So I’ve been trying to update/upgrade my system/applications for the last few days and it has been erroring, I ignored it and now when I try to sudo apt upgrade it tells me that I have “Low Disk Space on “boot” The volume “boot” has only 0 bytes disk space remaining.”

What happens when I run sudo apt upgrade:

user@user:~$ sudo apt upgrade
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
Calculating upgrade... Done
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
4 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y
Setting up initramfs-tools (0.136ubuntu6.6) ...
update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
Setting up linux-firmware (1.187.25) ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-43-generic
I: The initramfs will attempt to resume from /dev/dm-2
I: (/dev/mapper/data-swap)
I: Set the RESUME variable to override this.
Error 24 : Write error : cannot write compressed block 
E: mkinitramfs failure cpio 141 lz4 -9 -l 24
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-43-generic with 1.
dpkg: error processing package linux-firmware (--configure):
 installed linux-firmware package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
Setting up linux-image-5.11.0-44-generic (5.11.0-44.48~20.04.2) ...
I: /boot/initrd.img.old is now a symlink to initrd.img-5.11.0-44-generic
Setting up linux-image-5.11.0-46-generic (5.11.0-46.51~20.04.1) ...
I: /boot/initrd.img is now a symlink to initrd.img-5.11.0-46-generic
Processing triggers for initramfs-tools (0.136ubuntu6.6) ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-43-generic
I: The initramfs will attempt to resume from /dev/dm-2
I: (/dev/mapper/data-swap)
I: Set the RESUME variable to override this.
Error 24 : Write error : cannot write compressed block 
E: mkinitramfs failure cpio 141 lz4 -9 -l 24
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-43-generic with 1.
dpkg: error processing package initramfs-tools (--configure):
 installed initramfs-tools package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
Processing triggers for linux-image-5.11.0-44-generic (5.11.0-44.48~20.04.2) ...
/etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools:
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-44-generic
I: The initramfs will attempt to resume from /dev/dm-2
I: (/dev/mapper/data-swap)
I: Set the RESUME variable to override this.
Error 24 : Write error : cannot write compressed block 
E: mkinitramfs failure cpio 141 lz4 -9 -l 24
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-44-generic with 1.
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-5.11.0-44-generic (--configure):
 installed linux-image-5.11.0-44-generic package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
Processing triggers for linux-image-5.11.0-46-generic (5.11.0-46.51~20.04.1) ...
/etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools:
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-46-generic
I: The initramfs will attempt to resume from /dev/dm-2
I: (/dev/mapper/data-swap)
I: Set the RESUME variable to override this.
Error 24 : Write error : cannot write compressed block 
E: mkinitramfs failure cpio 141 lz4 -9 -l 24
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-46-generic with 1.
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-5.11.0-46-generic (--configure):
 installed linux-image-5.11.0-46-generic package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
 linux-firmware
 initramfs-tools
 linux-image-5.11.0-44-generic
 linux-image-5.11.0-46-generic
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

Screenshot of /boot:

I am running elementary OS 6.1 Jólnir, built on Ubuntu 20.04.3 LTS using the Linux kernel 5.11.0-43-generic.

  • ghost_laptopOP
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    3 years ago

    Yes, it gives an error very similar to running sudo apt upgrade, in fact running this command is what triggers the “Low Disk Space on “boot”” warning.

    user@user:/$ sudo apt autoremove
    Reading package lists... Done
    Building dependency tree       
    Reading state information... Done
    0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
    4 not fully installed or removed.
    After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
    Setting up initramfs-tools (0.136ubuntu6.6) ...
    update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
    Setting up linux-firmware (1.187.25) ...
    update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-43-generic
    I: The initramfs will attempt to resume from /dev/dm-2
    I: (/dev/mapper/data-swap)
    I: Set the RESUME variable to override this.
    Error 24 : Write error : cannot write compressed block 
    E: mkinitramfs failure cpio 141 lz4 -9 -l 24
    update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-43-generic with 1.
    dpkg: error processing package linux-firmware (--configure):
     installed linux-firmware package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
    Setting up linux-image-5.11.0-44-generic (5.11.0-44.48~20.04.2) ...
    I: /boot/initrd.img.old is now a symlink to initrd.img-5.11.0-44-generic
    Setting up linux-image-5.11.0-46-generic (5.11.0-46.51~20.04.1) ...
    I: /boot/initrd.img is now a symlink to initrd.img-5.11.0-46-generic
    Processing triggers for initramfs-tools (0.136ubuntu6.6) ...
    update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-43-generic
    I: The initramfs will attempt to resume from /dev/dm-2
    I: (/dev/mapper/data-swap)
    I: Set the RESUME variable to override this.
    Error 24 : Write error : cannot write compressed block 
    E: mkinitramfs failure cpio 141 lz4 -9 -l 24
    update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-43-generic with 1.
    dpkg: error processing package initramfs-tools (--configure):
     installed initramfs-tools package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
    Processing triggers for linux-image-5.11.0-44-generic (5.11.0-44.48~20.04.2) ...
    /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools:
    update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-44-generic
    I: The initramfs will attempt to resume from /dev/dm-2
    I: (/dev/mapper/data-swap)
    I: Set the RESUME variable to override this.
    Error 24 : Write error : cannot write compressed block 
    E: mkinitramfs failure cpio 141 lz4 -9 -l 24
    update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-44-generic with 1.
    run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1
    dpkg: error processing package linux-image-5.11.0-44-generic (--configure):
     installed linux-image-5.11.0-44-generic package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
    Processing triggers for linux-image-5.11.0-46-generic (5.11.0-46.51~20.04.1) ...
    /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools:
    update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-46-generic
    I: The initramfs will attempt to resume from /dev/dm-2
    I: (/dev/mapper/data-swap)
    I: Set the RESUME variable to override this.
    Error 24 : Write error : cannot write compressed block 
    E: mkinitramfs failure cpio 141 lz4 -9 -l 24
    update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-46-generic with 1.
    run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1
    dpkg: error processing package linux-image-5.11.0-46-generic (--configure):
     installed linux-image-5.11.0-46-generic package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
    Errors were encountered while processing:
     linux-firmware
     initramfs-tools
     linux-image-5.11.0-44-generic
     linux-image-5.11.0-46-generic
    E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
    
    • Kromonos@fapsi.be
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      edit-2
      3 years ago

      You could try apt remove linux-image-5.11.0-43-generic to delete an old kernel manually. Then upgrade and autoremove again.

      • krolden
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        3 years ago

        Yep either this or expand your boot partition.

        Ive sometimes had to boot into a livecd and then delete the old kernel images cos the system wouldn’t boot

        • ghost_laptopOP
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          arrow-down
          2
          ·
          3 years ago
          Removing linux-image-5.11.0-43-generic 
          
          You are running a kernel (version 5.11.0-43-generic) and attempting to remove the same version.                     
          
          This can make the system unbootable as it will remove /boot/vmlinuz-5.11.0-43-generic and all modules under the 
          

          This happens when I run that command, it scares me, will something break? Is it better to expand my boot partition?

          • Kromonos@fapsi.be
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            3
            ·
            edit-2
            3 years ago

            linux-image-5.11.0-43-generic

            I’ve seen linux-image-5.11.0-40-generic and linux-image-5.11.0-41-generic too. You could try with these one first

            • ghost_laptopOP
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              1
              arrow-down
              2
              ·
              3 years ago

              With what first? Keep in mind that since elementary is built upon Ubuntu LTS I can’t use the newest version of the Linux kernel because it hasn’t been tested and such, maybe I should post on elementary’s subreddit. :/

          • krolden
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            edit-2
            3 years ago

            You should be OK as long as you rerun apt upgrade and/or update-initramfs so it properly installs the new kernel.

            Be sure to remove any other old kernels you may have installed.

            • ghost_laptopOP
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              1
              arrow-down
              2
              ·
              3 years ago

              So, as soon as I run the command to remove that kernel y run sudo apt upgrade or update-initramfs and that’s it? How do I know if I have any other old kernel installed?

      • ghost_laptopOP
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        3 years ago
        Removing linux-image-5.11.0-43-generic 
        
        You are running a kernel (version 5.11.0-43-generic) and attempting to remove the same version.                     
        
        This can make the system unbootable as it will remove /boot/vmlinuz-5.11.0-43-generic and all modules under the 
        

        This happens when I run that command, it scares me, will something break? Is it better to expand my boot partition?

          • ghost_laptopOP
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            arrow-down
            2
            ·
            3 years ago

            Linux device 5.11.0-43-generic #47~20.04.2-Ubuntu SMP Mon Dec 13 11:06:56 UTC 2021 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

            • libinator
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              2
              ·
              edit-2
              3 years ago

              This means you run version 5.11.0-43-generic

              Try removing linux-image-5.11.0-40-generic, which is the oldest version in your screenshot

              • libinator
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                2
                ·
                3 years ago

                sudo apt remove linux-image-5.11.0-40-generic

                I don’t use a debian based distro now, so you should probably wait until someone else says doing this is safe

              • ghost_laptopOP
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                1
                arrow-down
                2
                ·
                3 years ago

                Okay, but once I removed what do I do? Because otherwise I will have an OS without its kernel, which is not nice.

                • libinator
                  link
                  fedilink
                  arrow-up
                  3
                  ·
                  3 years ago

                  That’s not what will happen. Note the version number in my reply. Ubuntu based distros won’t remove old kernels after updating to newer kernels. This is probably what’s taking space in your /boot partition.

                  In the screenshot you posted, there are 5 kernels:

                  • vmlinuz-5.11.0-40-generic
                  • vmlinuz-5.11.0-41-generic
                  • vmlinuz-5.11.0-43-generic
                  • vmlinuz-5.11.0-44-generic
                  • vmlinuz-5.11.0-46-generic

                  But there are only three initramfs images:

                  • initrd.img-5.11.0-40-generic
                  • initrd.img-5.11.0-41-generic
                  • initrd.img-5.11.0-43-generic

                  It is likely that your boot partition doesn’t have enough space to store the initramfs image for booting kernels 5.11.0-44 and 5.11.0-46. To make enough space, you can remove the old kernels. According to your uname -a output, you are currently running kernel 5.11.0-43. And I assume you have no problem with the current kernel. If that is the case, there is no need for kernel 5.11.0-40 and 5.11.0-41.

                  So, you can remove the two kernels. Old kernels are probably not removed by default so that you can boot to the previous kernel if the latest kernel has issues. After doing so, reboot to ensure nothing has gone wrong. Now, try sudo apt upgrade again, which should hopefully install the latest kernel and generate its initrd file. Reboot to the newly installed kernel and try sudo apt autoremove to remove any remaining pacakges as @kromonos@fapsi.be suggested

                  • asdflkjasdf
                    link
                    fedilink
                    arrow-up
                    2
                    ·
                    3 years ago

                    Okay, I ran sudo apt remove linux-image-5.11.0-40 and then it started doing some stuff, from what I remember reading it did something like trying to uninstall kernel 40 but also wanting to reinstall it as soon as it did that, and complain about dependencies. Now my PC is bricked, I try to boot it and it doesn’t let me decrypt my machine so it stays in boot menu frozen even though it gives me two choices. Before that I can choose advanced settings from where I can choose which kernel to run my machine, but it just gives me this error:

                  • asdflkjasdf
                    link
                    fedilink
                    arrow-up
                    1
                    ·
                    3 years ago

                    I dont have a backup of my passwords so now im on another pc with another lemmy ccount