I am trying to install updates and get an error indicating the /boot space hasn't enough space. What files can I delete from this directory? There are a lot of .img, .EL and .ELsmp files in it that take up a good deal of space.

depends what system you're running, what kernel your running, wether you run multiple kernels etc...

show us "ls -l /boot" and "uname -a" and explain if you boot any other kernels etc..

[root@rh1 root]# uname -a
Linux rh1.dtcglobal.com 2.4.21-32.ELsmp #1 SMP Fri Apr 15 21:17:59 EDT 2005 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux

ls -l /boot (output)

total 86363
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 5824 Sep 8 2003 boot.b
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 612 Sep 8 2003 chain.b
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 48399 Nov 24 2004 config-2.4.21-20.0.1.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 48514 Nov 24 2004 config-2.4.21-20.0.1.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 48399 Aug 18 2004 config-2.4.21-20.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 48514 Aug 18 2004 config-2.4.21-20.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 48543 Dec 20 2004 config-2.4.21-27.0.1.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 48658 Dec 20 2004 config-2.4.21-27.0.1.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 48543 Jan 12 2005 config-2.4.21-27.0.2.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 48658 Jan 12 2005 config-2.4.21-27.0.2.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 48543 Apr 16 18:08 config-2.4.21-27.0.4.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 48658 Apr 16 17:58 config-2.4.21-27.0.4.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 48543 Dec 1 2004 config-2.4.21-27.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 48658 Dec 1 2004 config-2.4.21-27.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 48617 Apr 15 20:34 config-2.4.21-32.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 48732 Apr 15 20:28 config-2.4.21-32.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 48022 Oct 3 2003 config-2.4.21-4.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 48137 Oct 3 2003 config-2.4.21-4.ELsmp
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 1024 May 24 10:33 grub
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 336462 Dec 22 2004 initrd-2.4.21-20.0.1.EL.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 342482 Dec 22 2004 initrd-2.4.21-20.0.1.ELsmp.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 336593 Sep 3 2004 initrd-2.4.21-20.EL.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 341579 Sep 3 2004 initrd-2.4.21-20.ELsmp.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 336111 Jan 5 2005 initrd-2.4.21-27.0.1.EL.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 346251 Jan 5 2005 initrd-2.4.21-27.0.1.ELsmp.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 337558 Jan 20 2005 initrd-2.4.21-27.0.2.EL.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 347241 Jan 20 2005 initrd-2.4.21-27.0.2.ELsmp.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 336945 May 3 13:45 initrd-2.4.21-27.0.4.EL.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 350286 May 3 13:45 initrd-2.4.21-27.0.4.ELsmp.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 339935 Dec 22 2004 initrd-2.4.21-27.EL.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 343666 Dec 22 2004 initrd-2.4.21-27.ELsmp.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 337727 May 24 10:19 initrd-2.4.21-32.EL.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 344081 May 24 10:15 initrd-2.4.21-32.ELsmp.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 328121 Aug 24 2004 initrd-2.4.21-4.EL.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 332526 Aug 24 2004 initrd-2.4.21-4.ELsmp.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 547 Aug 25 2004 kernel.h
drwx------ 2 root root 12288 Aug 24 2004 lost+found
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 23108 Sep 11 2003 message
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 21282 Sep 11 2003 message.ja
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 640 Sep 8 2003 os2_d.b
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 26 May 24 13:33 System.map -> System.map-2.4.21-32.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 574734 Nov 24 2004 System.map-2.4.21-20.0.1.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 601959 Nov 24 2004 System.map-2.4.21-20.0.1.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 574734 Aug 18 2004 System.map-2.4.21-20.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 601959 Aug 18 2004 System.map-2.4.21-20.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 575960 Dec 20 2004 System.map-2.4.21-27.0.1.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 603156 Dec 20 2004 System.map-2.4.21-27.0.1.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 576055 Jan 12 2005 System.map-2.4.21-27.0.2.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 603251 Jan 12 2005 System.map-2.4.21-27.0.2.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 577420 Apr 16 18:08 System.map-2.4.21-27.0.4.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 604616 Apr 16 17:58 System.map-2.4.21-27.0.4.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 575960 Dec 1 2004 System.map-2.4.21-27.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 603156 Dec 1 2004 System.map-2.4.21-27.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 577942 Apr 15 20:34 System.map-2.4.21-32.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 605358 Apr 15 20:28 System.map-2.4.21-32.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 570887 Oct 3 2003 System.map-2.4.21-4.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 598024 Oct 3 2003 System.map-2.4.21-4.ELsmp
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 2892244 Nov 24 2004 vmlinux-2.4.21-20.0.1.EL
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 3523220 Nov 24 2004 vmlinux-2.4.21-20.0.1.ELsmp
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 2892240 Aug 18 2004 vmlinux-2.4.21-20.EL
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 3523216 Aug 18 2004 vmlinux-2.4.21-20.ELsmp
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 2896340 Dec 20 2004 vmlinux-2.4.21-27.0.1.EL
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 3527316 Dec 20 2004 vmlinux-2.4.21-27.0.1.ELsmp
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 2900436 Jan 12 2005 vmlinux-2.4.21-27.0.2.EL
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 3527316 Jan 12 2005 vmlinux-2.4.21-27.0.2.ELsmp
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 2904532 Apr 16 18:08 vmlinux-2.4.21-27.0.4.EL
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 3531412 Apr 16 17:58 vmlinux-2.4.21-27.0.4.ELsmp
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 2896336 Dec 1 2004 vmlinux-2.4.21-27.EL
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 3527312 Dec 1 2004 vmlinux-2.4.21-27.ELsmp
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 2904528 Apr 15 20:34 vmlinux-2.4.21-32.EL
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 3535504 Apr 15 20:28 vmlinux-2.4.21-32.ELsmp
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 2900380 Oct 3 2003 vmlinux-2.4.21-4.EL
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 3519068 Oct 3 2003 vmlinux-2.4.21-4.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1243818 Nov 24 2004 vmlinuz-2.4.21-20.0.1.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1353915 Nov 24 2004 vmlinuz-2.4.21-20.0.1.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1243768 Aug 18 2004 vmlinuz-2.4.21-20.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1353783 Aug 18 2004 vmlinuz-2.4.21-20.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1248105 Dec 20 2004 vmlinuz-2.4.21-27.0.1.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1357928 Dec 20 2004 vmlinuz-2.4.21-27.0.1.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1248207 Jan 12 2005 vmlinuz-2.4.21-27.0.2.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1357932 Jan 12 2005 vmlinuz-2.4.21-27.0.2.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1252096 Apr 16 18:08 vmlinuz-2.4.21-27.0.4.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1359414 Apr 16 17:58 vmlinuz-2.4.21-27.0.4.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1248010 Dec 1 2004 vmlinuz-2.4.21-27.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1357787 Dec 1 2004 vmlinuz-2.4.21-27.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1252573 Apr 15 20:34 vmlinuz-2.4.21-32.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1363163 Apr 15 20:28 vmlinuz-2.4.21-32.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1236945 Oct 3 2003 vmlinuz-2.4.21-4.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1339556 Oct 3 2003 vmlinuz-2.4.21-4.ELsmp

I only boot to one kernel, the default that comes up on startup.

ok, well you don't need any vmlinuz files that aren't matched by the uname output, but where on earth did these all come from? are you actually on an smp system (multiple cpus?) if this is an rpm based system you should uninstall the package that put them there in the first place. ultimately though you could just delete them if they are not there from rpm's. maybe you've just been applying standard updates wihtout managing your system correctly...

All these files were put in place as a result of running the up2date program from RH that automatically updates the system. What is the best way of dealing with these files, or where can I go to read about getting rid of them?

And, no this is not a multiple CPU configuration.

i was shock when see the file in the /boot
*actually want to laff* at first but read all then i know

normaly i delete 3 things after i run update and test 2 - 3 time reboot process

first delete

all file in /boot which not use or need

all file kernel in /usr/src/old-kernel-file

all file in /lib/modules/old-kernel-mod

only this way i maintain my space my /boot only 18MB


ps: acid_kewpie is there anything i can del pls let us know

Ye gods! That lot have no business being there!

Just delete them, as acid stated - "uname -r " will tell you which you current kernel is. Then delete all the vmlinuz files that don't match the output, all the config files that don't match, and all the initrds that don't match. That should clear plenty of space!

what about the vmlinux-* directories that don't match the uname -r command? And the system.map files that don't match? Can I delete these as well?

Yup

I would like to add 2 cents here. I would suggest leaving 1 previous version's files in /boot at all times. You never know when your current kernel may develop some weirdness and you need to boot up with a previous kernel. Once you delete these files, you will not be able to go backwards. Leaving just one at least gives you what you use to have previously. Also, if you use grub or lilo and you have a huge menu with all these versions as options, you may want to go through your grub.conf or lilo.conf and remove the ones you are removing from /boot.


fyi, I've _never_ seen a server with soooo many options in /boot. Wow.


Added:

Btw, You may not want to delete your SMP files for your current kernel. I see your running 686 SMP now, which means maybe your server has Hyperthreading turned on...which depending on the Linux shows up as a multi-cpu machine (to take advantage of the threading).