/tmp/ is somehow out of space and contains an irremovable file
When tab-autocompleting in terminal, I'm getting the error:
-bash: cannot create temp file for here-document: No space left on device
This would appear to mean that /tmp/ is full, but it's mounted on my hard disk, which itself has lots of space left.
/tmp only contains one thing: a folder called /tmp/.mount_VCeNjK/. 
I can't find out anything about it, because even sudo and su can't chmod it, read it, umount it, rm it, or stat it. They complain about permissions and say that it's busy.  
What can I do? I'm nothing without my autocomplete.
command-line permissions
|
show 1 more comment
When tab-autocompleting in terminal, I'm getting the error:
-bash: cannot create temp file for here-document: No space left on device
This would appear to mean that /tmp/ is full, but it's mounted on my hard disk, which itself has lots of space left.
/tmp only contains one thing: a folder called /tmp/.mount_VCeNjK/. 
I can't find out anything about it, because even sudo and su can't chmod it, read it, umount it, rm it, or stat it. They complain about permissions and say that it's busy.  
What can I do? I'm nothing without my autocomplete.
command-line permissions
 
 
 2
 
 
 
 
 
 - /tmpis usually mounted in memory since it's- tmpfsfilesystem. Run- dfcommand, see what's the actual usage it reports. You can further analyze what takes up most memory via- ncduor just- durunning over- /tmp. There's also a way to increase- /tmpsize: askubuntu.com/a/199708/295286
 
 – Sergiy Kolodyazhnyy
 Jan 19 at 23:42
 
 
 
 
 
 1
 
 
 
 
 
 - sudo lsof +D /tmp/.mount_VCeNjK/will show you which processes have the directory (or files and directories underneath) open. When these processes finish (or are- killed), you'll probably be able to- sudo rm -rf. But be aware that this will have side effects that I can't predict, so you MUST proceed with care.
 
 – waltinator
 Jan 20 at 4:13
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 @SergiyKolodyazhnyy Most Linux systems don't actually mount- /tmpusing tmpfs, see- mount | grep tmpfor an example.
 
 – Kristopher Ives
 Jan 20 at 8:54
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 @KristopherIves Fair enough, but I wouldn't say "most", I'd say "some" do (also this ). As far as Ubuntu goes, I had- /tmpmounted as tmpfs in previous releases of Ubuntu, hence assuming it's default. Could have happened that I mounted it there myself at some point, but I don't recall doing so. There's apparently discussion on centos forum which suggests it may depend on amount of RAM
 
 – Sergiy Kolodyazhnyy
 Jan 20 at 9:20
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 @SergiyKolodyazhnyy never been default in Ubuntu indeed.
 
 – vanadium
 Jan 20 at 11:40
 
 
 
|
show 1 more comment
When tab-autocompleting in terminal, I'm getting the error:
-bash: cannot create temp file for here-document: No space left on device
This would appear to mean that /tmp/ is full, but it's mounted on my hard disk, which itself has lots of space left.
/tmp only contains one thing: a folder called /tmp/.mount_VCeNjK/. 
I can't find out anything about it, because even sudo and su can't chmod it, read it, umount it, rm it, or stat it. They complain about permissions and say that it's busy.  
What can I do? I'm nothing without my autocomplete.
command-line permissions
When tab-autocompleting in terminal, I'm getting the error:
-bash: cannot create temp file for here-document: No space left on device
This would appear to mean that /tmp/ is full, but it's mounted on my hard disk, which itself has lots of space left.
/tmp only contains one thing: a folder called /tmp/.mount_VCeNjK/. 
I can't find out anything about it, because even sudo and su can't chmod it, read it, umount it, rm it, or stat it. They complain about permissions and say that it's busy.  
What can I do? I'm nothing without my autocomplete.
command-line permissions
command-line permissions
edited Jan 20 at 8:51


dessert
22.9k563101
22.9k563101
asked Jan 19 at 23:38


Nathaniel WeilandNathaniel Weiland
31
31
 
 
 2
 
 
 
 
 
 - /tmpis usually mounted in memory since it's- tmpfsfilesystem. Run- dfcommand, see what's the actual usage it reports. You can further analyze what takes up most memory via- ncduor just- durunning over- /tmp. There's also a way to increase- /tmpsize: askubuntu.com/a/199708/295286
 
 – Sergiy Kolodyazhnyy
 Jan 19 at 23:42
 
 
 
 
 
 1
 
 
 
 
 
 - sudo lsof +D /tmp/.mount_VCeNjK/will show you which processes have the directory (or files and directories underneath) open. When these processes finish (or are- killed), you'll probably be able to- sudo rm -rf. But be aware that this will have side effects that I can't predict, so you MUST proceed with care.
 
 – waltinator
 Jan 20 at 4:13
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 @SergiyKolodyazhnyy Most Linux systems don't actually mount- /tmpusing tmpfs, see- mount | grep tmpfor an example.
 
 – Kristopher Ives
 Jan 20 at 8:54
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 @KristopherIves Fair enough, but I wouldn't say "most", I'd say "some" do (also this ). As far as Ubuntu goes, I had- /tmpmounted as tmpfs in previous releases of Ubuntu, hence assuming it's default. Could have happened that I mounted it there myself at some point, but I don't recall doing so. There's apparently discussion on centos forum which suggests it may depend on amount of RAM
 
 – Sergiy Kolodyazhnyy
 Jan 20 at 9:20
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 @SergiyKolodyazhnyy never been default in Ubuntu indeed.
 
 – vanadium
 Jan 20 at 11:40
 
 
 
|
show 1 more comment
 
 
 2
 
 
 
 
 
 - /tmpis usually mounted in memory since it's- tmpfsfilesystem. Run- dfcommand, see what's the actual usage it reports. You can further analyze what takes up most memory via- ncduor just- durunning over- /tmp. There's also a way to increase- /tmpsize: askubuntu.com/a/199708/295286
 
 – Sergiy Kolodyazhnyy
 Jan 19 at 23:42
 
 
 
 
 
 1
 
 
 
 
 
 - sudo lsof +D /tmp/.mount_VCeNjK/will show you which processes have the directory (or files and directories underneath) open. When these processes finish (or are- killed), you'll probably be able to- sudo rm -rf. But be aware that this will have side effects that I can't predict, so you MUST proceed with care.
 
 – waltinator
 Jan 20 at 4:13
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 @SergiyKolodyazhnyy Most Linux systems don't actually mount- /tmpusing tmpfs, see- mount | grep tmpfor an example.
 
 – Kristopher Ives
 Jan 20 at 8:54
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 @KristopherIves Fair enough, but I wouldn't say "most", I'd say "some" do (also this ). As far as Ubuntu goes, I had- /tmpmounted as tmpfs in previous releases of Ubuntu, hence assuming it's default. Could have happened that I mounted it there myself at some point, but I don't recall doing so. There's apparently discussion on centos forum which suggests it may depend on amount of RAM
 
 – Sergiy Kolodyazhnyy
 Jan 20 at 9:20
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 @SergiyKolodyazhnyy never been default in Ubuntu indeed.
 
 – vanadium
 Jan 20 at 11:40
 
 
 
2
2
/tmp is usually mounted in memory since it's tmpfs filesystem. Run df command, see what's the actual usage  it reports. You can further analyze what takes up most memory via ncdu or just du running over /tmp. There's also a way to increase /tmp size: askubuntu.com/a/199708/295286– Sergiy Kolodyazhnyy
Jan 19 at 23:42
/tmp is usually mounted in memory since it's tmpfs filesystem. Run df command, see what's the actual usage  it reports. You can further analyze what takes up most memory via ncdu or just du running over /tmp. There's also a way to increase /tmp size: askubuntu.com/a/199708/295286– Sergiy Kolodyazhnyy
Jan 19 at 23:42
1
1
sudo lsof +D /tmp/.mount_VCeNjK/ will show you which processes have the directory (or files and directories underneath) open. When these processes finish (or are killed), you'll probably be able to sudo rm -rf. But be aware that this will have side effects that I can't predict, so you MUST proceed with care.– waltinator
Jan 20 at 4:13
sudo lsof +D /tmp/.mount_VCeNjK/ will show you which processes have the directory (or files and directories underneath) open. When these processes finish (or are killed), you'll probably be able to sudo rm -rf. But be aware that this will have side effects that I can't predict, so you MUST proceed with care.– waltinator
Jan 20 at 4:13
@SergiyKolodyazhnyy Most Linux systems don't actually mount
/tmp using tmpfs, see mount | grep tmp for an example.– Kristopher Ives
Jan 20 at 8:54
@SergiyKolodyazhnyy Most Linux systems don't actually mount
/tmp using tmpfs, see mount | grep tmp for an example.– Kristopher Ives
Jan 20 at 8:54
@KristopherIves Fair enough, but I wouldn't say "most", I'd say "some" do (also this ). As far as Ubuntu goes, I had
/tmp mounted as tmpfs in previous releases of Ubuntu, hence assuming it's default. Could have happened that I  mounted it there myself at some point, but I don't recall doing so. There's apparently discussion on centos forum which suggests it may depend on amount of RAM– Sergiy Kolodyazhnyy
Jan 20 at 9:20
@KristopherIves Fair enough, but I wouldn't say "most", I'd say "some" do (also this ). As far as Ubuntu goes, I had
/tmp mounted as tmpfs in previous releases of Ubuntu, hence assuming it's default. Could have happened that I  mounted it there myself at some point, but I don't recall doing so. There's apparently discussion on centos forum which suggests it may depend on amount of RAM– Sergiy Kolodyazhnyy
Jan 20 at 9:20
@SergiyKolodyazhnyy never been default in Ubuntu indeed.
– vanadium
Jan 20 at 11:40
@SergiyKolodyazhnyy never been default in Ubuntu indeed.
– vanadium
Jan 20 at 11:40
|
show 1 more comment
                                1 Answer
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It's possible (although not common) for a ext4 file system to have remaining space but nothing reserved for inode meta data, essentially meaning the disk is "full" of a very large (millions) of small individual files.
You can run df -i to see the "IUse%" metric of a file system.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 This did it, thanks. Some folders in /var/log and /var/lib/motion had slowly been filling up
 
 – Nathaniel Weiland
 Jan 22 at 15:51
 
 
 
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                                1 Answer
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                                1 Answer
                            1
                        
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
It's possible (although not common) for a ext4 file system to have remaining space but nothing reserved for inode meta data, essentially meaning the disk is "full" of a very large (millions) of small individual files.
You can run df -i to see the "IUse%" metric of a file system.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 This did it, thanks. Some folders in /var/log and /var/lib/motion had slowly been filling up
 
 – Nathaniel Weiland
 Jan 22 at 15:51
 
 
 
add a comment |
It's possible (although not common) for a ext4 file system to have remaining space but nothing reserved for inode meta data, essentially meaning the disk is "full" of a very large (millions) of small individual files.
You can run df -i to see the "IUse%" metric of a file system.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 This did it, thanks. Some folders in /var/log and /var/lib/motion had slowly been filling up
 
 – Nathaniel Weiland
 Jan 22 at 15:51
 
 
 
add a comment |
It's possible (although not common) for a ext4 file system to have remaining space but nothing reserved for inode meta data, essentially meaning the disk is "full" of a very large (millions) of small individual files.
You can run df -i to see the "IUse%" metric of a file system.
It's possible (although not common) for a ext4 file system to have remaining space but nothing reserved for inode meta data, essentially meaning the disk is "full" of a very large (millions) of small individual files.
You can run df -i to see the "IUse%" metric of a file system.
answered Jan 20 at 9:00
Kristopher IvesKristopher Ives
2,64811322
2,64811322
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 This did it, thanks. Some folders in /var/log and /var/lib/motion had slowly been filling up
 
 – Nathaniel Weiland
 Jan 22 at 15:51
 
 
 
add a comment |
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 This did it, thanks. Some folders in /var/log and /var/lib/motion had slowly been filling up
 
 – Nathaniel Weiland
 Jan 22 at 15:51
 
 
 
This did it, thanks. Some folders in /var/log and /var/lib/motion had slowly been filling up
– Nathaniel Weiland
Jan 22 at 15:51
This did it, thanks. Some folders in /var/log and /var/lib/motion had slowly been filling up
– Nathaniel Weiland
Jan 22 at 15:51
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2
/tmpis usually mounted in memory since it'stmpfsfilesystem. Rundfcommand, see what's the actual usage it reports. You can further analyze what takes up most memory viancduor justdurunning over/tmp. There's also a way to increase/tmpsize: askubuntu.com/a/199708/295286– Sergiy Kolodyazhnyy
Jan 19 at 23:42
1
sudo lsof +D /tmp/.mount_VCeNjK/will show you which processes have the directory (or files and directories underneath) open. When these processes finish (or arekilled), you'll probably be able tosudo rm -rf. But be aware that this will have side effects that I can't predict, so you MUST proceed with care.– waltinator
Jan 20 at 4:13
@SergiyKolodyazhnyy Most Linux systems don't actually mount
/tmpusing tmpfs, seemount | grep tmpfor an example.– Kristopher Ives
Jan 20 at 8:54
@KristopherIves Fair enough, but I wouldn't say "most", I'd say "some" do (also this ). As far as Ubuntu goes, I had
/tmpmounted as tmpfs in previous releases of Ubuntu, hence assuming it's default. Could have happened that I mounted it there myself at some point, but I don't recall doing so. There's apparently discussion on centos forum which suggests it may depend on amount of RAM– Sergiy Kolodyazhnyy
Jan 20 at 9:20
@SergiyKolodyazhnyy never been default in Ubuntu indeed.
– vanadium
Jan 20 at 11:40