[Bug 1678187] Re: Removing a linux-image-extra package fails, if /boot is about full

[Hayden Clark]

I managed to get some free space back on /boot.
I'm posting this in the hopes that what I did may inform any fixing process.
1) List kernels with `dpkg -l | tail -n +6 | grep -E 'linux-image-[0-9]+'`
2) Delete the oldest initrd with update-initramfs -d -k 5.8.0-59-generic. There was now 111Mb free on /boot
3) Run `linux-purge -f`. This did nothing, but it output (presumably from running apt) a "The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required" message
4) Run `apt autoremove`. This removed some kernels and initrd files.

Now I have 256Mb free.

This would be easier if /boot was a little larger. The install process
gives you the choice of "totally automatic" and "you're on your own,
buddy!" when partitioning. One neat trick the old Centos install has was
to allow you to pre-load the manual partitioning scheme with the
default, which you could then modify.


** Attachment added: "Directory listing for /boot"
   https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/initramfs-tools/+bug/1678187/+attachment/5512855/+files/slash-boot-contents-after-fix.txt

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1678187

Title:
  Removing a linux-image-extra package fails, if /boot is about full

Status in initramfs-tools package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed

Bug description:
  System calls /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools when
  purging/removing a linux-image-extra package. That calls "update-
  initramfs -c" which needs significant amount of additional disk space
  in /boot temporarily. But there is no space left, if /boot is full.

  Likewise /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms may call "update-initramfs -u".

  The fix could be to create the new initrg.img file in different partition before replacing the old one by it in update-initramfs. So the update-initramfs script should be fixed. But there may not be such a partition..
  Anyway the likely case when space runs out is when there is a separate /boot partition.

  Alternatively the init scripts should remove the respective /boot/initrd.img-<version> file when removing/installing the linux-image-extra package. That could also be done by
  update-initramfs -d -k <version>
  That may be worse way, as then initrd.img file is missing for longer period of time and system integrity may suffer in case of e.g. power cut.

  Related question: http://askubuntu.com/q/898499/21005
  The output of 'dpkg --purge' presented there shows that corresponding linux-image package may get successfully removed while the linux-image-extra is left broken. If the linux-image-extra package will be removed later, the post-installation script will create an initrd.img file for a non-installed kernel! Same would happen, if removing would be done by apt-get purge.

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
  Package: initramfs-tools 0.103ubuntu4.7
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-71.92~14.04.1-generic 4.4.49
  Uname: Linux 4.4.0-71-generic x86_64
  ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.23
  Architecture: amd64
  CurrentDesktop: XFCE
  Date: Fri Mar 31 17:42:35 2017
  EcryptfsInUse: Yes
  InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-09-21 (922 days ago)
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-Studio 14.04.1 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140722.1)
  PackageArchitecture: all
  SourcePackage: initramfs-tools
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

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