On Sun, Aug 20, 2006 at 04:25:53PM -0400, Andres Salomon wrote: > > Here's a use case where having initramfs-tools unconditionally update > initramfs images is a bad thing (at the very least, violating the > principal of least surprise).
you use an plural, which is wrong. initramfs-tools updates the newest one only. it has been doing so since day 1 in the archive. > I had a machine that was had a poorly supported sata_mv chipset; dapper > nor sarge w/ 2.6.15/2.6.16 images would install onto it. I had to make > a custom cd w/ backported libata and sata_mv drivers. Needless to say, > it was a pain in the ass to get installed. aren't tomorrow dailies based on 2.6.17, but that is offtopic.. > After installation, I backported etch versions of busybox and > initramfs-tools (uploading the latter to backports.org) in order to do > some testing to see if I could get some installation and boot bugs > fixed. I installed both backports, then I backed up the existing > initramfs image and created a new image. The intent was to pull new > busybox binaries into the new initramfs, and keep the old initramfs > around in order to recover the system. I did not realize that during > the package's postinst, existing images would be updated; so, the > "backup" initramfs image that I had copied also had the new version of > busybox in it. As it turns out, the busybox backport was broken (not > sure if it was the build, or some interaction w/ the rest of the > system). Booting using either image would not work, and I had no way to > recover the system (due to bugs in my custom installer cd, recovery > didn't seem to work). the package postinstall explicitly tells what it does: # update-initramfs -u update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-2.6.17-2-686 so it can only have been overlooked. > I ended up having to reinstall the system using the custom installer cd. > I was not pleased. I expect that if I have a working initramfs image > in /boot, it should remain untouched until I explicitly give permission > for it to be touched. oldstyle initrd-tools and yaird do this, but they don't have any possiblity to have hooks for other packages. -- maks -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
