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Re: Update: Last Linux kernel did not install correctly (was: Re: Problems with Apper / automatic upgrading of my Debian 7.11 system)



On Wednesday 29 June 2016 14:31:43 David Wright wrote:

> On Wed 29 Jun 2016 at 11:35:50 (-0400), Gene Heskett wrote:
> > On Wednesday 29 June 2016 10:44:46 Selim T. Erdoğan wrote:
> > > On Tue, Jun 28, 2016 at 09:32:43AM -0400, rhkramer@gmail.com wrote:
> > > > Ok, I now believe that my problem is that the last Linux image
> > > > (kernel) update did not install correctly / completely.  That
> > > > image was "linux-image-3.2.0-4- amd64 Linux 3.2 for 64-bit PCs"
> > > >
> > > > I believe that what has been happening since then is that, each
> > > > time I've installed something else (either recommended by apper
> > > > to keep the system up- to-date or as a new program I wanted)
> > > > both the intended program and the Linux image attempted to
> > > > install, and, typically, the intended program was installed or
> > > > updated successfully, but the Linux image was not.
> > > >
> > > > I can't absolutely confirm that for every case before a few days
> > > > ago, but, in the updates or installs I've done since then, I've
> > > > noticed that the popup message that says there was a problem
> > > > occurs while apper is attempting to install the new kernel.  (To
> > > > clarify--since that attempt about two weeks ago to install the
> > > > kernel, every subsequent attempt to install anything has caused
> > > > that message to popup, but, before a few days ago, I hadn't
> > > > noticed that apper was re-attempting to install the Linux
> > > > image).
> > > >
> > > > Aside: apper has installed several linux images before this one,
> > > > and I never had this problem before, and typically did not
> > > > reboot soon after the update-- instead, I waited until there was
> > > > some other reason to reboot.
> > > >
> > > > So, now what do I do?
> > >
> > > I sometimes have problems with /boot getting full.  If you've
> > > installed several linux images and they're all taking up room in
> > > /boot, you might have to get rid of an old one (which you won't be
> > > using anymore).
> > >
> > > You can check if /boot is getting full with the "df -h" command.
> > >
> > > To get rid of an old image cleanly, just purge the associated
> > > package.
> >
> > Another case where one can get bit is if the vmlinuz file is split
> > by the allocation of a 2nd inode to it, and this inode is beyond the
> > ability of the bios to reach.  My own /boot is a directory in /, and
> > without a separate /boot partition, this could bite me even though a
> > du -h /boot says its only using 97Mb.
>
> That might prevent you from booting a given kernel, but it shouldn't
> prevent you installing anything successfully.
>
> > Our tools for mapping that and showing us meaningful data do not
> > seem to exist, or I have not been made aware of them.
>
> Is   hdparm --fibmap   what you are missing?
>
> Cheers,
> David.

Looks good David, except it is a file at a time, not liking a /boot/* 
invocation.  Works well on individual files.

Thanks for the clue, now I should know how to check it the next time I 
think its biting me.

Cheers, Gene Heskett
-- 
"There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty:
 soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order."
-Ed Howdershelt (Author)
Genes Web page <http://geneslinuxbox.net:6309/gene>


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