Boot partition nearly full

Yig · 10-04-2007, 12:17 PM

Hi,

When trying to update my server (CentOS 4.5), I got a message telling me that /boot had not enough space on it:

Transaction Check Error: installing package kernel-2.6.9-55.0.9.EL needs 3MB on the /boot filesystem
installing package kernel-devel-2.6.9-55.0.9.EL needs 3MB on the /boot filesystem
installing package kernel-doc-2.6.9-55.0.9.EL needs 3MB on the /boot filesystem
installing package gimp-devel-2.0.5-7.0.7.el4 needs 3MB on the /boot filesystem

I've looked at it and that partition is about 98% full.

How can I either increase it or delete stuff in it?

Thanks!

AAnarchYY · 10-04-2007, 12:20 PM

well firstly, don't put stuff on the /boot partition that doesn't need to be there, like the kernel-devel, kernel-docs, and especially gimp

pwc101 · 10-04-2007, 01:16 PM

Might be worth reading up on the File System Hierarchy: http://www.pathname.com/fhs/pub/fhs-2.3.html, specifically http://www.pathname.com/fhs/pub/fhs-...FTHEBOOTLOADER.

kyo · 10-04-2007, 03:39 PM

I don't know about CentOS, but I know that with Debian when you upgrade to a new kernel the old ones aren't deleted (I think they leave them there in case the new kernel doesn't work properly you'll still be able to boot with the old kernel). If there are several old kernels you could remove all of them except the latest one that's known to work on your system.

syg00 · 10-04-2007, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yig

I've looked at it and that partition is about 98% full.
How can I either increase it or delete stuff in it?

Yes - to both.
If you have to move the whole partition (as I did recently for same situation), remember to fix the boot-loader.
At least you got a sensible message - I had 30 Meg free and Ubuntu wouldn't install...
Resized it, and (of course) it didn't use anywhere near the original 30 Meg - so much for user friendly.

I_like_TUX · 10-04-2007, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yig

I've looked at it and that partition is about 98% full.

I was told by an experienced admin. that for a Linux filesystem, 80% is critical, errors guaranteed when >90%. Does anyone have similar experience?

Kahless · 10-04-2007, 10:57 PM

how close to full it can be probally depends on if it is the root filesystem, or one less important.

I always have a seperate partition for /home, and the only time it ever caused problems was when it was close to 100%

I have had errors with more space free on / due to / not having enough space, it seems to want to reserve some.

Yig · 10-23-2007, 04:49 PM

when I installed the server, I used the default drive settings to create a LVM with the 2 HD.

The boot partition is in /boot, correct? there is a lot of stuff in there.

Quote:

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 5824 Feb 21 2005 boot.b
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 612 Feb 21 2005 chain.b
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 48513 Oct 27 2005 config-2.6.9-22.0.1.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 48021 Oct 27 2005 config-2.6.9-22.0.1.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 48513 Jan 17 2006 config-2.6.9-22.0.2.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 48021 Jan 17 2006 config-2.6.9-22.0.2.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 48509 Oct 8 2005 config-2.6.9-22.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 48017 Oct 8 2005 config-2.6.9-22.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 49517 May 24 2006 config-2.6.9-34.0.1.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 49268 May 24 2006 config-2.6.9-34.0.1.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 49517 Jul 7 2006 config-2.6.9-34.0.2.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 49268 Jul 7 2006 config-2.6.9-34.0.2.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 49513 Mar 8 2006 config-2.6.9-34.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 49264 Mar 8 2006 config-2.6.9-34.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 50338 Feb 27 2007 config-2.6.9-42.0.10.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 49931 Feb 27 2007 config-2.6.9-42.0.10.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 50337 Aug 23 2006 config-2.6.9-42.0.2.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 49930 Aug 23 2006 config-2.6.9-42.0.2.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 50337 Oct 6 2006 config-2.6.9-42.0.3.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 49930 Oct 6 2006 config-2.6.9-42.0.3.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 50337 Jan 30 2007 config-2.6.9-42.0.8.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 49930 Jan 30 2007 config-2.6.9-42.0.8.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 50432 Jun 26 14:24 config-2.6.9-55.0.2.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 50057 Jun 26 14:46 config-2.6.9-55.0.2.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 50432 Sep 4 21:29 config-2.6.9-55.0.6.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 50057 Sep 4 21:57 config-2.6.9-55.0.6.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 50428 May 2 14:22 config-2.6.9-55.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 50053 May 2 14:36 config-2.6.9-55.ELsmp
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 1024 Sep 18 17:21 grub
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1132927 Nov 29 2005 initrd-2.6.9-22.0.1.EL.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1120797 Nov 29 2005 initrd-2.6.9-22.0.1.ELsmp.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1132829 Jan 18 2006 initrd-2.6.9-22.0.2.EL.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1120821 Jan 18 2006 initrd-2.6.9-22.0.2.ELsmp.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1132902 Nov 28 2005 initrd-2.6.9-22.EL.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1120744 Nov 28 2005 initrd-2.6.9-22.ELsmp.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1145587 May 25 2006 initrd-2.6.9-34.0.1.EL.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1133602 May 25 2006 initrd-2.6.9-34.0.1.ELsmp.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1145594 Jul 11 2006 initrd-2.6.9-34.0.2.EL.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1133590 Mar 10 2006 initrd-2.6.9-34.EL.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1122168 Mar 10 2006 initrd-2.6.9-34.ELsmp.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1179839 Mar 13 2007 initrd-2.6.9-42.0.10.EL.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1167631 Mar 13 2007 initrd-2.6.9-42.0.10.ELsmp.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1148762 Aug 24 2006 initrd-2.6.9-42.0.2.EL.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1136197 Aug 24 2006 initrd-2.6.9-42.0.2.ELsmp.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1179785 Oct 11 2006 initrd-2.6.9-42.0.3.EL.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1167476 Oct 11 2006 initrd-2.6.9-42.0.3.ELsmp.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1179826 Jan 31 2007 initrd-2.6.9-42.0.8.EL.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1167639 Jan 31 2007 initrd-2.6.9-42.0.8.ELsmp.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1388795 Jul 3 13:08 initrd-2.6.9-55.0.2.EL.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1375576 Jul 3 13:08 initrd-2.6.9-55.0.2.ELsmp.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1388838 Sep 18 17:21 initrd-2.6.9-55.0.6.EL.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1375585 Sep 18 17:19 initrd-2.6.9-55.0.6.ELsmp.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1388809 May 28 16:38 initrd-2.6.9-55.EL.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1375567 May 28 16:34 initrd-2.6.9-55.ELsmp.img
drwx------ 2 root root 12288 Nov 28 2005 lost+found
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 81860 Feb 21 2005 memtest86+-1.26
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 9371 Aug 12 2006 message
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 9371 Aug 12 2006 message.ja
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 640 Feb 21 2005 os2_d.b
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 731197 Oct 27 2005 System.map-2.6.9-22.0.1.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 758541 Oct 27 2005 System.map-2.6.9-22.0.1.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 731295 Jan 17 2006 System.map-2.6.9-22.0.2.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 758639 Jan 17 2006 System.map-2.6.9-22.0.2.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 731262 Oct 8 2005 System.map-2.6.9-22.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 758606 Oct 8 2005 System.map-2.6.9-22.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 733742 May 24 2006 System.map-2.6.9-34.0.1.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 761137 May 24 2006 System.map-2.6.9-34.0.1.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 733742 Jul 7 2006 System.map-2.6.9-34.0.2.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 761137 Jul 7 2006 System.map-2.6.9-34.0.2.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 733742 Mar 8 2006 System.map-2.6.9-34.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 761137 Mar 8 2006 System.map-2.6.9-34.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 750652 Feb 27 2007 System.map-2.6.9-42.0.10.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 767450 Feb 27 2007 System.map-2.6.9-42.0.10.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 749489 Aug 23 2006 System.map-2.6.9-42.0.2.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 766287 Aug 23 2006 System.map-2.6.9-42.0.2.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 749489 Oct 6 2006 System.map-2.6.9-42.0.3.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 766287 Oct 6 2006 System.map-2.6.9-42.0.3.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 750652 Jan 30 2007 System.map-2.6.9-42.0.8.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 767450 Jan 30 2007 System.map-2.6.9-42.0.8.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 754505 Jun 26 14:24 System.map-2.6.9-55.0.2.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 771374 Jun 26 14:46 System.map-2.6.9-55.0.2.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 754717 Sep 4 21:29 System.map-2.6.9-55.0.6.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 771586 Sep 4 21:57 System.map-2.6.9-55.0.6.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 754404 May 2 14:22 System.map-2.6.9-55.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 771273 May 2 14:36 System.map-2.6.9-55.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1465200 Oct 27 2005 vmlinuz-2.6.9-22.0.1.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1426548 Oct 27 2005 vmlinuz-2.6.9-22.0.1.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1469597 Jan 17 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-22.0.2.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1430953 Jan 17 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-22.0.2.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1465080 Oct 8 2005 vmlinuz-2.6.9-22.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1426682 Oct 8 2005 vmlinuz-2.6.9-22.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1473699 May 24 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-34.0.1.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1436535 May 24 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-34.0.1.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1473712 Jul 7 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-34.0.2.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1436516 Jul 7 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-34.0.2.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1473787 Mar 8 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-34.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1436129 Mar 8 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-34.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1504585 Feb 27 2007 vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.10.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1444718 Feb 27 2007 vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.10.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1504411 Aug 23 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.2.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1444563 Aug 23 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.2.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1504397 Oct 6 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.3.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1444549 Oct 6 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.3.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1504589 Jan 30 2007 vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.8.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1444726 Jan 30 2007 vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.8.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1511833 Jun 26 14:24 vmlinuz-2.6.9-55.0.2.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1450563 Jun 26 14:46 vmlinuz-2.6.9-55.0.2.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1511604 Sep 4 21:29 vmlinuz-2.6.9-55.0.6.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1450984 Sep 4 21:57 vmlinuz-2.6.9-55.0.6.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1511659 May 2 14:22 vmlinuz-2.6.9-55.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1450489 May 2 14:36 vmlinuz-2.6.9-55.ELsmp

What is safe to delete?

farslayer · 10-23-2007, 05:02 PM

well this is the list of kernels in the machine

Quote:

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1465200 Oct 27 2005 vmlinuz-2.6.9-22.0.1.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1426548 Oct 27 2005 vmlinuz-2.6.9-22.0.1.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1469597 Jan 17 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-22.0.2.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1430953 Jan 17 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-22.0.2.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1465080 Oct 8 2005 vmlinuz-2.6.9-22.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1426682 Oct 8 2005 vmlinuz-2.6.9-22.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1473699 May 24 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-34.0.1.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1436535 May 24 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-34.0.1.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1473712 Jul 7 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-34.0.2.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1436516 Jul 7 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-34.0.2.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1473787 Mar 8 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-34.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1436129 Mar 8 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-34.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1504585 Feb 27 2007 vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.10.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1444718 Feb 27 2007 vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.10.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1504411 Aug 23 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.2.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1444563 Aug 23 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.2.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1504397 Oct 6 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.3.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1444549 Oct 6 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.3.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1504589 Jan 30 2007 vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.8.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1444726 Jan 30 2007 vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.8.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1511833 Jun 26 14:24 vmlinuz-2.6.9-55.0.2.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1450563 Jun 26 14:46 vmlinuz-2.6.9-55.0.2.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1511604 Sep 4 21:29 vmlinuz-2.6.9-55.0.6.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1450984 Sep 4 21:57 vmlinuz-2.6.9-55.0.6.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1511659 May 2 14:22 vmlinuz-2.6.9-55.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1450489 May 2 14:36 vmlinuz-2.6.9-55.ELsmp

so you are probably running this one..

Quote:

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1511604 Sep 4 21:29 vmlinuz-2.6.9-55.0.6.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1450984 Sep 4 21:57 vmlinuz-2.6.9-55.0.6.ELsmp

and the system wants to install the new Kernel

Quote:

kernel-2.6.9-55.0.9.EL

so if it were me, I would use the package manager to uninstall all of these kernels..

Quote:

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1465200 Oct 27 2005 vmlinuz-2.6.9-22.0.1.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1426548 Oct 27 2005 vmlinuz-2.6.9-22.0.1.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1469597 Jan 17 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-22.0.2.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1430953 Jan 17 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-22.0.2.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1465080 Oct 8 2005 vmlinuz-2.6.9-22.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1426682 Oct 8 2005 vmlinuz-2.6.9-22.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1473699 May 24 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-34.0.1.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1436535 May 24 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-34.0.1.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1473712 Jul 7 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-34.0.2.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1436516 Jul 7 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-34.0.2.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1473787 Mar 8 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-34.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1436129 Mar 8 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-34.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1504585 Feb 27 2007 vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.10.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1444718 Feb 27 2007 vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.10.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1504411 Aug 23 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.2.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1444563 Aug 23 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.2.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1504397 Oct 6 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.3.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1444549 Oct 6 2006 vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.3.ELsmp
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1504589 Jan 30 2007 vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.8.EL
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1444726 Jan 30 2007 vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.8.ELsmp

That would leave me with 2 kernels on the machine 2.6.9-55-06 and 2.6.9-55-09

Yig · 10-26-2007, 03:55 PM

I did that and I can now install the updates!

Thanks!

Now, what do I need to do to increase the size of /boot?

farslayer · 10-26-2007, 10:34 PM

Your /boot partition is plenty big enough if you keep in the practice of only hanging on to your two most recent kernels.

When you un-install an old kernel it should remove all the parts from that kernel.
By that I mean the: vmlinuz, the System.map, config, and initrd with the matching kernel version numbers.

you should have a lot less files in that directory when you are done.