udev error message and kernel panic

[mattgyver83]

Binary package hint: grub2

1. Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (upgraded from 9.10)
2. grub-common 1.98-1ubuntu5
3. When performing a cold-start of the PC grub properly loads the OS and GDM without flashing any errors.

A vast majority of the startup's, about 4 of 10 starts show the following error message for a minute and then load the gdm normally; udev_work[XXX] open /dev/null failed: no such file or directory
On the last startup attempt i received two instances of that message.

In one instance I recieved a Kernel Panic hanging the machine;
Run_Init: nuking initramfs contents: Directory not empty
[ 3.230737] Kernel Panic - not synching : attempted to kill init!

I am able to use the machine and get into gnome and I dont seem to have any adverse effects caused by this error. I also only get this error from a cold start, I can reboot all night and day and not receive this message and I have only seen the kernel panic one one occasion.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1466745

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
Package: grub-common 1.98-1ubuntu5
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-21.32-generic-pae 2.6.32.11+drm33.2
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-21-generic-pae i686
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
Architecture: i386
Date: Sun May 2 07:51:03 2010
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_US.utf8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: grub2

[Sitsofe Wheeler (sitsofe)]

I've seen a computer that gives a similar message but the machine does not panic. Again it was a machine that was updated from 9.10.

[deactivated (deactivated-account)]

I have the "udev_work[XXX] open /dev/null failed: no such file or directory" error on a clean install of 10.04 i386. No kernel panic and after a few seconds the boot completes. Seems to occur randomly on either cold boot or re-start.

[petermolnar (petermolnar)]

Mine is an updated version too, is gives a similar message, although no kernel panic, and it boots normally after this.

[gthf (guybrush-t)]

I have same problem but i made a new install (not update from 9.10).
I've change some mount points with 10.04 (/tmp /var), I have no swap, I use an SSD for root (/).
The problem occurs randomly or at least I do not understand when it fires.

[Gio (giovanni-lenzi)]

I think I have the same problem..

The error message is:
"run-init script, nuking intramfs. Directory not empty"

It occurs randomly both on cold booting and restarting.. It hangs the system up and it requires a button hold to power off the server.

Initially I thought it was a hardware related problem because of a disk failure: I have a dl365g5 with hp smart array controller p400 and 6 disks in raid 6 configuration (2 disk of redundancy). But now the disk has been correctly rebuilt and the problem continues to appear randomly...

The error displays after grub loading..

If I enter recovery mode, the problem disappears, even for next reboots in normal mode.

Maybe it can be related to modifications in /etc/fstab. I've added a lvm volume to mount at boot. Obviously, when I don't receive the error, the volume is mounted correctly..

[SapphirePaw (sapphirepaw)]

This started happening to me somewhat recently (i.e. sometime in 2011) on Ubuntu Lucid; in /var/log/apt I see an update of `linux-image-generic-lts-backport-maverick (2.6.35.22.34, 2.6.35.23.35)` which included the install of `linux-image-2.6.35-23-generic (2.6.35-23.41~lucid1)` and the corresponding headers on Feb 5. This upgrade also seems to have included grub-common (1.98-1ubuntu9, 1.98-1ubuntu10).

I can't find anything related to initramfs in history.log or history.*.gz (which goes back to 2010 Apr 30.) In the cases it has happened so far, the machine has been okay after reboot with the hardware reset button.

I have root as ext4 on LVM on an SSD; I'm using the Maverick backport kernel for its improved TRIM and barrier support. The machine was installed as Intrepid and has been upgraded through each release. I've stayed on Lucid because I finally got tired of fixing things after each upgrade.

[Sean Clarke (sean-clarke)]

Still present in 10.04.2 (2.6.32-32-generic-pae #62-Ubuntu SMP )

[iLugo (isra)]

If the main report is the #155689, then please change the status to "Confirmed" also there. I am having same issue in Ubuntu 10.10 .