Bug#1106830: initscripts: checkroot.sh returns error and does not attempt to save logs if logfile does not exist

[tg at debian.org]

On Thu, 25 Sep 2025, Bartos-Elekes Zsolt wrote:

>> +	can_use_logsave=true
>> +	test -e "$FSCK_LOGFILE" || if test -d "$(dirname "$FSCK_LOGFILE")"; then
>> +		can_use_logsave=false
>> +	fi
>
> If I understand it correctly, this will not attempt to save the logfile if the
> logfile, or the directory that will contain the logfile does not exist.

No, that’s what logsave is for. It’s counter-intuitive.

Basically, logsave saves to the file if it exists, and if the
containing directory does NOT exist it waits until it is and
saves the content then, i.e. it waits for the containing
directory to be mounted.

There’s only a bug if the containing directory exists but the
file doesn’t.

> If /var is on a different partition that is not yet mounted, there is
> no way to check for the existence of the /var/log/fsck directory.

Yes, precisely; logsave backgrounds then.

I did have to refer to its documentation again for this as well…

bye,
//mirabilos
-- 
If Harry Potter gets a splitting headache in his scar
when he’s near Tom Riddle (aka Voldemort),
does Tom get pain in the arse when Harry is near him?
	-- me, wondering why it’s not Jerry Potter………