Shrinking /boot Partition in Ubuntu

LinuxRSA · 06-16-2022, 10:53 AM

Hi Guys

Doing some pre checks before i attempt to shrink the /boot partition on Ubuntu. Some Wizard

thought 256GB would do the trick after /boot was 100% utilized.

Im trying to reduce the partition back to 256mb and plan to complete a kernel clean up / purge.

Code:

admin@vm-dev:~$ df -h
Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
udev 16G 0 16G 0% /dev
tmpfs 3.2G 796K 3.2G 1% /run
/dev/mapper/osencrypt 248G 8.2G 240G 4% /
tmpfs 16G 0 16G 0% /dev/shm
tmpfs 5.0M 0 5.0M 0% /run/lock
tmpfs 16G 0 16G 0% /sys/fs/cgroup
/dev/sdc2 249G 245M 240G 1% /boot
/dev/sdc15 105M 4.4M 100M 5% /boot/efi
/dev/sda1 63G 53M 60G 1% /mnt
tmpfs 3.2G 0 3.2G 0% /run/user/1000
/dev/sdb1 42M 1.5K 42M 1% /mnt/_bek_disk
tmpfs 3.2G 0 3.2G 0% /run/user/1001

Code:

NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
sda 8:0 0 64G 0 disk
└─sda1 8:1 0 64G 0 part /mnt
sdb 8:16 0 48M 0 disk
└─sdb1 8:17 0 46M 0 part /mnt/bek_disk
sdc 8:32 0 512G 0 disk
├─sdc1 8:33 0 255.7G 0 part
│ └─osencrypt 253:0 0 255.7G 0 crypt /
├─sdc2 8:34 0 256.3G 0 part /boot
├─sdc14 8:46 0 4M 0 part
└─sdc15 8:47 0 106M 0 part /boot/efi

No LVM

Code:

admin@vm-dev:~$ sudo pvs
admin@vm-dev:~$ sudo vgs
admin@vm-dev:~$

What commands or process can I use to reduce /boot from 256.3GB to 256MB ?

Thanks

syg00 · 06-16-2022, 06:15 PM

Go get yourself a gparted ivecd and use that. It's a GUI that allows you to drag the edges of the partition(s) to resize. Then apply the change.
Simple, effective, safe - but read my sigline.

ondoho · 06-16-2022, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LinuxRSA

Im trying to reduce the partition back to 256mb

That, otoh, might not be enough.
My /boot (not a separate partition) currently contains 168MB of files; say you have 2 kernels in there, you're already way beyond 256MB. I remember scenarios discussed right here on LQ where something like this happened.

tl;dr: Maybe 1GB would be better?

syg00 · 06-17-2022, 02:37 AM

Absolutely agree - meant to mention it too.

LinuxRSA · 06-17-2022, 03:05 AM

Hi Guys thanks.

Do i need the CD or can the below parted method be revised to work ? (The below parted adjustment was attempted before adding the storage)

Quote:

admin@vm-dev:/boot$ sudo parted /dev/sdc2
GNU Parted 3.2
Using /dev/sdc2
Welcome to GNU Parted! Type 'help' to view a list of commands.
(parted) print
Model: Unknown (unknown)
Disk /dev/sdc2: 268MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: loop
Disk Flags:

Number Start End Size File system Flags
1 0.00B 268MB 268MB ext2

(parted) resizepart
Partition number? 1
Warning: Partition /dev/sdc2 is being used. Are you sure you want to continue?
Yes/No? yes
End? [268MB]? 512MB
Error: The location 512MB is outside of the device /dev/sdc2.
(parted)

Also, can the /boot partition be deleted and recreated ?

Thanks

yancek · 06-17-2022, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Warning: Partition /dev/sdc2 is being used. Are you sure you want to continue?

It appears that you are trying to resize from the installed Ubuntu which won't work as the warning above indicates. You can either get GParted on an iso and create a bootable USB/CD/DVD or if you still have the Ubuntu install USB or other device, you can use that as GParted is on the Ubuntu installer.

MadeInGermany · 06-17-2022, 06:40 AM

I would reduce the size of the /boot file system first - before reducing the partition size!

Code:

man resize2fs

Recreating /boot is possible but complicated IMHO.
A tar backup/restore seems simpler, but I have never tried it.