gnome-session-binary generates GBytes of Errors in Syslog
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS
Release: 16.04
Codename: xenial
Recently the root file system on this machine has started filling up rapidly (in as little as a few minutes). The file /var/log/syslog grows in size to more than 40 Gbyte before filling the file system. Logrotate is working, but can not prevent the root filesystem from filling to 100%.
The following is a snippet from the end of the Syslog file:
Jan 26 16:17:37 Kodi gnome-session[
Jan 26 16:17:37 Kodi gnome-session[
Jan 26 16:17:37 Kodi gnome-session[
Jan 26 16:17:37 Kodi gnome-session[
Jan 26 16:17:37 Kodi gnome-session[
Jan 26 16:17:37 Kodi gnome-session[
Jan 26 16:17:37 Kodi gnome-session[
Jan 26 16:17:37 Kodi gnome-session[
Jan 26 16:17:37 Kodi gnome-session[
Jan 26 16:17:37 Kodi gnome-session[
Jan 26 16:17:37 Kodi gnome-session[
Jan 26 16:17:37 Kodi gnome-session[
Jan 26 16:17:37 Kodi gnome-session[
Jan 26 16:17:37 Kodi gnome-session[
Jan 26 16:17:37 Kodi gnome-session[
Jan 26 16:17:37 Kodi gnome-session[
The above command is repeated continuously for about the last 39 GByte of the syslog file, so there are potentially millions of entries with the same error.
According to the above errors, the Process ID causing the errors is [1443], which is reported as follows:
royg 1443 1198 0 Jan26 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/
Apart from the root file system filling up, there are no other symptoms. The computer does not freeze, or anything else. The system is used as a media server with Kodi, TVHeadend, and Transmission as the three main User applications that are running all the time.
Can anyone advise what is causing this problem, and how I can rectify the problem.
Many thanks,
Roy Gilby
Question information
- Language:
- English Edit question
- Status:
- Answered
- For:
- Ubuntu Edit question
- Assignee:
- No assignee Edit question
- Last query:
- 2017-01-27
- Last reply:
- 2017-03-08
What is the output of:
lsb_release -a; uname -a; grep -r ppa /etc/apt/*
Thanks
| Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : | #2 |
Have you already tried logging off and logging on again, or eventually rebooting? Does the problem continue afterwards?
Maybe Bug #1636573
What is the output of
apt-cache policy python-cryptography python-openssl
(and the output as asked by actionparsnip)
| Roy Gilby (roy-gilbys) said : | #3 |
royg@Kodi:~$ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS
Release: 16.04
Codename: xenial
royg@Kodi:~$ uname -a
Linux Kodi 4.4.0-59-generic #80-Ubuntu SMP Fri Jan 6 17:47:47 UTC 2017 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
grep -r ppa /etc/apt/* produces many thousands of lines of output, which I am unable to upload, as I don't seem to have file attachment privileges.
royg@Kodi:~$ apt-cache policy python-cryptography python-openssl
python-
Installed: 1.2.3-1ubuntu0.1
Please let me know if you need any further information.
Many thanks for your assistance.
RoyG
Candidate: 1.2.3-1ubuntu0.1
Version table:
*** 1.2.3-1ubuntu0.1 500
500 http://
500 http://
100 /var/lib/
1.2.3-1 500
500 http://
python-openssl:
Installed: 0.15.1-2build1
Candidate: 0.15.1-2build1
Version table:
*** 0.15.1-2build1 500
500 http://
500 http://
100 /var/lib/
| Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : | #4 |
There is no possibility to upload attachments to answers.
grep ppa /etc/apt/
In Bug #1636573 there is a workaround listed that might help (not tested by me):
wget https:/
wget https:/
sudo dpkg -i python-
sudo dpkg -i python-
| Jason (vong-help) said : | #5 |
I am having this issue as well.
Specifically it is caused by Kodi running the "artworkorganizer" addon (~/.kodi/
When this is running, the process goes nuts in writing out to unity7.log (and that script essentially goes into an infinite loop filling up the hdd. My file was almost 200gb in size)
I have tried the workaround you mentioned, but I get the following error:
$ sudo dpkg -i python-
dpkg: regarding python-
python-
python-openssl (version 0.15.1-2build1) is present and installed.
dpkg: error processing archive python-
installing python-cryptography would break python-openssl, and
deconfiguration is not permitted (--auto-deconfigure might help)
Errors were encountered while processing:
python-
$ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS
Release: 16.04
Codename: xenial
$ uname -a
Linux media-pc 4.4.0-59-generic #80-Ubuntu SMP Fri Jan 6 17:47:47 UTC 2017 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
$ grep -r ppa /etc/apt/*
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
| Jason (vong-help) said : | #6 |
Update, I re-read the message, and installed python-setuptools first. I was then able to install both packages with --auto-deconfigure.
Once I had done that, the issue is resolved, and the Kodi addon works as expected without log spamming.
| Rahul Borkar (rahulaborkar) said : | #7 |
Hi Jason,
I saw your last comments on issue with python Cryptograhy where the unity7.log was filled up and consumed full disk space.
I tried to follow the steps but it has left my system broken and I am unable to proceed further or bring my server back to normal.
please can you help me fix this.
lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 16.04.2 LTS
Release: 16.04
Codename: xenial
uname -a
Linux rsbserver 4.4.0-65-generic #86-Ubuntu SMP Thu Feb 23 17:49:58 UTC 2017 x86 _64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
grep -r ppa /etc/apt/*
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
/etc/apt/
apt-cache policy python-cryptography python-openssl
python-
Installed: 1.2.3-1ubuntu0.1
Candidate: 1.2.3-1ubuntu0.1
Version table:
*** 1.2.3-1ubuntu0.1 500
500 http://
500 http://
100 /var/lib/
1.2.3-1 500
500 http://
python-openssl:
Installed: 16.2.0-1
Candidate: 16.2.0-1
Version table:
*** 16.2.0-1 100
100 /var/lib/
0.15.1-2build1 500
500 http://
500 http://
Trying to install python setup tools
install python-setuptools
[sudo] password for rahul:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
You might want to run 'apt-get -f install' to correct these:
The following packages have unmet dependencies.
python-openssl : Depends: python-cryptography (>= 1.3.4) but 1.2.3-1ubuntu0.1 is to be installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or specify a solution).
If I Try 'apt-get -f install' then the system wants to remove lot of packages which I dont want to.
Please help how can i correct my system.
| Rahul Borkar (rahulaborkar) said : | #8 |
I managed to restore my system following the advice in this link
http://
Now the main issue remains
How to fix the cryptography message which is flooding the unity7.log file.
A detailed guide with explanation will be really helpful.
Thanks
| Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : | #9 |
What is now the output of
apt-cache policy python-cryptography python-openssl
?
I assume that the workaround in Bug #1636573 (not tested by me) has to be executed with the commands:
wget https:/
wget https:/
sudo dpkg -i python-
| Rahul Borkar (rahulaborkar) said : | #10 |
Hi Manfred,
Thanks for looking into this. I tried to follow the workaround but seems something is missing.
Jason seem to have followed the workaround and has been able to successfully surpass the issue.
I wanted a detail steps to follow as I am noob in ubuntu.
here is the output you have requested.
apt-cache policy python-cryptography python-openssl
python-
Installed: 1.2.3-1ubuntu0.1
Candidate: 1.2.3-1ubuntu0.1
Version table:
*** 1.2.3-1ubuntu0.1 500
500 http://
500 http://
100 /var/lib/
1.2.3-1 500
500 http://
python-openssl:
Installed: 0.15.1-2build1
Candidate: 0.15.1-2build1
Version table:
*** 0.15.1-2build1 500
500 http://
500 http://
100 /var/lib/
| Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : | #11 |
What output do you receive when you try the three commands from comment #9?
| Rahul Borkar (rahulaborkar) said : | #12 |
Hi Manfred,
I deleted my existing downloaded .deb files and re downloaded using wget commands. then using dpkg command the output is as below,
sudo dpkg -i python-
dpkg: regarding python-
python-
python-openssl (version 0.15.1-2build1) is present and installed.
dpkg: error processing archive python-
installing python-cryptography would break python-openssl, and
deconfiguration is not permitted (--auto-deconfigure might help)
(Reading database ... 320718 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack python-
Unpacking python-openssl (16.2.0-1) over (0.15.1-2build1) ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-openssl:
python-openssl depends on python-cryptography (>= 1.3.4); however:
Version of python-cryptography on system is 1.2.3-1ubuntu0.1.
dpkg: error processing package python-openssl (--install):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Errors were encountered while processing:
python-
python-openssl
When again checking the installed version, i get this - python cryptography is still the old version and python-openssl is installed with new version but is broken.
apt-cache policy python-cryptography python-openssl
python-
Installed: 1.2.3-1ubuntu0.1
Candidate: 1.2.3-1ubuntu0.1
Version table:
*** 1.2.3-1ubuntu0.1 500
500 http://
500 http://
100 /var/lib/
1.2.3-1 500
500 http://
python-openssl:
Installed: 16.2.0-1
Candidate: 16.2.0-1
Version table:
*** 16.2.0-1 100
100 /var/lib/
0.15.1-2build1 500
500 http://
500 http://
When I do install -f, it asks to remove the below packages, i am particularly concerned about letsencrpyt since i use this for certificates for apache .
sudo apt install -f
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Correcting dependencies... Done
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
augeas-lenses libaugeas0 linux-headers-
linux-
python-dialog python-enum34 python-funcsigs python-idna python-ipaddress python-mock python-
python-psutil python-pyasn1 python-pyicu python-requests python-rfc3339 python-tz python-urllib3 python-
python-zope.event python-
Use 'sudo apt autoremove' to remove them.
The following packages will be REMOVED
letsencrypt python-acme python-letsencrypt python-
0 to upgrade, 0 to newly install, 6 to remove and 7 not to upgrade.
1 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 1,639 kB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] n
Abort.
| Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : | #13 |
What do you get if you reverse the sequence
sudo dpkg -i python-
or split in into two and force installing
sudo dpkg -i --force-depends python-
sudo dpkg -i python-
Remark: It should be possible to bring the system back into a consistent state with the command
sudo apt-get install python-
(eventually you have add "-f" to the command)
| Rahul Borkar (rahulaborkar) said : | #14 |
Tried the force option, but somehow it doesn't install at all.
sudo dpkg -i --force-depends python-
dpkg: regarding python-
python-
python-openssl (version 0.15.1-2build1) is present and installed.
dpkg: error processing archive python-
installing python-cryptography would break python-openssl, and
deconfiguration is not permitted (--auto-deconfigure might help)
Errors were encountered while processing:
python-
apt-cache policy python-cryptography
python-
Installed: 1.2.3-1ubuntu0.1
Candidate: 1.2.3-1ubuntu0.1
Version table:
*** 1.2.3-1ubuntu0.1 500
500 http://
500 http://
100 /var/lib/
1.2.3-1 500
500 http://
| Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : | #15 |
Maybe the other one first:
sudo dpkg -i --force-depends python-
sudo dpkg -i python-
| Rahul Borkar (rahulaborkar) said : | #16 |
Hi Manfred,
This sequence seems to have worked. I had to additionally install python-setuptools, please see below sequence.
Now I have to monitor the unity7.log file it is ok or still flooding with cryptography message.
Thanks a lot for your time and help. much appreciated.
sudo dpkg -i --force-depends python-
[sudo] password for rahul:
(Reading database ... 288413 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack python-
Unpacking python-openssl (16.2.0-1) over (0.15.1-2build1) ...
dpkg: python-openssl: dependency problems, but configuring anyway as you requested:
python-openssl depends on python-cryptography (>= 1.3.4); however:
Version of python-cryptography on system is 1.2.3-1ubuntu0.1.
Setting up python-openssl (16.2.0-1) ...
sudo dpkg -i python-
(Reading database ... 288405 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack python-
Unpacking python-cryptography (1.7.1-2) over (1.2.3-1ubuntu0.1) ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-
python-
Package python-setuptools is not installed.
dpkg: error processing package python-cryptography (--install):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Errors were encountered while processing:
python-
Then Installed python-setuptools as suggested in above output
sudo apt install python-setuptools
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Suggested packages:
python-
The following NEW packages will be installed
python-setuptools
0 to upgrade, 1 to newly install, 0 to remove and 0 not to upgrade.
1 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 169 kB of archives.
After this operation, 530 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Get:1 http://
Fetched 169 kB in 0s (652 kB/s)
Selecting previously unselected package python-setuptools.
(Reading database ... 288410 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../python-
Unpacking python-setuptools (20.7.0-1) ...
Setting up python-setuptools (20.7.0-1) ...
Setting up python-cryptography (1.7.1-2) ...
Checking current installed versions
apt-cache policy python-cryptography python-openssl
python-
Installed: 1.7.1-2
Candidate: 1.7.1-2
Version table:
*** 1.7.1-2 100
100 /var/lib/
1.
500 http://
500 http://
1.2.3-1 500
500 http://
python-openssl:
Installed: 16.2.0-1
Candidate: 16.2.0-1
Version table:
*** 16.2.0-1 100
100 /var/lib/
0.15.1-2build1 500
500 http://
500 http://
| Juan (juamp) said : | #17 |
Gracias creo que me funcionó lo del #15 pero en orden invertido ya que al ejecutar el primer comando una de las cosas que imprimió es:
python-openssl depende de python-cryptography (>= 1.3.4); sin embargo:
La versión de `python-
así que los ejecute en orden inverso, y no salio ningún error, solamente:
Configurando python-cryptography (1.7.1-2) ...
Configurando python-openssl (16.2.0-1) ...
Thank you
| Mark (1aunchpad-nct) said : | #18 |
I had this problem happen after updates were installed by Software Updater. I followed a workaround I found. I think basically I uninstalled and reinstalled all the python stuff. However the problem has happened again, after another round of updates by Software Updater.
It is unacceptable to have to keep doing workarounds like this. There is either a problem with the Python 2.7 packages installed by Software Updater. or an incompatible change has been make to Python crypto that has broken some applications. Either way this needs to be fixed.
| Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : | #19 |
@Mark:
Which Ubuntu release are you running, what version of python-cryptography and python-openssl do you have installed?
You better comment on the related bug report or create a question document of your own instead of piggybacking on somebody else's question.
| Mark (1aunchpad-nct) said : | #20 |
Ubuntu 16.04, python-openssl 0.15.1-2build1, python-cryptography 1.2.3-1ubuntu0.1 and Kodi 17.3.
I do not feel I was piggybacking. I have this exact problem and was providing 2 new pieces of information: that the problem was introduced by a regular software update and reintroduced, after manually fixing it, by a subsequent regular update.
Thanks for the link to the related bug. I have commented over there.
Can you help with this problem?
Provide an answer of your own, or ask Roy Gilby for more information if necessary.

