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

[Alex]

Happened to me yet again, on a new system, running 16.10. Why is this
still a thing? It affects every single person who uses the OS since if
you don't consciously take steps to prevent it it's guaranteed to
happen. And it means Ubuntu is fundamentally unsuited for general use
because every layperson who uses it is going to eventually get to a
point where they cannot install new packages. It's downright
embarrassing. I don't understand, either, how this is only medium
importance.

I mean, lord, compare it to this high-importance bug:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/initramfs-tools/+bug/1554795

Not to say that subjecting users to an arbitrary timeout (with typos!)
is a good thing, but this bug affects way more users than that bug does
and it also has the potential to wreck systems for novice users. And
undoubtedly has, over the past five-plus years it's been in existence.

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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 initramfs-tools:
  Confirmed
Status in initramfs-tools package in Ubuntu:
  In Progress

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 (not in repositories for
  14.04 or later) or manually free space on your partition containing
  the /boot file system.

  See instructions here
  https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RemoveOldKernels

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