mkinitramfs cluttering /var/tmp

[Ralf Hildebrandt]

When /boot is too full to accept another kernel/initial ram disk, the installation process stops.
But at the same time mkinitramfs is leaving files and directories in /var/tmp, filling up the disk.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: linux-image-4.4.0-70-generic 4.4.0-70.91
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-59.80-generic 4.4.35
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-59-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: binfmt_misc btrfs xor raid6_pq ufs qnx4 hfsplus hfs minix ntfs msdos jfs xfs libcrc32c vmw_vsock_vmci_transport vsock ppdev coretemp crct10dif_pclmul crc32_pclmul ghash_clmulni_intel aesni_intel aes_x86_64 vmw_balloon lrw gf128mul glue_helper ablk_helper cryptd joydev input_leds serio_raw shpchp parport_pc i2c_piix4 vmw_vmci 8250_fintek mac_hid lp parport autofs4 psmouse vmwgfx vmxnet3 ttm drm_kms_helper syscopyarea sysfillrect sysimgblt fb_sys_fops drm vmw_pvscsi pata_acpi floppy fjes
AlsaDevices:
 total 0
 crw-rw---- 1 root audio 116, 1 Feb 3 11:29 seq
 crw-rw---- 1 root audio 116, 33 Feb 3 11:29 timer
AplayDevices: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'aplay'
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.5
Architecture: amd64
ArecordDevices: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'arecord'
AudioDevicesInUse: Error: command ['fuser', '-v', '/dev/snd/seq', '/dev/snd/timer'] failed with exit code 1:
CRDA: Error: command ['iw', 'reg', 'get'] failed with exit code 1: nl80211 not found.
Date: Tue Mar 28 10:40:56 2017
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=b1ab759c-f679-4e71-af05-24c040877711
InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-05-07 (1785 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-Server 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64 (20120424.1)
IwConfig:
 lo no wireless extensions.

 ens192 no wireless extensions.
Lsusb: Error: command ['lsusb'] failed with exit code 1:
MachineType: VMware, Inc. VMware Virtual Platform
PciMultimedia:

ProcFB: 0 svgadrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-4.4.0-59-generic root=/dev/mapper/vgsys-root ro transparent_hugepage=never
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-4.4.0-59-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-4.4.0-59-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.157.8
RfKill: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'rfkill'
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to xenial on 2016-03-30 (362 days ago)
WifiSyslog:

dmi.bios.date: 09/21/2015
dmi.bios.vendor: Phoenix Technologies LTD
dmi.bios.version: 6.00
dmi.board.name: 440BX Desktop Reference Platform
dmi.board.vendor: Intel Corporation
dmi.board.version: None
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 1
dmi.chassis.vendor: No Enclosure
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnPhoenixTechnologiesLTD:bvr6.00:bd09/21/2015:svnVMware,Inc.:pnVMwareVirtualPlatform:pvrNone:rvnIntelCorporation:rn440BXDesktopReferencePlatform:rvrNone:cvnNoEnclosure:ct1:cvrN/A:
dmi.product.name: VMware Virtual Platform
dmi.product.version: None
dmi.sys.vendor: VMware, Inc.

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This change was made by a bot.

[Chris (cnizzardini)]

I can confirm this is impacting me.

Linux db1 4.4.0-96-generic #119-Ubuntu SMP Tue Sep 12 14:59:54 UTC 2017 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
DISTRIB_RELEASE=16.04
DISTRIB_CODENAME=xenial
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 16.04.2 LTS"

This particular server was unfortunately built with a separate and very small partition for /boot and /var/tmp/ filled up with about 50 GBs worth of mkinitramfs.