update-grub runs too often during upgrade/removal of linux kernels

[Scott Zawalski]

Binary package hint: grub-pc

Removing two kernels involves running update-grub four times when it should only be run once. I am not sure if this should be filed against the linux-image, dpkg, or against grub itself. I went with grub initially since that is where update-grub lives.

Output from dpkg --purge:

$: dpkg --purge linux-image-2.6.31-5-generic linux-image-2.6.30-8-generic
(Reading database ... 189105 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing linux-image-2.6.31-5-generic ...
Examining /etc/kernel/prerm.d.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/prerm.d/dkms
Running postrm hook script /usr/sbin/update-grub.
Generating grub.cfg ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-6-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-6-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.30-8-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.30-8-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
done
The link /vmlinuz.old is a damaged link
Removing symbolic link vmlinuz.old
 you may need to re-run your boot loader[grub]
The link /initrd.img.old is a damaged link
Removing symbolic link initrd.img.old
 you may need to re-run your boot loader[grub]
Purging configuration files for linux-image-2.6.31-5-generic ...
Running postrm hook script /usr/sbin/update-grub.
Generating grub.cfg ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-6-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-6-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.30-8-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.30-8-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
done
Removing linux-image-2.6.30-8-generic ...
Examining /etc/kernel/prerm.d.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/prerm.d/dkms
Running postrm hook script /usr/sbin/update-grub.
Generating grub.cfg ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-6-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-6-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
done
Purging configuration files for linux-image-2.6.30-8-generic ...
Running postrm hook script /usr/sbin/update-grub.
Generating grub.cfg ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.31-6-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-2.6.31-6-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /boot/memtest86+.bin
done

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
Date: Sun Aug 23 12:34:22 2009
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
Package: grub-pc 1.96+20090725-1ubuntu2
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.31-6.26-generic
SourcePackage: grub2
Uname: Linux 2.6.31-6-generic i686

[Colin Watson (cjwatson)]

I think this is basically covered by bug 396381.