initramfs-tools failed to install/upgrade, due to not being able to write initrd or vmlinuz.
Affects | Status | Importance | Assigned to | Milestone | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
initramfs-tools (Ubuntu) |
Invalid
|
Undecided
|
Unassigned | ||
Maverick |
Won't Fix
|
Undecided
|
Unassigned | ||
Natty |
Won't Fix
|
Undecided
|
Unassigned | ||
usb-creator (Ubuntu) |
Fix Released
|
High
|
Evan | ||
Maverick |
Won't Fix
|
Medium
|
Unassigned | ||
Natty |
Fix Released
|
High
|
Evan |
Bug Description
[Problem]
When dragging the "How much" slider all the way to the right, it may leave very little room left for system file updates. This can produce errors when trying to a) do a system update, b) install kernel drivers, c) anything else that requires system space outside the persistent storage.
This can also be seen on smaller USB drives (~1 GB) even if no persistent storage is present, just because there isn't that much space available to begin with.
[Discussion]
This bug appears because on live systems, new initrds are written to /cdrom/
If you create a persistent live system via Startup Disk Creator and pull the "How much" slider to the right as far as possible (what seems sensible for most cases and users), all space not used for the system is allocated for that documents-
You might see different error messages depending on what process noticed the out-of-space issue. For instance, maybe there was enough space to update initramfs but not add the new kernel.
Perhaps Startup Disk Creator should leave some spare space on the live medium even if the user chooses "use all remaining space available for my live medium".
See also bug #685017 which describes one (unfortunately common) end result of this. Installation of a binary driver can overrun the available space and thus error (and potentially render the usb key useless).
[Original Report]
Binary package hint: initramfs-tools
Can not install Broadcom STA wireless driver package "bcmwl-
(bcmwl-
ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
Package: initramfs-tools 0.92bubuntu71 [modified: usr/sbin/
ProcVersionSign
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-19-generic i686
AptOrdering:
initramfs-tools: Configure
bcmwl-
Architecture: i386
Date: Tue Apr 13 13:59:53 2010
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
LiveMediaBuild: Ubuntu 10.04 "Lucid Lynx" - Beta i386 (20100406.1)
PackageArchitec
SourcePackage: initramfs-tools
Title: package initramfs-tools 0.92bubuntu71 [modified: usr/sbin/
summary: |
package initramfs-tools 0.92bubuntu71 [modified: usr/sbin/update- - initramfs] failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post- - installation script returned error exit status 1 + initramfs] failed to install/upgrade: lzma: Encoder error: -2147467259 |
description: | updated |
description: | updated |
summary: |
- package initramfs-tools 0.92bubuntu71 [modified: usr/sbin/update- - initramfs] failed to install/upgrade: lzma: Encoder error: -2147467259 + initramfs-tools failed to install/upgrade, due to all space on usb key + reserved for persistent storage. No space left to write initrd or + vmlinuz. |
description: | updated |
Changed in usb-creator (Ubuntu): | |
status: | Confirmed → Fix Released |
Changed in usb-creator (Ubuntu Natty): | |
status: | Confirmed → Fix Released |
Changed in initramfs-tools (Ubuntu): | |
status: | Confirmed → Triaged |
Changed in usb-creator (Ubuntu Maverick): | |
status: | Confirmed → Triaged |
Changed in usb-creator (Ubuntu Maverick): | |
assignee: | Evan Dandrea (ev) → nobody |
Changed in initramfs-tools (Ubuntu Natty): | |
status: | Confirmed → Won't Fix |
Changed in initramfs-tools (Ubuntu Maverick): | |
status: | Confirmed → Won't Fix |
Changed in usb-creator (Ubuntu Maverick): | |
status: | Triaged → Won't Fix |
The important bit here is apparently:
Setting up initramfs-tools (0.92bubuntu71) ...
update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
lzma: Encoder error: -2147467259
which simply means that there was insufficient space on the device to write the new kernel module.
However, I tried this again using a much larger USB device and generated an entirely different error - the update-initramfs trigger attempts to stat /vmlinuz and this a a link to a file that no longer exists, so again the wireless installation fails.