📖 ~1 min read
Table of contents
Symptom & Impact
Kernel and initramfs updates fail due to insufficient free space in /boot.
Environment & Reproduction
Ubuntu 22.04 hosts with small dedicated /boot partition and many retained kernels.
Root Cause Analysis
Auto-removal policy did not clear obsolete kernel packages fast enough.
Quick Triage
Run df -h /boot and list installed kernels with dpkg -l ‘linux-image*’.
Step-by-Step Diagnosis
Identify current running kernel via uname -r and mark older packages safe to remove.
Solution – Primary Fix
Purge obsolete kernel images and headers, then run update-initramfs -u and apt -f install.
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Solution – Alternative Approaches
Expand /boot partition where platform constraints require larger capacity.
Verification & Acceptance Criteria
/boot has healthy free space and pending kernel packages configure successfully.
Rollback Plan
Reinstall a removed kernel package from apt cache if boot compatibility issue appears.
Prevention & Hardening
Schedule periodic apt autoremove and monitor /boot usage thresholds.
Related Errors & Cross-Refs
grub update failures and unattended-upgrades stalls are common side effects.
Related tutorial: View the step-by-step tutorial for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.
View all Ubuntu 22.04 LTS tutorials on the Tutorials Hub →
Browse all common problems & solutions on the Tutorials Hub.
References & Further Reading
Ubuntu 22.04 kernel package lifecycle and boot partition maintenance guidance.
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