Ubuntu Xenial root partition filling up constantly due to kernel updates

Written by Claudio Kuenzler - 1 comments

Published on September 20th 2016 - Listed in Linux

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So Ubuntu 16.04 (Xenial) was officially realeased in April 2016 and so far I'm running multiple servers, including production server, with this release.

One thing these machines have in common: The root partition seems to grow constantly. On the older trusty machines this didn't happen.

The reason for this? Xenial gets a lot of kernel updates and keeps every version, even minor version. This results in increasing disk space usage in /boot - which, in my case is usually in the root partition.

How to delete them? There's a new command "purge-old-kernels" which makes the cleanup for you:

root@xenial:~# purge-old-kernels
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree      
Reading state information... Done
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
  linux-headers-4.4.0-21 linux-headers-4.4.0-22 linux-headers-4.4.0-24 linux-headers-4.4.0-31 linux-headers-4.4.0-34
Use 'apt autoremove' to remove them.
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  linux-headers-4.4.0-21-generic* linux-headers-4.4.0-22-generic* linux-headers-4.4.0-24-generic* linux-headers-4.4.0-31-generic*
  linux-headers-4.4.0-34-generic* linux-image-4.4.0-21-generic* linux-image-4.4.0-22-generic* linux-image-4.4.0-24-generic*
  linux-image-4.4.0-31-generic* linux-image-4.4.0-34-generic* linux-image-extra-4.4.0-21-generic* linux-image-extra-4.4.0-22-generic*
  linux-image-extra-4.4.0-24-generic* linux-image-extra-4.4.0-31-generic* linux-image-extra-4.4.0-34-generic*
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 15 to remove and 61 not upgraded.
After this operation, 1,124 MB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y
(Reading database ... 291145 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing linux-headers-4.4.0-21-generic (4.4.0-21.37) ...
Removing linux-headers-4.4.0-22-generic (4.4.0-22.40) ...
Removing linux-headers-4.4.0-24-generic (4.4.0-24.43) ...
Removing linux-headers-4.4.0-31-generic (4.4.0-31.50) ...
Removing linux-headers-4.4.0-34-generic (4.4.0-34.53) ...
Removing linux-image-extra-4.4.0-21-generic (4.4.0-21.37) ...
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 4.4.0-21-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-21-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-21-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-21-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-21-generic
W: mdadm: /etc/mdadm/mdadm.conf defines no arrays.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/unattended-upgrades 4.4.0-21-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-21-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/update-notifier 4.4.0-21-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-21-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub 4.4.0-21-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-21-generic
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-38-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-38-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-36-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-36-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-34-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-34-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-31-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-31-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-28-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-28-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-24-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-24-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-22-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-22-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-21-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-21-generic
done
Purging configuration files for linux-image-extra-4.4.0-21-generic (4.4.0-21.37) ...
Removing linux-image-4.4.0-21-generic (4.4.0-21.37) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-21-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-21-generic
update-initramfs: Deleting /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-21-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 4.4.0-21-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-21-generic
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-38-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-38-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-36-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-36-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-34-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-34-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-31-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-31-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-28-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-28-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-24-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-24-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-22-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-22-generic
done
Purging configuration files for linux-image-4.4.0-21-generic (4.4.0-21.37) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-21-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-21-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 4.4.0-21-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-21-generic
Removing linux-image-extra-4.4.0-22-generic (4.4.0-22.40) ...
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 4.4.0-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-22-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-22-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-22-generic
W: mdadm: /etc/mdadm/mdadm.conf defines no arrays.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/unattended-upgrades 4.4.0-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-22-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/update-notifier 4.4.0-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-22-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub 4.4.0-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-22-generic
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-38-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-38-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-36-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-36-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-34-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-34-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-31-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-31-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-28-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-28-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-24-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-24-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-22-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-22-generic
done
Purging configuration files for linux-image-extra-4.4.0-22-generic (4.4.0-22.40) ...
Removing linux-image-4.4.0-22-generic (4.4.0-22.40) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-22-generic
update-initramfs: Deleting /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-22-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 4.4.0-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-22-generic
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-38-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-38-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-36-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-36-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-34-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-34-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-31-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-31-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-28-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-28-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-24-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-24-generic
done
Purging configuration files for linux-image-4.4.0-22-generic (4.4.0-22.40) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-22-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 4.4.0-22-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-22-generic
Removing linux-image-extra-4.4.0-24-generic (4.4.0-24.43) ...
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 4.4.0-24-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-24-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-24-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-24-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-24-generic
W: mdadm: /etc/mdadm/mdadm.conf defines no arrays.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/unattended-upgrades 4.4.0-24-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-24-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/update-notifier 4.4.0-24-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-24-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub 4.4.0-24-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-24-generic
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-38-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-38-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-36-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-36-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-34-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-34-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-31-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-31-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-28-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-28-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-24-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-24-generic
done
Purging configuration files for linux-image-extra-4.4.0-24-generic (4.4.0-24.43) ...
Removing linux-image-4.4.0-24-generic (4.4.0-24.43) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-24-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-24-generic
update-initramfs: Deleting /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-24-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 4.4.0-24-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-24-generic
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-38-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-38-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-36-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-36-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-34-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-34-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-31-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-31-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-28-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-28-generic
done
Purging configuration files for linux-image-4.4.0-24-generic (4.4.0-24.43) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-24-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-24-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 4.4.0-24-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-24-generic
Removing linux-image-extra-4.4.0-31-generic (4.4.0-31.50) ...
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 4.4.0-31-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-31-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-31-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-31-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-31-generic
W: mdadm: /etc/mdadm/mdadm.conf defines no arrays.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/unattended-upgrades 4.4.0-31-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-31-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/update-notifier 4.4.0-31-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-31-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub 4.4.0-31-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-31-generic
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-38-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-38-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-36-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-36-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-34-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-34-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-31-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-31-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-28-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-28-generic
done
Purging configuration files for linux-image-extra-4.4.0-31-generic (4.4.0-31.50) ...
Removing linux-image-4.4.0-31-generic (4.4.0-31.50) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-31-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-31-generic
update-initramfs: Deleting /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-31-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 4.4.0-31-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-31-generic
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-38-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-38-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-36-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-36-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-34-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-34-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-28-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-28-generic
done
Purging configuration files for linux-image-4.4.0-31-generic (4.4.0-31.50) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-31-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-31-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 4.4.0-31-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-31-generic
Removing linux-image-extra-4.4.0-34-generic (4.4.0-34.53) ...
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 4.4.0-34-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-34-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-34-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-34-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-34-generic
W: mdadm: /etc/mdadm/mdadm.conf defines no arrays.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/unattended-upgrades 4.4.0-34-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-34-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/update-notifier 4.4.0-34-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-34-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub 4.4.0-34-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-34-generic
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-38-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-38-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-36-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-36-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-34-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-34-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-28-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-28-generic
done
Purging configuration files for linux-image-extra-4.4.0-34-generic (4.4.0-34.53) ...
Removing linux-image-4.4.0-34-generic (4.4.0-34.53) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-34-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-34-generic
update-initramfs: Deleting /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-34-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 4.4.0-34-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-34-generic
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-38-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-38-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-36-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-36-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-28-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-28-generic
done
Purging configuration files for linux-image-4.4.0-34-generic (4.4.0-34.53) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-34-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-34-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 4.4.0-34-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-34-generic

Yes, these were quite a few versions which were deleted.

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Comments (newest first)

Alexander from Winterthur wrote on Sep 20th, 2016:

Might be worth noting, where that script came from, though:

~/Downloads/ dpkg -S purge-old-kernels
byobu: /usr/share/man/man1/purge-old-kernels.1.gz
byobu: /usr/bin/purge-old-kernels


Cheers :)

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