The update-rc.d command not working on KNOPPIX 7.4.2?!

**superman** · 06-22-2015, 02:58 PM

Hi, folks:

I just came across the mentioned problem while using a persistent overlay to do a mock test on my re-mastering procedure. Apparently, it works on KNOPPIX 7.2 as some messages were spitted out after executing this command in terminal, while on 7.4.2 there wasn't even a single error message when I tried to remove a non-existent symbolic link. Besides, by looking at the time stamps of the symlinks in the /etc/rc[0-6S].d folders, it seems to me that the existing symlinks were created during the mastering stage.

So, I wonder if the update-rc.d command only works in the chroot environment (in the context of KNOPPIX 7.4.2). Any pointers will be much appreciated.

ATB,

**Werner P. Schulz** · 06-22-2015, 04:31 PM

.. there wasn't even a single error message when I tried to remove a non-existent symbolic link.

You've forgot to tell us in detail, what you really did. And, have you studied "man update-rc.d"?

**superman** · 06-22-2015, 10:39 PM

Thanks for the reply, Werner.

Well... if I still remember right, reading the user's manual before using any piece of equipment is still one of the golden rules on my book. So, no worries, I got that part (man update-rc.d) covered. But I am wrong about the failure of spitting out error message when a non-existent symlink is being removed. Ideally, it emits an error message when an existing symlink whose target is still in place is about to be deleted; in fact, it never do so, regardless of the version of KNOPPIX.

Removing the virtualbox symlinks in /etc/rc*.d is actually what I would like to do. According to the man page of update-rc.d, it shall remove the named symlink, regardless of the existence of /etc/init.d/virtualbox, if the -f argument has also been given. To be crystal clear, the files (/etc/init.d/virtualbox) from VBox 4.2.10+dfsg-1 and 4.3.14+dfsg-1 are identical. So, it's unlikely that the content of the script causes the problem. To be more certain, all the symlinks in /etc/rc?.d are supposed to be wiped out by the following code:

Code:

# with root privilege
INSANE=`find /etc/rc?.d -type l | sed 's/.*[SK][0-9][0-9]//' | sort | uniq`
for i in $INSANE ; do update-rc.d -f "$i" remove ; done

It isn't surprising to see all the symlinks are still intact. So, it seems to me that the update-rc.d and/or its related scripts are where the problem lies. For some reason, removing symlink is the only thing it cannot do.

ATB,

**Werner P. Schulz** · 06-23-2015, 04:26 PM

I've tested it for myself, and yes, update-rc.d (part of sysv-rc 2.88dsf-53) within Knoppix 7.4.2 is buggy and neither the option "-n" nor the parameter "remove" works. Within Knoppix 7.2.0 there is sysv-rc 2.88dsf-41.

**superman** · 06-23-2015, 06:23 PM

Many thanks for your time, Werner. The sysvc-rc shipped with 7.4.2 is KNOPPIX's own breed; I don't really mind the removal function isn't working , and just need to keep an eye on those folders and remove the symlinks after purging the packages.

--- Really Off Topics ---
To folks who have been following this thread:

Check out KNOPPIX's own repository for the patched version of xscreensaver if you are tired of the "very old" warning message.

ATB,