Updating the filesystem package fails with due to /mnt being read-only

This document (7006556) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

Environment

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11
 

Situation

During an update or upgrade of a SUSE Linux Enterprise system with zypper the error message: 
  
error: unpacking of archive failed on file /mnt: cpio: chown failed - Read-only filesystem
or  
error: unpacking of archive failed on file /mnt: cpio: chmod failed - No such file or directory
error: filesystem-15.0-11.8.1.x86_64: install failed

appears while installing the filesystem package. Zypper then prints the message "Abort, retry, ignore? [a/r/i] (a):" and waits for input.

Resolution

It's advised to umount active mounts from /mnt before updating the filesystem RPM or performing a system upgrade to avoid this situation. In case it already happened, choosing ignore (i), completing the update and installing the new filesystem RPM by re-running zypper afterwards is safe. Alternatively, umounting /mnt in a different terminal window or console and choosing retry (r) should also work.

Cause

The filesystem package contains the basic directory structure for a SUSE Linux Enterprise system, including the default ownerships and permissions of the directories. The directory /mnt is one of those basic directories. Trying to change the owner or permissions of a mounted directory will not affect the mount point itself, but the root directory of the filesystem that has been mounted. In case it is mounted read-only, the change of ownership and permissions will fail. Subsequently, this leads to RPM reporting an error while installing the filesystem package

Disclaimer

This Support Knowledgebase provides a valuable tool for SUSE customers and parties interested in our products and solutions to acquire information, ideas and learn from one another. Materials are provided for informational, personal or non-commercial use within your organization and are presented "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.

  • Document ID:7006556
  • Creation Date: 03-Aug-2010
  • Modified Date:19-Aug-2022
    • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server

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