π ~1 min read
Table of contents
Symptom & Impact
Kernel package upgrades fail with no space left on device in /boot.
Environment & Reproduction
Most common on hosts with small dedicated boot partitions and many retained kernels.
Root Cause Analysis
Old kernel images and initramfs artifacts consume all available /boot space.
Quick Triage
Measure /boot utilization and list installed kernel packages.
Step-by-Step Diagnosis
Identify obsolete kernels not currently running.
Solution – Primary Fix
Purge old kernels safely and regenerate boot metadata.
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Solution – Alternative Approaches
Extend boot partition or migrate to layout with larger boot capacity.
Verification & Acceptance Criteria
Sufficient free space exists and kernel upgrade completes successfully.
Rollback Plan
Retain at least one prior working kernel and snapshot before cleanup.
Prevention & Hardening
Automate stale-kernel removal and monitor boot partition usage.
Related Errors & Cross-Refs
No space left on device, update-initramfs failed, and grub update errors.
Related tutorial: View the step-by-step tutorial for Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.
View all Ubuntu 20.04 LTS tutorials on the Tutorials Hub β
Browse all common problems & solutions on the Tutorials Hub.
References & Further Reading
Ubuntu kernel package lifecycle and boot partition maintenance guidance.
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