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

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 :)