[Bug 798414] Re: update-initramfs should produce a more helpful error when there isn't enough free space

[Daniel Oliver]

Looks like this bug tracks a change in an error message, which is
strange since most users will be very confused about why this is
hitting. For instance, my hard drive  has 132 of 148 gigs free (89%
free). The system telling me to, "free disk space" will do little to
help help clear the matter up.

It seems like there's a functionality bug  occurring --- perhaps the
title of the bug should be changed to reflect that?

Just my $.02.

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/798414

Title:
  update-initramfs should produce a more helpful error when there isn't
  enough  free space

Status in tools for generating an initramfs:
  Confirmed
Status in NULL Project:
  Fix Released
Status in initramfs-tools package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed

Bug description:
  Binary package hint: initramfs-tools

  When generating a new initramfs there is no check for available free
  space, subsequently its possible for update-initramfs to fail due to a
  lack of free space.  This is resulting in package installation
  failures for initramfs-tools.  For example:

  Setting up initramfs-tools (0.98.8ubuntu3) ...
  update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
  Processing triggers for initramfs-tools ...
  update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic

  gzip: stdout: No space left on device
  E: mkinitramfs failure cpio 141 gzip 1
  update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic
  dpkg: error processing initramfs-tools (--configure):
   subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1

  WORKAROUND:

  Remove unused kernels using computer janitor or manually free space on
  your partition containing the /boot file system.

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