This is not a problem with linux-firmware itself, it does is trigger a rebuild of the initrd for all installed kernels but it's initramfs-tools which does this. It will try to generate an initrd for all kernels with a file in /var/lib/initramfs-tools, so it sounds like you have a file there for that kernel but no corresponding directory for that kernel in /lib/modules.
Changing this bug report to be against initramfs-tools. ** Package changed: linux-firmware (Ubuntu) => initramfs-tools (Ubuntu) -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Touch seeded packages, which is subscribed to initramfs-tools in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1773476 Title: linux-firmware 1.157.19 attempts to generate /boot/initrd.img-4.8.0-56, /boot/initrd.img-4.8.0 when no corresponding vmlinuz present Status in initramfs-tools package in Ubuntu: Confirmed Bug description: With LinUX Images/-Extras 4.15.0-22-generic, 4.13.0-43-generic, 4.8.0-58-generic, 4.8.0-56-generic, and 4.4.0-127-generic installed, sudo dpkg-reconfigure linux-firmware returns the following to Console: update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.15.0-22-generic update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.13.0-43-generic update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.8.0-58-generic update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.8.0-56-generic update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.8.0-56 WARNING: missing /lib/modules/4.8.0-56 Ensure all necessary drivers are built into the linux image! depmod: ERROR: could not open directory /lib/modules/4.8.0-56: No such file or directory depmod: FATAL: could not search modules: No such file or directory depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_AlVft4/lib/modules/4.8.0-56/modules.order: No such file or directory depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_AlVft4/lib/modules/4.8.0-56/modules.builtin: No such file or directory update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.8.0 WARNING: missing /lib/modules/4.8.0 Ensure all necessary drivers are built into the linux image! depmod: ERROR: could not open directory /lib/modules/4.8.0: No such file or directory depmod: FATAL: could not search modules: No such file or directory depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_OwnjIb/lib/modules/4.8.0/modules.order: No such file or directory depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_OwnjIb/lib/modules/4.8.0/modules.builtin: No such file or directory update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.4.0-127-generic Same configuration report for "Setting up linux-firmware..." with sudo apt(-get) install (--reinstall) linux-firmware and sudo apt-get upgrade linux-firmware. Therefore: Reproducible: Always Steps to reproduce: sudo apt install (--reinstall) linux-firmware or sudo dpkg-reconfigure linux-firmware. Actual results, excepting actually installed Kernel Image packages: update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.8.0-56 WARNING: missing /lib/modules/4.8.0-56 Ensure all necessary drivers are built into the linux image! depmod: ERROR: could not open directory /lib/modules/4.8.0-56: No such file or directory depmod: FATAL: could not search modules: No such file or directory depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_AlVft4/lib/modules/4.8.0-56/modules.order: No such file or directory depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_AlVft4/lib/modules/4.8.0-56/modules.builtin: No such file or directory update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.8.0 WARNING: missing /lib/modules/4.8.0 Ensure all necessary drivers are built into the linux image! depmod: ERROR: could not open directory /lib/modules/4.8.0: No such file or directory depmod: FATAL: could not search modules: No such file or directory depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_OwnjIb/lib/modules/4.8.0/modules.order: No such file or directory depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_OwnjIb/lib/modules/4.8.0/modules.builtin: No such file or directory Expected results, excepting actually installed Kernel Image packages: No attempt to generate /boot/initrd.img for missing kernels, thus no warnings, errors or fatals. --- ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.17 Architecture: amd64 CurrentDesktop: Unity Dependencies: DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04 InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-05-17 (373 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04.2 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20170215.2) Package: linux-firmware 1.157.19 [origin: unknown] PackageArchitecture: all ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-22.24~16.04.1-generic 4.15.17 Tags: xenial third-party-packages Uname: Linux 4.15.0-22-generic x86_64 UnreportableReason: This is not an official Ubuntu package. Please remove any third party package and try again. UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo _MarkForUpload: True To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/initramfs-tools/+bug/1773476/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages Post to : touch-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
