[Bug 2077490] Re: Error: out of memory while booting after installing the linux-firmware in proposed

[Juerg Haefliger]

** Description changed:

+ [Impact]
+ 
  I found that there are some machines in cert lab can't boot after
  installing the linux-frimware in proposed with 6.8.0-40 kernel.
  
  After selecting booting with the 6.8.0-40 kernel, it shows error: out of
  memory on the screen then freeze.
  
  There aren't any journal logs available, since they froze at very early
  stage.
  
  Following are the machines got impacted for now
  https://certification.canonical.com/hardware/202306-31695/
  https://certification.canonical.com/hardware/202306-31696/
+ 
+ Problem details:
+ 
+ The linux-firmware package provides new (gigantic) firmware blobs and
+ symlinks to directories that contain those. initramfs-tools can't handle
+ the directory symlinks and puts multiple copies of the same blobs into
+ the initrd blowing it up to a size where it becomes problematic on some
+ machines.
+ 
+ [Test Case]
+ 
+ Verify the affected machine boots again with the updated firmware
+ package.
+ 
+ Install updated linux-firmware package and confirm that there are no
+ duplicate firmware files in /lib/firmware and inside the initrd. Also
+ verify that there are no broken symlinks.
+ 
+ [Where Problems Could Occur]
+ 
+ If the new symlinks are broken, we end up with drivers not finding their
+ firmwares which results in non-functional HW components.
+ 
+ [Notes]
+ 
+ This is not a general solution for the problem of the ever growing size
+ of the initrd. It just alleviate it some.

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2077490

Title:
  Error: out of memory while booting after installing the linux-firmware
  in proposed

Status in initramfs-tools package in Ubuntu:
  Invalid
Status in linux-firmware package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed

Bug description:
  [Impact]

  I found that there are some machines in cert lab can't boot after
  installing the linux-frimware in proposed with 6.8.0-40 kernel.

  After selecting booting with the 6.8.0-40 kernel, it shows error: out
  of memory on the screen then freeze.

  There aren't any journal logs available, since they froze at very
  early stage.

  Following are the machines got impacted for now
  https://certification.canonical.com/hardware/202306-31695/
  https://certification.canonical.com/hardware/202306-31696/

  Problem details:

  The linux-firmware package provides new (gigantic) firmware blobs and
  symlinks to directories that contain those. initramfs-tools can't
  handle the directory symlinks and puts multiple copies of the same
  blobs into the initrd blowing it up to a size where it becomes
  problematic on some machines.

  [Test Case]

  Verify the affected machine boots again with the updated firmware
  package.

  Install updated linux-firmware package and confirm that there are no
  duplicate firmware files in /lib/firmware and inside the initrd. Also
  verify that there are no broken symlinks.

  [Where Problems Could Occur]

  If the new symlinks are broken, we end up with drivers not finding
  their firmwares which results in non-functional HW components.

  [Notes]

  This is not a general solution for the problem of the ever growing
  size of the initrd. It just alleviate it some.

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