[Bug 798414] Re: update-initramfs should produce a more helpful error message when there isn't enough free space--or provide an automatic tool for removal of old files

[Mathew Hodson]

A better fix for this issue is available in Bionic and later and also
backported to Xenial with bug 1675079.

unattended-upgrades and update-manager will now remove unused kernel
packages when there are other updates to be installed.

I'm closing this initramfs-tools task since a fix specifically for this
initramfs-tools package isn't needed now.

** Changed in: initramfs-tools (Ubuntu)
       Status: Fix Released => Won't Fix

** Changed in: initramfs-tools (Ubuntu)
     Assignee: BlaWhickte (blawhickte) => (unassigned)

** No longer affects: dpkg (Ubuntu)

** No longer affects: ubuntu

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

Title:
  update-initramfs should produce a more helpful error message when
  there isn't enough  free space--or provide an automatic tool for
  removal of old files

Status in initramfs-tools package in Ubuntu:
  Won't Fix

Bug description:
  Binary package hint: initramfs-tools

  When installing a kernel, /boot may become full during execution of
  post-installation script typically when update-initramfs is creating
  or updating an initrd.img file. This is resulting in kernel
  installation error.  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

  Ideal behavior:

  Give a more helpful error message when this unfortunate situation
  occurs so that user can fix the broken system and keep it going.

  Workaround:

  As the bug reporting system forwards user to this bug report, such instructions can be given here:
  https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RemoveOldKernels

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