfs.cpio.gz
 cd ..
 
 # ImageBuilder
diff --git a/automation/scripts/qubes-x86-64.sh b/automation/scripts/qubes-x86-64.sh
index c4be714642..e2376cb51c 100755
--- a/automation/scripts/qubes-x86-64.sh
+++ b/automation/scripts/qubes-x86-64.sh
@@ -164,16 +164,13 @@ ${domU_extra_config}
 "
 
 if [ -n "$domU_check" ]; then
-    # DomU
+    # DomU rootfs
+    cp binaries/rootfs.cpio.gz binaries/domU-rootfs.cpio.gz
+
+    # test-local configuration
     mkdir -p rootfs
     cd rootfs
-    # fakeroot is needed to preserve device nodes in rootless podman container
-    fakeroot -s ../fakeroot-save tar xzf ../binaries/initrd.tar.gz
-    mkdir proc
-    mkdir run
-    mkdir srv
-    mkdir sys
-    rm var/run
+    mkdir -p etc/local.d
     echo "#!/bin/sh
 
 echo 8 > /proc/sys/kernel/printk
@@ -181,26 +178,22 @@ echo 8 > /proc/sys/kernel/printk
 ${domU_check}
 " > etc/local.d/xen.start
     chmod +x etc/local.d/xen.start
-    echo "rc_verbose=yes" >> etc/rc.conf
     echo "domU Welcome to Alpine Linux
 Kernel \r on an \m (\l)
 
 " > etc/issue
-    find . | fakeroot -i ../fakeroot-save cpio -H newc -o | gzip > ../binaries/domU-rootfs.cpio.gz
+    find . | cpio -H newc -o | gzip >> ../binaries/domU-rootfs.cpio.gz
     cd ..
     rm -rf rootfs
 fi
 
-# DOM0 rootfs
+# Dom0 rootfs
+cp binaries/rootfs.cpio.gz binaries/dom0-rootfs.cpio.gz
+
+# test-local configuration
 mkdir -p rootfs
 cd rootfs
-fakeroot -s ../fakeroot-save tar xzf ../binaries/initrd.tar.gz
-mkdir boot
-mkdir proc
-mkdir run
-mkdir srv
-mkdir sys
-rm var/run
+mkdir -p boot etc/local.d
 cp -ar ../binaries/dist/install/* .
 cp -ar ../binaries/tests .
 cp -a ../automation/scripts/run-tools-tests tests/
@@ -237,7 +230,6 @@ fi
 chmod +x etc/local.d/xen.start
 echo "$domU_config" > etc/xen/domU.cfg
 
-echo "rc_verbose=yes" >> etc/rc.conf
 echo "XENCONSOLED_TRACE=all" >> etc/default/xencommons
 echo "QEMU_XEN=/bin/false" >> etc/default/xencommons
 mkdir -p var/log/xen/console
@@ -245,7 +237,7 @@ cp ../binaries/bzImage boot/vmlinuz
 if [ -n "$domU_check" ]; then
     cp ../binaries/domU-rootfs.cpio.gz boot/initrd-domU
 fi
-find . | fakeroot -i ../fakeroot-save cpio -H newc -o | gzip > ../binaries/dom0-rootfs.cpio.gz
+find . | cpio -H newc -o | gzip >> ../binaries/dom0-rootfs.cpio.gz
 cd ..
 
 
diff --git a/automation/scripts/xilinx-smoke-dom0-x86_64.sh b/automation/scripts/xilinx-smoke-dom0-x86_64.sh
index 7e5382931b..1fc52d78db 100755
--- a/automation/scripts/xilinx-smoke-dom0-x86_64.sh
+++ b/automation/scripts/xilinx-smoke-dom0-x86_64.sh
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ argo-exec -l -p 28333 -- /bin/echo
 "
 copy_dom0_files ()
 {
+    mkdir -p root usr/local/lib usr/local/bin
     cp "${WORKDIR}/binaries/xen-argo.ko" "root/"
     cp -ar "${WORKDIR}/binaries/lib/"* "usr/local/lib/"
     cp "${WORKDIR}/binaries/argo-exec" "usr/local/bin/"
@@ -89,12 +90,13 @@ else
     fatal "Unknown test: ${TEST}"
 fi
 
-# Set up domU rootfs.
+# DomU rootfs
+cp binaries/rootfs.cpio.gz binaries/domU-rootfs.cpio.gz
+
+# test-local configuration
 mkdir -p rootfs
 cd rootfs
-tar xzf ../binaries/initrd.tar.gz
-mkdir proc run srv sys
-rm var/run
+mkdir -p etc/local.d
 echo "#!/bin/sh
 set -x
 export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/usr/local/lib
@@ -102,22 +104,22 @@ PATH=/usr/local/bin:/usr/local/sbin:\$PATH
 ${DOMU_CMD}
 " > etc/local.d/xen.start
 chmod +x etc/local.d/xen.start
-echo "rc_verbose=yes" >> etc/rc.conf
 echo "domU Welcome to Alpine Linux
 Kernel \r on an \m (\l)
 
 " > etc/issue
 copy_domU_files
-find . | cpio -H newc -o | gzip > ../binaries/domU-rootfs.cpio.gz
+find . | cpio -H newc -o | gzip >> ../binaries/domU-rootfs.cpio.gz
 cd ..
 rm -rf rootfs
 
-# Set up dom0 rootfs.
+# Dom0 rootfs
+cp binaries/rootfs.cpio.gz binaries/dom0-rootfs.cpio.gz
+
+# test-local configuration
 mkdir -p rootfs
 cd rootfs
-tar xzf ../binaries/initrd.tar.gz
-mkdir boot proc run srv sys
-rm var/run
+mkdir -p boot etc/local.d
 cp -ar ../binaries/dist/install/* .
 echo "#!/bin/bash
 set -x
@@ -127,14 +129,13 @@ ${DOM0_CMD}
 " > etc/local.d/xen.start
 chmod +x etc/local.d/xen.start
 echo "${DOMU_CFG}${DOMU_CFG_EXTRA}" > etc/xen/domU.cfg
-echo "rc_verbose=yes" >> etc/rc.conf
 echo "XENCONSOLED_TRACE=all" >> etc/default/xencommons
 echo "QEMU_XEN=/bin/false" >> etc/default/xencommons
 mkdir -p var/log/xen/console
 cp ../binaries/bzImage boot/vmlinuz
 cp ../binaries/domU-rootfs.cpio.gz boot/initrd-domU
 copy_dom0_files
-find . | cpio -H newc -o | gzip > ../binaries/dom0-rootfs.cpio.gz
+find . | cpio -H newc -o | gzip >> ../binaries/dom0-rootfs.cpio.gz
 cd ..
 
 # Load software into TFTP server directory.
@@ -147,7 +148,7 @@ echo "
 net_default_server=10.0.6.1
 multiboot2 (tftp)/${TEST_BOARD}/xen ${XEN_CMDLINE} sync_console
 module2 (tftp)/${TEST_BOARD}/vmlinuz console=hvc0 root=/dev/ram0 earlyprintk=xen
-module2 (tftp)/${TEST_BOARD}/initrd-dom0
+module2 --nounzip (tftp)/${TEST_BOARD}/initrd-dom0
 boot
 " > ${TFTP}/${TEST_BOARD}/grub.cfg
 
diff --git a/automation/scripts/xilinx-smoke-dom0less-arm64.sh b/automation/scripts/xilinx-smoke-dom0less-arm64.sh
index 3e1fcf6bf9..a3031ecab0 100755
--- a/automation/scripts/xilinx-smoke-dom0less-arm64.sh
+++ b/automation/scripts/xilinx-smoke-dom0less-arm64.sh
@@ -38,36 +38,31 @@ echo \"${passed}\"
 "
 fi
 
-# DomU
+# DomU rootfs
+cp binaries/rootfs.cpio.gz binaries/domU-rootfs.cpio.gz
+
+# test-local configuration
 mkdir -p rootfs
 cd rootfs
-tar xzf ../binaries/initrd.tar.gz
-mkdir proc
-mkdir run
-mkdir srv
-mkdir sys
-rm var/run
+mkdir -p etc/local.d
 echo "#!/bin/sh
 
 ${domU_check}
 /bin/sh" > etc/local.d/xen.start
 chmod +x etc/local.d/xen.start
-echo "rc_verbose=yes" >> etc/rc.conf
-find . | cpio -H newc -o | gzip > ../binaries/domU-rootfs.cpio.gz
+find . | cpio -H newc -o | gzip >> ../binaries/domU-rootfs.cpio.gz
 cd ..
 rm -rf rootfs
 
-# DOM0 rootfs
+# Dom0 rootfs
+cp binaries/rootfs.cpio.gz binaries/dom0-rootfs.cpio.gz
+
+# test-local configuration
 mkdir -p rootfs
 cd rootfs
-tar xzf ../binaries/initrd.tar.gz
-mkdir proc
-mkdir run
-mkdir srv
-mkdir sys
-rm var/run
 cp -ar ../binaries/dist/install/* .
 
+mkdir -p etc/local.d
 echo "#!/bin/bash
 
 export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/usr/local/lib
@@ -78,8 +73,7 @@ bash /etc/init.d/xencommons start
 ${dom0_check}
 " > etc/local.d/xen.start
 chmod +x etc/local.d/xen.start
-echo "rc_verbose=yes" >> etc/rc.conf
-find . | cpio -H newc -o | gzip > ../binaries/dom0-rootfs.cpio.gz
+find . | cpio -H newc -o | gzip >> ../binaries/dom0-rootfs.cpio.gz
 cd ..