/boot too small, how to fix?

Be careful, if you mess things up, you might have an unbootable system which needs more care.

  1. move /boot contents
    mkdir /boot2
    rsync -a /boot/ /boot2/
    umount /boot
    rmdir /boot
    mv /boot2 /boot
    
  2. install Debian's standard kernel to help with a lot of initrd stuff in the background
    apt-get install linux-image-amd64
  3. create your new kernel's initrd if not yet done (3.2.17-atlas in this example):
    update-initramfs -c -k 3.2.17-atlas
  4. re-install/update grub (here on first hard drive's MBR)
    grub-install '(hd0)'
    update-grub
    
  5. Ensure grub is installed correctly (i.e. look for set root and if the initrd line is present for your kernel)
    less /boot/grub/grub.cfg 
  6. Finally, remove /boot from /etc/fstab and then you should be ready to reboot.

-- CarstenAulbert - 28 Jun 2012

DocumentationForm edit

Title How to cope with /boot being too small
Description Moving /boot to another partition
Tags boot grub
Category Admin
Topic revision: r1 - 28 Jun 2012, CarstenAulbert
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