[Bug 1183692] Re: Not enough disk space for kernel security update on /boot

[manfreed]

This is still an issue in 14.10

This error message is too general, it doesn't give us a specific
solution:

"The upgrade needs a total of 86,4 M free space on disk '/boot'. Please
free at least an additional 32,2 M of disk space on '/boot'. Empty your
trash and remove temporary packages of former installations using 'sudo
apt-get clean'."

The minimum is to offser solution based on the partition. For /boot the
proper solution would be to tell the users to remove old kernels. They
wouldn't be able to do themselves without help or proper knowledge, but
at least the message wouldn't be confusing.

The best solution I can think of:

If the problematic partition is /boot, and there are more than one
installed kernels:

Tell the users that their boot partition is filled with older kernels
which are mostly of no use. Tell them that they are safe to remove, and
offer them to remove manually. Let the user choose which kernel they
want to keep tough. A list of kernels with checkboxes would be fine,
just check the old kernels by default and don't let the users to select
eveything. If they try, tell them why it isn't a good idea.


Another problem is that apt wouldn't even complain about not having enough space, it just tries to do it's job and fails.

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1183692

Title:
  Not enough disk space for kernel security update on /boot

Status in update-manager package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed

Bug description:
  Hi all

  I am using Ubuntu 12.10 and have just received the newest update
  notification from the update-manager marked as security updates. (This
  is NOT a release upgrade, but the regular security update)

  The update-manager tells me now that there is insufficient space on /boot to install these updates.
  The problem obviously is that too many kernels are installed: 3.5.0-17, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 30

  Which leaves 27MB space:
  Filesystem               Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
  /dev/sda1                228M  190M   27M  88% /boot

  Update Manager reports that it needs at least 33.2MB space for this
  update:

  "The upgrade needs a total of 33.2 M free space on disk '/boot'.
  Please free at least an additional 5,520 k of disk space on '/boot'.
  Empty your trash and remove temporary packages of former installations
  using 'sudo apt-get clean'."

  The hint in the message does not help for /boot.
  While I can fix this myself, I believe that this is not acceptable for an average end user to research and fix.
  Update-Manager should at least offer the option to remove old kernels (which it installed itself by security updates) in order for the security updates to proceed.

  
  I found an answer on AskUbuntu.com (http://askubuntu.com/questions/142926/cant-upgrade-due-to-low-disk-space-on-boot) which will help fix the issue. 

  TL;DR:

  -- 1 -- Release: 12.10
  -- 2 -- Installed Version of update-manager: 1:0.174.4
  -- 3 -- Expected:
  Security update should be installed. 
  -- 4 -- Happened:
  Failed because of insufficient disk space on /boot
  (Too many old kernels previously installed and not removed by update-manager)

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