Configuration Information [Automatically generated, do not change]:
Machine: i686
OS: linux-gnu
Compiler: gcc
Compilation CFLAGS: -DPROGRAM='bash' -DCONF_HOSTTYPE='i686'
-DCONF_OSTYPE='linux-gnu' -DCONF_MACHTYPE='i686-pc-linux-gnu'
-DCONF_VENDOR='pc' -DLOCALEDIR='/usr/share/locale' -DPACKAGE='bash' -DSHELL
-DHAVE_CONFIG_H -I. -I../bash -I../bash/include -I../bash/lib -g -O2 -Wall
uname output: Linux dragonfly 2.6.35-27-generic #48-Ubuntu SMP Tue Feb 22
20:25:29 UTC 2011 i686 GNU/Linux
Machine Type: i686-pc-linux-gnu
Bash Version: 4.1
Patch Level: 5
Release Status: release
Description:
Bash truncates HISTFILE (~/.bash_history) to zero bytes when the
filesystem is full.
Repeat-By:
Use bash with a full HISTFILE (ie, one that has HISTFILESIZE lines
in it) and a full disk. The HISTFILE is empty afterwords.
Long, drawn out, concrete example including making a new test
user with a home directory on a separate filesystem so it can
be easily and harmlessly filled up:
$ # Create a new user with a home dir on a small temporary filesystem
$ sudo adduser bashbug
Adding user `bashbug' ...
Adding new group `bashbug' (1002) ...
Adding new user `bashbug' (1002) with group `bashbug' ...
Creating home directory `/home/bashbug' ...
Copying files from `/etc/skel' ...
Enter new UNIX password:
Retype new UNIX password:
passwd: password updated successfully
Changing the user information for bashbug
Enter the new value, or press ENTER for the default
Full Name []:
Room Number []:
Work Phone []:
Home Phone []:
Other []:
Is the information correct? [Y/n]
$ dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/shm/bashbug-home bs=1M count=10
10+0 records in
10+0 records out
10485760 bytes (10 MB) copied, 0.0332525 s, 315 MB/s
$ mke2fs /dev/shm/bashbug-home
mke2fs 1.41.12 (17-May-2010)
/dev/shm/bashbug-home is not a block special device.
Proceed anyway? (y,n) y
Filesystem label=
OS type: Linux
Block size=1024 (log=0)
Fragment size=1024 (log=0)
Stride=0 blocks, Stripe width=0 blocks
2560 inodes, 10240 blocks
512 blocks (5.00%) reserved for the super user
First data block=1
Maximum filesystem blocks=10485760
2 block groups
8192 blocks per group, 8192 fragments per group
1280 inodes per group
Superblock backups stored on blocks:
8193
Writing inode tables: done
Writing superblocks and filesystem accounting information: done
This filesystem will be automatically checked every 31 mounts or
180 days, whichever comes first. Use tune2fs -c or -i to override.
$ sudo mount -o loop /dev/shm/bashbug-home /dev/shm/bashbug-home-mnt
$ sudo mv -v /home/bashbug/* /home/bashbug/.??*
/dev/shm/bashbug-home-mnt/
`/home/bashbug/examples.desktop' ->
`/dev/shm/bashbug-home-mnt/examples.desktop'
removed `/home/bashbug/examples.desktop'
`/home/bashbug/.bash_logout' -> `/dev/shm/bashbug-home-mnt/.bash_logout'
removed `/home/bashbug/.bash_logout'
`/home/bashbug/.bashrc' -> `/dev/shm/bashbug-home-mnt/.bashrc'
removed `/home/bashbug/.bashrc'
`/home/bashbug/.profile' -> `/dev/shm/bashbug-home-mnt/.profile'
removed `/home/bashbug/.profile'
$ sudo chown bashbug:bashbug /dev/shm/bashbug-home-mnt
$ sudo umount /dev/shm/bashbug-home-mnt
$ sudo mount -o loop /dev/shm/bashbug-home /home/bashbug
$ df
Filesystem 1K-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted on
...
/dev/loop0 9911 99 9300 2% /home/bashbug
$
$
$
$
$ # Fill up .bash_history and let bash trim it to HISTFILESIZE
$ sudo -u bashbug -i
bashbug$ yes | head -n 3000 > .bash_history
bashbug$ echo $HISTFILE $HISTSIZE $HISTFILESIZE # The defaults
/home/bashbug/.bash_history 1000 2000
bashbug$ wc -l .bash_history
3000 .bash_history
bashbug$ logout
$ wc -l /home/bashbug/.bash_history
2000 /home/bashbug/.bash_history
$
$
$
$
$ # Fill up the filesystem
$ sudo bash -c 'yes > /home/bashbug/full'
yes: standard output: No space left on device
yes: write error
$
$
$
$
$ # On next use, .bash_history becomes empty:
$ sudo -u bashbug -i
bashbug$ whoami # Any command
bashbug
bashbug$ logout
$ ls -l /home/bashbug/.bash_history
-rw-r--r-- 1 bashbug bashbug 0 2011-03-20 17:08
/home/bashbug/.bash_history
Fix:
Bash should write out the new HISTFILE before destroying the
existing one. That way, if writing the new one fails, the old
one can be left intact.
