Bug: Update failed! Missing /tmp/scripts folder

[c.nienha...@gmail.com]

When I start my embedded devices which runs on buildroot with systemd, all thinks works fine.
After some time the /tmp folder is cleared.
After that, swupdate is not possible to proceed any updates anymore.
It cannot extract scripts to /tmp/scripts folder because the folder is missing.

So I think, before extracting scripts, recreate the tmp directory SCRIPTS_DIR_SUFFIX should fix the problem.
Should also be done for DATADST_DIR_SUFFIX.

[Stefano Babic]

Hi,

On 17/07/2018 09:48, c.nienha...@gmail.com wrote:
> When I start my embedded devices which runs on buildroot with systemd, all thinks works fine.
> After some time the /tmp folder is cleared.
> After that, swupdate is not possible to proceed any updates anymore.
> It cannot extract scripts to /tmp/scripts folder because the folder is missing.

Well, this happens always if you remove the basement where software is
running. Is it different if you run "sudo rm -rf /" on your Desktop ?
(Disclaimer: no responsibility if you try this..). You destroy the files
where system is running.

>
> So I think, before extracting scripts, recreate the tmp directory SCRIPTS_DIR_SUFFIX should fix the problem.
> Should also be done for DATADST_DIR_SUFFIX.

I have a better idea: do not clear /tmp.

Or you can assign a different area for SWUpdate. SWUpdate evaluates the
variable TMPDIR. You can assign TMPDIR to a different path before
starting SWUpdate.

Best regards,
Stefano Babic


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[c.nienha...@gmail.com]

Thanks for your response and for this great software.
So then I have to find why systemd or whatelse is clearing the folders.

[c.nienha...@gmail.com]

I have solved the issue and want to share the solution for other people.

Systemd uses systemd-tmpfiles-clean.timer to clean old files and folders.
See documentation https://www.freedesktop.org/software/systemd/man/systemd-tmpfiles.html.

The configs for the cleaner are in
```
/etc/tmpfiles.d/*.conf
/run/tmpfiles.d/*.conf
/usr/lib/tmpfiles.d/*.conf
```

Content of /usr/lib/tmpfiles.d/tmp.conf:
```
# This file is part of systemd.
#
# systemd is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
# under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
# the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
# (at your option) any later version.

# See tmpfiles.d(5) for details

# Clear tmp directories separately, to make them easier to override
q /tmp 1777 root root 10d
q /var/tmp 1777 root root 30d

# Exclude namespace mountpoints created with PrivateTmp=yes
x /tmp/systemd-private-%b-*
X /tmp/systemd-private-%b-*/tmp
x /var/tmp/systemd-private-%b-*
X /var/tmp/systemd-private-%b-*/tmp

# Remove top-level private temporary directories on each boot
R! /tmp/systemd-private-*
R! /var/tmp/systemd-private-*
```

Line `q /tmp 1777 root root 10d` not only means create folder /tmp, it means also remove everything in /tmp which is older than 10d.

To ignore folders in /tmp add the following lines to the config file or add a new config file with the same filename in a more prioritized folder (Eg. /etc/tmpfiles.d/tmp.conf):
```
X /tmp/scripts
X /tmp/datadst
```

To test a changed config call:
```
timedatectl set-ntp false
timedatectl set-time "2200-01-01"
systemctl start systemd-tmpfiles-clean.service
```

[Stefano Babic]

Thanks for sharing this - I am sure this will help other users.