Bug#344664: sarge kernel package upgrade fails on vfat-based /boot

[Dave Chinner <david@fromorbit.com>]

Package: kernel-image-2.6.8-2-686
Version: 2.6.8-16sarge1

dispair:~> sudo dpkg --install  /var/cache/apt/archives/kernel-image-2.6.8-2-686_2.6.8-16sarge1_i386.deb
(Reading database ... 94347 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace kernel-image-2.6.8-2-686 2.6.8-16 
(using .../kernel-image-2.6.8-2-686_2.6.8-16sarge1_i386.deb) ...
The directory /lib/modules/2.6.8-2-686 still exists. Continuing as directed.
Unpacking replacement kernel-image-2.6.8-2-686 ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/kernel-image-2.6.8-2-686_2.6.8-16sarge1_i386.deb (--install):
 unable to make backup link of `./boot/config-2.6.8-2-686' before installing new version: Operation not permitted
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Searching for GRUB installation directory ... found: /boot/grub .
Testing for an existing GRUB menu.list file... found: /boot/grub/menu.lst .
Searching for splash image... none found, skipping...
Found kernel: /vmlinuz-2.6.13
Found kernel: /vmlinuz-2.6.8-2-686
Found kernel: /vmlinuz-2.6.8-1-386
Updating /boot/grub/menu.lst ... done

Errors were encountered while processing:
 /var/cache/apt/archives/kernel-image-2.6.8-2-686_2.6.8-16sarge1_i386.deb
dispair:~>

The problem is due to the fact that my /boot directory is actually a
vfat partition:

dispair:~> grep boot /proc/mounts
/dev/hda1 /boot vfat 
rw,nodiratime,fmask=0022,dmask=0022,codepage=cp437,iocharset=iso8859-1 0 0
dispair:~>   

and vfat does not support symlinks or hard links.

Hence failing to make a backup link for the existing kernel image
should not be a fatal error for installing the package. At least, not
a fatal error that can't be overridden somehow, as --force-all still
fails...

Cheers,

Dave.
-- 
Dave Chinner
david@fromorbit.com