diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'remove-old-kernels.1')
-rw-r--r-- | remove-old-kernels.1 | 187 |
1 files changed, 187 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/remove-old-kernels.1 b/remove-old-kernels.1 new file mode 100644 index 0000000..95e9664 --- /dev/null +++ b/remove-old-kernels.1 @@ -0,0 +1,187 @@ +.TH remove-old-kernels "22 Nov 2022" +.SH NAME +remove-old-kernels \- Utility to remove obsolete kernels in Mageia Systems using urpme. +.SH SYNOPSIS +\fBremove-old-kernels\fP [\fI\-option\fP] + +\fBrok\fP [\fI\-option\fP] + +.SH DESCRIPTION +\fBremove-old-kernels\fR runs automatically under cron.weekly using configuration settings in /etc/remove-old-kernels.cfg. This is the default in order to avoid system failure due to old kernels filling the root file system. +.br +For most users it can be left, as installed, to do it's job without any user intervention or concern. + +.br +It keeps the default (3) kernels of EACH kernel flavour, NOT 3 in total. If there are kernels of various flavours installed, then only the flavours with more than 3 would see any removed. + +.br +It will never remove the running kernel. + +.br +If the running kernel has been accidentally removed by some utility since boot then it will report the error and abort, removing nothing. + +\fBremove-old-kernels\fP also allows interactive command\-line removal of kernel packages using various options. + +\fBremove-old-kernels\fR with no arguments as a regular user, will display the current kernel(s) installed, the one in use, marked with 'U', and the ones it suggests to remove in red, if any. +.br +This is a good way to make a quick check without any risk of error. + +\fBremove-old-kernels\fP is also available from the Mageia main menu system in graphical desktops for ease of use by users unfamiliar with the command line. Usually found under Tools -> System Tools. It will ask for the root password. + +\fBIn automatic mode a log is kept at /var/log/remove-old-kernels.log. The log is limited to 1000 lines (up to a year) and will then start to remove the oldest entries whilst adding new ones. See the -l option to view the log. + +.SH DISPLAY + +.TP +\fB\The header bar. +This shows: +.br +The system release information. +.br +The number of kernels found in the /boot directory +.br +Whether the automatic mode is on or off. OFF is highlighted in red as a warning. +.br +The number of kernels to be kept per flavour. +.br +Whether in advanced mode. Not shown when OFF. e.g. Q:1 +.br +The configuration file in use. Not shown for the main configuration file. e.g. F:1 + +.TP +\fB\The list columns. +.br +Column 1 shows the number of kernels found of each flavour. +.br +Column 2 indicates whether the kernel will be kept or removed. +.br +Column 3 shows a key letter to indicate the reason for keeping. Run 'rok -h' for key. +.br +Column 4 shows the full kernel package name concerned. +.br +Column 5 shows the date and time that the kernel was installed. + +.SH CONFIGURATION + +\fBThe configuration file is /etc/remove-old-kernels.cfg which may be edited manually if desired. +.br +\fBThere are several options below which can also be used more conveniently to change settings in the configuration file +from the command line when run as root. +.br +.br +Several alternative configuration files may be added manually if desired. They must be named as follows: +.br +/etc/remove-old-kernels_N.cfg where N is a digit from 1 to 9. +.br +A template configuration file is provided containing default values which may be copied: +/usr/share/doc/remove-old-kernels/remove-old-kernels_N.cfg.template. +.br +To use a new alternative configuration file for the current run you can use the -f N option, or -F N to switch to it persistently. +NOTE that any changes like auto ON/OFF, or the number of kernels to keep, that are made while running an alternative configuration +will be saved to THAT configuration file. They will not affect the default 'main' configuration. +.br +To switch back to the original configuration use -F 0. + +.SH OPTIONS + +.TP +\fI\-h -?\fP help + +Displays the available options and a key to column 3 of the display. + +.TP +\fI\-n N\fP Set the number of kernels to keep. ONLY for the current run. + +This parameter sets the number of kernels to keep (this time) in interactive mode. It must be 2 or more, it's value may be restricted by the setting in etc/dnf/dnf.conf if dnf is installed, in which case there is an on-screen warning. dnf sets a default value of 3. + +.TP +\fI\-N N\fP Like -n but stores the 'number of kernels to keep' persistently in the config file. e.g. -N 4 + +It must be run as root to take effect. + +.TP +\fI\-a\fP automatic mode. Run once with no questions asked. + +Similar to the weekly cron job and will use settings from /etc/remove-old-kernels.cfg. +.br +It may be used with the -n N option if desired. NOTE: No output is sent to the log when run manually. + +.TP +\fI\-A [y|n]\fP Automatic mode ON/OFF switch. + +This switches the automatic weekly run ON (y) or OFF (n). +It directly edits /etc/remove-old-kernels.cfg, setting CRON=y or CRON=n so must be run as root to have any effect. + +.TP +\fI\-c\fP Special option for system automatic mode. This option is NOT intended for manual use. + +Checks if CRON=y is in /etc/remove-old-kernels.cfg before running, or exits. The output is logged to /var/log/remove-old-kernels.log. +It is run by /etc/cron.weekly/remove-old-kernels.cron which also trims the log to 1000 lines if it is greater. This equates to something over one year of use for basic systems. +See the -l option for viewing the log. + +.TP +\fI\-f N\fP Switch to an alternative configuration file. ONLY for the current run. + +N is any number from 1 to 9. Alternative configuration files need to be prepared in advance. + +.TP +\fI\-F N\fP Switch to an alternative configuration file. Persistently. (Must be root) + +N is any number from 1 to 9. Alternative configuration files need to be prepared in advance. + +.TP +\fI\-t\fP Test mode. + +A test mode where nothing is removed, to see what would be done. + +.TP +\fI\-p\fP Preview mode. + +Dry run showing the urpme commands that would be used. + +.TP +\fI\-q\fP Advanced mode, run once. + +An advanced mode (developed for Mageia QA testers). +.br +In addition to the regular mode, when ON this will also NOT remove: +.br +A kernel devel package of the same version as a corresponding installed kernel, unless the kernel is going to be removed as well. +.br +A kernel potentially needed by an installed virtualbox kernel latest. +.br +A kernel potentially needed by an installed xtables-addons kernel latest. + +.TP +\fI\-Q N\fP Advanced mode, persistent. OFF by default. +When ON, "Q:ON" is displayed near the right end of the header bar. + +N = 1 for enable, 0 to disable. Default disabled. + +.TP +\fI\-l N\fP Display the log file. (Only created by the weekly automatic runs) +.br +The last 1000 lines of the log are retained. If no log has yet been created then it will exit. + +.TP +\fI\-v\fP Show the version of the installed remove-old-kernels package. + +.SH EXAMPLES +\fBrok\fP +.br +A shorthand link to 'remove-old-kernels'. Run as root to remove kernels or change settings. + +\fBremove-old-kernels -n4\fP +.br +Remove old kernels interactively, this time, keeping 4 kernels of each flavour. + +\fBrok -l\fP +.br +Display the log file. + +.SH BUGS +None known. Report any issues with the program or documentation to https://bugs.mageia.org/ + +.SH AUTHOR +\fBremove-old-kernels is by Pierre Jarillon (2018-2021) Jean-Baptiste Biernacki (2021) Barry C Jackson (2022)\fP +This document is by Barry C Jackson <barjac@mageia.org>. |