Formerly titled “Roadblocks 1: ‘gzip: stdout: No space left on device’ and ‘E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)’”.
Hello! This is the first of a series of posts called ‘Roadblocks’, in which I’ll be detailing errors, bugs, and other issues I run into and how I deal with them. This is primarily for my own reference as a learning resource, but I hope it is of use to others!
Today I’ll be detailing an issue I ran into while installing packages with apt. I’m currently using Elementary OS 0.4.1 Loki.
TL;DR:
apt install gnupgyieldedgzip: stdout: No space left on deviceandE: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)- This is because my boot partition is full of old kernels.
- Use
purge-old-kernelsto fix it.
I was setting up GPG keys for this account, so I ran apt install gnupg, which gave me the following:
View terminal output
$ sudo apt install gnupg
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
gnupg is already the newest version (1.4.20-1ubuntu3.1).
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
linux-headers-4.4.0-104 linux-headers-4.4.0-104-generic linux-image-4.4.0-104-generic linux-image-extra-4.4.0-104-generic linux-signed-image-4.4.0-104-generic
Use 'sudo apt autoremove' to remove them.
0 to upgrade, 0 to newly install, 0 to remove and 2 not to upgrade.
13 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 (0.122ubuntu8.10) ...
update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
Setting up linux-firmware (1.157.15) ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-112-generic
gzip: stdout: No space left on device
E: mkinitramfs failure find 141 cpio 141 gzip 1
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-112-generic with 1.
dpkg: error processing package linux-firmware (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Setting up linux-image-extra-4.4.0-112-generic (4.4.0-112.135) ...
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 4.4.0-112-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-112-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms 4.4.0-112-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-112-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-112-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-112-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-112-generic
gzip: stdout: No space left on device
E: mkinitramfs failure find 141 cpio 141 gzip 1
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-112-generic with 1.
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-extra-4.4.0-112-generic (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-image-generic:
linux-image-generic depends on linux-image-extra-4.4.0-112-generic; however:
Package linux-image-extra-4.4.0-112-generic is not configured yet.
linux-image-generic depends on linux-firmware; however:
Package linux-firmware is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-generic (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-generic:
linux-generic depends on linux-image-generic (= 4.4.0.112.118); however:
Package linux-image-generic is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing package linux-generic (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Setting up linux-image-4.4.0-104-generic (4.4.0-104.127) ...
No apport report written because the error message indicates it's a follow-up error from a previous failure.
No apport report written because MaxReports has already been reached
Running depmod.
update-initramfs: deferring update (hook will be called later)
The link /initrd.img is a dangling linkto /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-104-generic
vmlinuz(/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-104-generic
) points to /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-104-generic
(/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-104-generic) -- doing nothing at /var/lib/dpkg/info/linux-image-4.4.0-104-generic.postinst line 491.
Examining /etc/kernel/postinst.d.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 4.4.0-104-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-104-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms 4.4.0-104-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-104-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-104-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-104-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-104-generic
gzip: stdout: No space left on device
E: mkinitramfs failure find 141 cpio 141 gzip 1
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-104-generic with 1.
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1
Failed to process /etc/kernel/postinst.d at /var/lib/dpkg/info/linux-image-4.4.0-104-generic.postinst line 1052.
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-4.4.0-104-generic (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2
No apport report written because MaxReports has already been reached
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-image-extra-4.4.0-104-generic:
linux-image-extra-4.4.0-104-generic depends on linux-image-4.4.0-104-generic; however:
Package linux-image-4.4.0-104-generic is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-extra-4.4.0-104-generic (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
No apport report written because MaxReports has already been reached
Setting up linux-image-extra-4.4.0-109-generic (4.4.0-109.132) ...
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 4.4.0-109-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-109-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms 4.4.0-109-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-109-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-109-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-109-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-109-generic
gzip: stdout: No space left on device
E: mkinitramfs failure find 141 cpio 141 gzip 1
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-109-generic with 1.
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-extra-4.4.0-109-generic (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
No apport report written because MaxReports has already been reached
Setting up linux-signed-image-4.4.0-112-generic (4.4.0-112.135) ...
cp: error writing '/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-112-generic.efi.signed': No space left on device
dpkg: error processing package linux-signed-image-4.4.0-112-generic (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
No apport report written because MaxReports has already been reached
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-signed-image-generic:
linux-signed-image-generic depends on linux-signed-image-4.4.0-112-generic; however:
Package linux-signed-image-4.4.0-112-generic is not configured yet.
linux-signed-image-generic depends on linux-image-extra-4.4.0-112-generic; however:
Package linux-image-extra-4.4.0-112-generic is not configured yet.
linux-signed-image-generic depends on linux-firmware; however:
Package linux-firmware is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing package linux-signed-image-generic (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
No apport report written because MaxReports has already been reached
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-signed-generic:
linux-signed-generic depends on linux-signed-image-generic (= 4.4.0.112.118); however:
Package linux-signed-image-generic is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing package linux-signed-generic (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
No apport report written because MaxReports has already been reached
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-signed-image-4.4.0-104-generic:
linux-signed-image-4.4.0-104-generic depends on linux-image-4.4.0-104-generic (= 4.4.0-104.127); however:
Package linux-image-4.4.0-104-generic is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing package linux-signed-image-4.4.0-104-generic (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
No apport report written because MaxReports has already been reached
Setting up openssh-server (1:7.2p2-4ubuntu2.4) ...
Job for ssh.service failed because the control process exited with error code. See "systemctl status ssh.service" and "journalctl -xe" for details.
invoke-rc.d: initscript ssh, action "restart" failed.
● ssh.service - OpenBSD Secure Shell server
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/ssh.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since Thu 2018-01-25 18:30:46 +0530; 20ms ago
Process: 4688 ExecStart=/usr/sbin/sshd -D $SSHD_OPTS (code=exited, status=255)
Main PID: 4688 (code=exited, status=255)
Jan 25 18:30:46 [redacted] systemd[1]: Starting OpenBSD Secure Shell server...
Jan 25 18:30:46 [redacted] sshd[4688]: /etc/ssh/sshd_config line 90: Subsystem 'sftp' already defined.
Jan 25 18:30:46 [redacted] systemd[1]: ssh.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=255/n/a
Jan 25 18:30:46 [redacted] systemd[1]: Failed to start OpenBSD Secure Shell server.
Jan 25 18:30:46 [redacted] systemd[1]: ssh.service: Unit entered failed state.
Jan 25 18:30:46 [redacted] systemd[1]: ssh.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
dpkg: error processing package openssh-server (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
No apport report written because MaxReports has already been reached
Processing triggers for initramfs-tools (0.122ubuntu8.10) ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-112-generic
gzip: stdout: No space left on device
E: mkinitramfs failure find 141 cpio 141 gzip 1
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-112-generic with 1.
dpkg: error processing package initramfs-tools (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
No apport report written because MaxReports has already been reached
Errors were encountered while processing:
linux-firmware
linux-image-extra-4.4.0-112-generic
linux-image-generic
linux-generic
linux-image-4.4.0-104-generic
linux-image-extra-4.4.0-104-generic
linux-image-extra-4.4.0-109-generic
linux-signed-image-4.4.0-112-generic
linux-signed-image-generic
linux-signed-generic
linux-signed-image-4.4.0-104-generic
openssh-server
initramfs-tools
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
Googling yielded some questions along the line of this, which recommends uninstalling old kernels one by one.
So then, because it seemed the simplest and most familiar, I tried:
View terminal output
$ sudo apt autoremove
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED
linux-headers-4.4.0-104 linux-headers-4.4.0-104-generic linux-image-4.4.0-104-generic linux-image-extra-4.4.0-104-generic linux-signed-image-4.4.0-104-generic
0 to upgrade, 0 to newly install, 5 to remove and 2 not to upgrade.
13 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 298 MB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y
(Reading database ... 619434 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing linux-signed-image-4.4.0-104-generic (4.4.0-104.127) ...
Generating grub configuration file ...
cat: write error: No space left on device
Removing linux-image-extra-4.4.0-104-generic (4.4.0-104.127) ...
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 4.4.0-104-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-104-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms 4.4.0-104-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-104-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-104-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-104-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-104-generic
gzip: stdout: No space left on device
E: mkinitramfs failure cpio 141 gzip 1
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-104-generic with 1.
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-extra-4.4.0-104-generic (--remove):
subprocess installed post-removal script returned error exit status 1
Removing linux-image-4.4.0-104-generic (4.4.0-104.127) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/prerm.d.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/prerm.d/dkms 4.4.0-104-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-104-generic
dkms: removing: bcmwl 6.30.223.271+bdcom (4.4.0-104-generic) (x86_64)
-------- Uninstall Beginning --------
Module: [redacted]
Version: [redacted]
Kernel: 4.4.0-104-generic (x86_64)
-------------------------------------
Status: Before uninstall, this module version was ACTIVE on this kernel.
wl.ko:
- Uninstallation
- Deleting from: /lib/modules/4.4.0-104-generic/extra/
- Original module
- No original module was found for this module on this kernel.
- Use the dkms install command to reinstall any previous module version.
depmod....
DKMS: uninstall completed.
dkms: removing: [redacted]
-------- Uninstall Beginning --------
Module: [redacted]
Version: [redacted]
Kernel: 4.4.0-104-generic (x86_64)
-------------------------------------
Status: Before uninstall, this module version was ACTIVE on this kernel.
douane.ko:
- Uninstallation
- Deleting from: /lib/modules/4.4.0-104-generic/extra/
- Original module
- No original module was found for this module on this kernel.
- Use the dkms install command to reinstall any previous module version.
depmod....
DKMS: uninstall completed.
Examining /etc/kernel/postrm.d .
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-104-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-104-generic
update-initramfs: Deleting /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-104-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub 4.4.0-104-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-104-generic
Generating grub configuration file ...
Warning: Setting GRUB_TIMEOUT to a non-zero value when GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT is set is no longer supported.
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-112-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-112-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-109-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-109-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-101-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-101-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-98-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-98-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-97-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-97-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-96-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-96-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-89-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-89-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-83-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-83-generic
Adding boot menu entry for EFI firmware configuration
done
The link /vmlinuz is a damaged link
Removing symbolic link vmlinuz
you may need to re-run your boot loader[grub]
The link /initrd.img is a damaged link
Removing symbolic link initrd.img
you may need to re-run your boot loader[grub]
The link /initrd.img.old is a damaged link
Removing symbolic link initrd.img.old
you may need to re-run your boot loader[grub]
Removing linux-headers-4.4.0-104-generic (4.4.0-104.127) ...
Removing linux-headers-4.4.0-104 (4.4.0-104.127) ...
Errors were encountered while processing:
linux-image-extra-4.4.0-104-generic
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
You’ll notice that gzip: stdout: No space left on device and E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1) are still there.
autoclean was anticlimactic:
$ sudo apt autoclean
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Per the recommendation of another thread, I then tried:
View terminal output
$ sudo apt -f install
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
0 to upgrade, 0 to newly install, 0 to remove and 3 not to upgrade.
10 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
Setting up initramfs-tools (0.122ubuntu8.10) ...
update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
Setting up linux-firmware (1.157.15) ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-112-generic
gzip: stdout: No space left on device
E: mkinitramfs failure find 141 cpio 141 gzip 1
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-112-generic with 1.
dpkg: error processing package linux-firmware (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Setting up linux-image-extra-4.4.0-112-generic (4.4.0-112.135) ...
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 4.4.0-112-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-112-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms 4.4.0-112-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-112-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-112-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-112-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-112-generic
gzip: stdout: No space left on device
E: mkinitramfs failure find 141 cpio 141 gzip 1
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-112-generic with 1.
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-extra-4.4.0-112-generic (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-image-generic:
linux-image-generic depends on linux-image-extra-4.4.0-112-generic; however:
Package linux-image-extra-4.4.0-112-generic is not configured yet.
linux-image-generic depends on linux-firmware; however:
Package linux-firmware is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-generic (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
No apport report written because the error message indicates it's a follow-up error from a previous failure.
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-generic:
linux-generic depends on linux-image-generic (= 4.4.0.112.118); however:
Package linux-image-generic is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing package linux-generic (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Setting up linux-image-extra-4.4.0-109-generic (4.4.0-109.132) ...
No apport report written because MaxReports has already been reached
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/apt-auto-removal 4.4.0-109-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-109-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms 4.4.0-109-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-109-generic
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools 4.4.0-109-generic /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-109-generic
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-109-generic
gzip: stdout: No space left on device
E: mkinitramfs failure find 141 cpio 141 gzip 1
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-109-generic with 1.
run-parts: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools exited with return code 1
dpkg: error processing package linux-image-extra-4.4.0-109-generic (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
No apport report written because MaxReports has already been reached
Setting up linux-signed-image-4.4.0-112-generic (4.4.0-112.135) ...
cp: error writing '/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-112-generic.efi.signed': No space left on device
dpkg: error processing package linux-signed-image-4.4.0-112-generic (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
No apport report written because MaxReports has already been reached
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-signed-image-generic:
linux-signed-image-generic depends on linux-signed-image-4.4.0-112-generic; however:
Package linux-signed-image-4.4.0-112-generic is not configured yet.
linux-signed-image-generic depends on linux-image-extra-4.4.0-112-generic; however:
Package linux-image-extra-4.4.0-112-generic is not configured yet.
linux-signed-image-generic depends on linux-firmware; however:
Package linux-firmware is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing package linux-signed-image-generic (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-signed-generic:
linux-signed-generic depends on linux-signed-image-generic (= 4.4.0.112.118); however:
Package linux-signed-image-generic is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing package linux-signed-generic (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
No apport report written because MaxReports has already been reached
No apport report written because MaxReports has already been reached
Setting up openssh-server (1:7.2p2-4ubuntu2.4) ...
Job for ssh.service failed because the control process exited with error code. See "systemctl status ssh.service" and "journalctl -xe" for details.
invoke-rc.d: initscript ssh, action "restart" failed.
● ssh.service - OpenBSD Secure Shell server
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/ssh.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since Thu 2018-01-25 18:37:42 +0530; 6ms ago
Process: 13073 ExecStart=/usr/sbin/sshd -D $SSHD_OPTS (code=exited, status=255)
Main PID: 13073 (code=exited, status=255)
Jan 25 18:37:42 [redacted] systemd[1]: Starting OpenBSD Secure Shell server...
Jan 25 18:37:42 [redacted] sshd[13073]: /etc/ssh/sshd_config line 90: Subsystem 'sftp' already defined.
Jan 25 18:37:42 [redacted] systemd[1]: ssh.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=255/n/a
Jan 25 18:37:42 [redacted] systemd[1]: Failed to start OpenBSD Secure Shell server.
Jan 25 18:37:42 [redacted] systemd[1]: ssh.service: Unit entered failed state.
Jan 25 18:37:42 [redacted] systemd[1]: ssh.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
dpkg: error processing package openssh-server (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
No apport report written because MaxReports has already been reached
Processing triggers for initramfs-tools (0.122ubuntu8.10) ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-112-generic
gzip: stdout: No space left on device
E: mkinitramfs failure find 141 cpio 141 gzip 1
update-initramfs: failed for /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-112-generic with 1.
dpkg: error processing package initramfs-tools (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
No apport report written because MaxReports has already been reached
Errors were encountered while processing:
linux-firmware
linux-image-extra-4.4.0-112-generic
linux-image-generic
linux-generic
linux-image-extra-4.4.0-109-generic
linux-signed-image-4.4.0-112-generic
linux-signed-image-generic
linux-signed-generic
openssh-server
initramfs-tools
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
Again, we have gzip: stdout: No space left on device and E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1). Hmmm…
More Googling led me to this thread, which finally yielded something productive:
View terminal output
$ uname -r
4.4.0-112-generic
$ aptitude search ~ilinux-image
i linux-image-4.4.0-101-generic - Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
i A linux-image-4.4.0-109-generic - Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
i A linux-image-4.4.0-112-generic - Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
i A linux-image-4.4.0-83-generic - Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
i linux-image-4.4.0-89-generic - Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
i linux-image-4.4.0-96-generic - Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
i linux-image-4.4.0-97-generic - Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
i linux-image-4.4.0-98-generic - Linux kernel image for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
i linux-image-extra-4.4.0-101-generic - Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
C A linux-image-extra-4.4.0-109-generic - Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
C A linux-image-extra-4.4.0-112-generic - Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
i linux-image-extra-4.4.0-89-generic - Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
i linux-image-extra-4.4.0-96-generic - Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
i linux-image-extra-4.4.0-97-generic - Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
i linux-image-extra-4.4.0-98-generic - Linux kernel extra modules for version 4.4.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
u A linux-image-generic - Generic Linux kernel image
Running apt autoremove linux-image-4.4.0-... or sudo dpkg --remove linux-image-4.4.0-... one by one would take forever, so I Googled some more. And thus, finally, I ended up here, which recommended using byobu to run purge-old-kernels.
$ sudo apt install byobu
$ sudo purge-old-kernels
Installing byobu also yielded gzip: stdout: No space left on device and E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1), but after these two commands, installing other packages with apt worked fine, other than an issue with openssh-server. I almost never ssh into this machine, so I chose to remove it; I may reinstall it in the future.
View terminal output
$ sudo apt install gnupg -y
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
gnupg is already the newest version (1.4.20-1ubuntu3.1).
The following package was automatically installed and is no longer required:
linux-headers-4.4.0-109
Use 'sudo apt autoremove' to remove it.
0 to upgrade, 0 to newly install, 0 to remove and 3 not to upgrade.
1 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
Setting up openssh-server (1:7.2p2-4ubuntu2.4) ...
Job for ssh.service failed because the control process exited with error code. See "systemctl status ssh.service" and "journalctl -xe" for details.
invoke-rc.d: initscript ssh, action "restart" failed.
● ssh.service - OpenBSD Secure Shell server
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/ssh.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since Thu 2018-01-25 19:07:39 +0530; 6ms ago
Process: 6151 ExecStart=/usr/sbin/sshd -D $SSHD_OPTS (code=exited, status=255)
Main PID: 6151 (code=exited, status=255)
Jan 25 19:07:39 [redacted] systemd[1]: Starting OpenBSD Secure Shell server...
Jan 25 19:07:39 [redacted] sshd[6151]: /etc/ssh/sshd_config line 90: Subsystem 'sftp' already defined.
Jan 25 19:07:39 [redacted] systemd[1]: ssh.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=255/n/a
Jan 25 19:07:39 [redacted] systemd[1]: Failed to start OpenBSD Secure Shell server.
Jan 25 19:07:39 [redacted] systemd[1]: ssh.service: Unit entered failed state.
Jan 25 19:07:39 [redacted] systemd[1]: ssh.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
dpkg: error processing package openssh-server (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
openssh-server
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
$ sudo apt remove openssh-server -y
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
linux-headers-4.4.0-109 openssh-sftp-server ssh-import-id
Use 'sudo apt autoremove' to remove them.
The following packages will be REMOVED
openssh-server
0 to upgrade, 0 to newly install, 1 to remove and 3 not to upgrade.
1 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 904 kB disk space will be freed.
(Reading database ... 476792 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing openssh-server (1:7.2p2-4ubuntu2.4) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.7.5-1) ...
$ sudo apt install gnupg -y
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
gnupg is already the newest version (1.4.20-1ubuntu3.1).
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
linux-headers-4.4.0-109 openssh-sftp-server ssh-import-id
Use 'sudo apt autoremove' to remove them.
0 to upgrade, 0 to newly install, 0 to remove and 3 not to upgrade.
Et voilà!
P.S. To update grub, run sudo update-grub. It’s not really necessary though.