[Bug 1157054] [NEW] When /boot is running out of space, Ubunutu shall provide a clear message and an easy solution

[Thibault D]

Public bug reported:

Hi,

I am using a fresh 12.10 as a simple end-user since 5 months.

Yesterday I launched the Software Updater and got the following message : 
- The volume "boot" has only 2,2 Mo disk space remaining
Followed by (approximately) :
- You can free some disk space by deleting unused software or files, or by moving files to another disk or partition.
With an additional "Examine..." button, which opens baobab on the /boot partition.

What happens : Ubuntu provides a technical message and no clear solution.
What should happen : Ubuntu provides a clear message with an easy-to-go solution.


My thoughts :

1/ It might not be a good idea to tell an end-user to delete files or
software in /boot.

2/ Talking about "moving files to another partition" might be
incomprehensible for an end-user.

3/ Baobab did not help me (it certainly can, but obviously I did not get
how)

4/ I have been searching over the Internet / Launchpad / AskUbuntu and found that many people are facing this issue, but that there is no out-of-the-box solution :
- old and new bugs : Bug #237035, Bug #76521, Bug #1067106, 
- hints to use "computer-janitor" (however now, both the dash and USC can not find it),
- hints to use "sudo apt-get clean",
- hints to use even complicated solutions (http://askubuntu.com/questions/89710)
   > sudo apt-get purge $(dpkg -l linux-{image,headers}-"[0-9]*" | awk '/ii/{print $2}' | grep -ve "$(uname -r | sed -r 's/-[a-z]+//')")

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.10
Package: update-manager 1:0.174.4
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.5.0-26.42-generic 3.5.7.6
Uname: Linux 3.5.0-26-generic i686
ApportVersion: 2.6.1-0ubuntu10
Aptdaemon:
 
Architecture: i386
Date: Tue Mar 19 09:03:35 2013
GsettingsChanges:
 b'com.ubuntu.update-manager' b'first-run' b'false'
 b'com.ubuntu.update-manager' b'launch-time' b'1363636123'
 b'com.ubuntu.update-manager' b'show-details' b'true'
 b'com.ubuntu.update-manager' b'window-height' b'715'
 b'com.ubuntu.update-manager' b'window-width' b'1364'
InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-11-12 (126 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Release i386 (20121017.2)
MarkForUpload: True
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=fr_FR.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: update-manager
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

** Affects: update-manager (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New


** Tags: apport-bug i386 quantal running-unity

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1157054

Title:
  When /boot is running out of space, Ubunutu shall provide a clear
  message and an easy solution

Status in “update-manager” package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  Hi,

  I am using a fresh 12.10 as a simple end-user since 5 months.

  Yesterday I launched the Software Updater and got the following message : 
  - The volume "boot" has only 2,2 Mo disk space remaining
  Followed by (approximately) :
  - You can free some disk space by deleting unused software or files, or by moving files to another disk or partition.
  With an additional "Examine..." button, which opens baobab on the /boot partition.

  What happens : Ubuntu provides a technical message and no clear solution.
  What should happen : Ubuntu provides a clear message with an easy-to-go solution.

  
  My thoughts :

  1/ It might not be a good idea to tell an end-user to delete files or
  software in /boot.

  2/ Talking about "moving files to another partition" might be
  incomprehensible for an end-user.

  3/ Baobab did not help me (it certainly can, but obviously I did not
  get how)

  4/ I have been searching over the Internet / Launchpad / AskUbuntu and found that many people are facing this issue, but that there is no out-of-the-box solution :
  - old and new bugs : Bug #237035, Bug #76521, Bug #1067106, 
  - hints to use "computer-janitor" (however now, both the dash and USC can not find it),
  - hints to use "sudo apt-get clean",
  - hints to use even complicated solutions (http://askubuntu.com/questions/89710)
     > sudo apt-get purge $(dpkg -l linux-{image,headers}-"[0-9]*" | awk '/ii/{print $2}' | grep -ve "$(uname -r | sed -r 's/-[a-z]+//')")

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.10
  Package: update-manager 1:0.174.4
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.5.0-26.42-generic 3.5.7.6
  Uname: Linux 3.5.0-26-generic i686
  ApportVersion: 2.6.1-0ubuntu10
  Aptdaemon:
   
  Architecture: i386
  Date: Tue Mar 19 09:03:35 2013
  GsettingsChanges:
   b'com.ubuntu.update-manager' b'first-run' b'false'
   b'com.ubuntu.update-manager' b'launch-time' b'1363636123'
   b'com.ubuntu.update-manager' b'show-details' b'true'
   b'com.ubuntu.update-manager' b'window-height' b'715'
   b'com.ubuntu.update-manager' b'window-width' b'1364'
  InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-11-12 (126 days ago)
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Release i386 (20121017.2)
  MarkForUpload: True
  PackageArchitecture: all
  ProcEnviron:
   PATH=(custom, no user)
   XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
   LANG=fr_FR.UTF-8
   SHELL=/bin/bash
  SourcePackage: update-manager
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

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