Bug#400439: initramfs-tools: postinst may not update initramfs

[maximilian attems <maks@sternwelten.at>]

On Sun, 26 Nov 2006, Nikita V. Youshchenko wrote:

> Looks line postinst script of initramfs-tools package just runs
> 'update-initramfs -u'

yes and it will stay like this.
 
> This looks to update initramfs image for one of installed linux-image
> packages, while keeping it as-is for all other packages. This could lead
> to different sorts of inconsistency.
> 
> E.g. on one of systems, I have linux-image-2.6.18-2-xen-k7 and
> linux-image-2.6.18-2-k7 packages installed. Normally xen version is
> running, but non-xen version is kept for the case if things will go
> wrong.

this is a known case where the sorting gets wrong,
but power user, who have several kernels installed can
take care of that.
 
> So what is stated in the man page ('update-initramfs -u updates
> the initramfs of the newest kernel') is not true. 2.6.18-2-xen-k7 *is*
> newest, but it's initramfs image is not updated.
> I think that '-u' whthout '-k' in it's current implementation does not
> make sence at all, because aclually it updates initramfs of semi-random
> kernel.

just if you install several kernels of the same version,
than it picks the image on alphabetical order.
 
> I thinks that tho things should be done
> - postinst should be changed either to call 'update-initramfs -u -k all',
>   or to ask somehow what images should be updated,
> - update-initramfs should be modified either to require -k, or to use
>   better logic to find out what kernel image is the 'latest'.

the sorting algorythm could be refined,
but needs to take into account that the current running
is not the latest..
postetch material anyway.
 
-- 
maks