Bug 1687116

Hey Prasun,

In your case is kernel-debug installed? I've addressed a BZ recently that was related to having a newer kernel-debug installed than the running kernel which gave a false positive[1] of needing a restart.

One thing I am not clear on is: if I uninstall some version of the kernel then it should not leave files behind in /lib/modules as far as I know. If that's not true can you tell me how I can observe that? On my system, removing the kernel removes the files in /lib/modules

[1] https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1709842

Hi Jonathon,
I don't have kernel-debug installed. I use mainline kernels from https://elrepo.org/tiki/kernel-ml. Even after uninstalling the kernel, I see directories left behind with the following files:

For example: 
cd /lib/modules/5.5.6-1.el7.elrepo.x86_64
ls
modules.alias  modules.alias.bin  modules.builtin.bin  modules.dep  modules.dep.bin  modules.devname  modules.softdep  modules.symbols  modules.symbols.bin

The installed kernels have many more files and actual modules. I don't know the reasoning, but it would appear that the rpm cleanup script on elrepo's kernels does not delete everything.

I don't have kernel-debug, but I have kernel-devel. This is the output on my current system:

rpm -qa | grep kernel

kernel-devel-3.10.0-1062.12.1.el7.x86_64
kernel-3.10.0-1062.18.1.el7.x86_64
kernel-ml-devel-5.5.13-1.el7.elrepo.x86_64
kernel-ml-5.6.0-1.el7.elrepo.x86_64
kernel-ml-devel-5.6.0-1.el7.elrepo.x86_64
kernel-ml-devel-5.5.11-1.el7.elrepo.x86_64
kernel-ml-5.5.13-1.el7.elrepo.x86_64
kernel-3.10.0-1062.9.1.el7.x86_64
kernel-devel-3.10.0-1062.18.1.el7.x86_64
kernel-ml-tools-5.6.0-1.el7.elrepo.x86_64
abrt-addon-kerneloops-2.1.11-55.el7.x86_64
kernel-ml-headers-5.6.0-1.el7.elrepo.x86_64
kernel-ml-5.5.11-1.el7.elrepo.x86_64
kernel-devel-3.10.0-1062.9.1.el7.x86_64
kernel-ml-tools-libs-5.6.0-1.el7.elrepo.x86_64
kernel-3.10.0-1062.12.1.el7.x86_64

Thanks Prasun - that'll help me narrow down the fix!

The Satellite Team is attempting to provide an accurate backlog of bugzilla requests which we feel will be resolved in the next few releases. We do not believe this bugzilla will meet that criteria, and have plans to close it out in 1 month. This is not a reflection on the validity of the request, but a reflection of the many priorities for the product. If you have any concerns about this, feel free to contact Red Hat Technical Support or your account team. If we do not hear from you, we will close this bug out. Thank you.

Tracer in the tested version does not check /lib/modules dir anymore. The following verification focuses on newer kernel detection.

$ rpm -qa | grep tracer
tracer-common-0.7.3-1.el7sat.noarch
katello-host-tools-tracer-3.5.4-1.el7sat.noarch
python2-tracer-0.7.3-1.el7sat.noarch

$ yum update kernel

... output omitted ...

                                                                                                                                                                                                   
$ rpm -q kernel
kernel-3.10.0-1062.el7.x86_64
kernel-3.10.0-1127.18.2.el7.x86_64

$ uname -r
3.10.0-1062.el7.x86_64

$ tracer --user=* -av
You should restart:
  * These applications rebooting your computer:
      kernel

$ rpm -q tracer
package tracer is not installed

$ reboot 
.
.
.
(after reboot)

$ uname -r
3.10.0-1127.18.2.el7.x86_64

$ tracer --user=* -av
(shows no output)

Traces report in Satellite matches with the tracer's output.

Since the problem described in this bug report should be
resolved in a recent advisory, it has been closed with a
resolution of ERRATA.

For information on the advisory (Important: Satellite 6.8 release), and where to find the updated
files, follow the link below.

If the solution does not work for you, open a new bug report.

https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:4366