6.18.9 - Failed to create binpkg of e2fsprogs [SOLVED]

[MorgothSauron]

Hi,
I'm encountering a weird error while trying to compile kernel 6.18.9. It fails with the following error:

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* ERROR: Command 'nice -n10 make -j8 V=1' failed!
* ERROR: create_initramfs(): append_data(): append_e2fsprogs(): populate_binpkg(): gkbuild(): Failed to create binpkg of e2fsprogs-1.47.0!

genkernel output:

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# ~/bin/kernel-tools.py build -d
WARNING: Will unset existing variable 'TMPDIR' to avoid clashing with genkernel config ...
* Gentoo Linux Genkernel; Version 4.3.17
* Using genkernel configuration from '/etc/genkernel.conf' ...
* Running with options: --kernel-config=/usr/src/linux/.config_custom --makeopts=-j8 --microcode=intel --bootloader=grub2 --no-virtio --no-hyperv --no-nfs --no-lvm --no-mdadm --no-iscsi --no-dmraid --no-zfs --luks --btrfs --e2fsprogs --oldconfig --nconfig all

* Working with Linux kernel 6.18.9-gentoo-x86_64 for x86_64
* Using kernel config file '/usr/src/linux-6.18.9-gentoo/.config_custom' ...
* 
* Note: The version above is subject to change (depends on config and status of kernel sources).

* kernel: >> Initializing ...
*         >> --no-clean is set; Skipping 'make clean' ...
*         >> --no-mrproper is set; Skipping 'make mrproper' ...
*         >> Will ignore kernel config from '/usr/src/linux-6.18.9-gentoo/.config_custom'
*            in favor of already existing but different kernel config
*            found in '/usr/src/linux/.config' ...
*         >> Running 'make oldconfig' ...
*         >> Invoking nconfig ...
*         >> Kernel config was not modified!
*         >> Re-running 'make oldconfig' due to changed kernel options ...
*         >> Compiling 6.18.9-gentoo-x86_64 bzImage ...
*         >> Compiling 6.18.9-gentoo-x86_64 modules ...
*         >> Installing 6.18.9-gentoo-x86_64 modules (and stripping) ...
*         >> Generating module dependency data ...
*         >> Compiling out-of-tree module(s) ...
*         >> Saving config of successful build to '/etc/kernels/kernel-config-6.18.9-gentoo-x86_64' ...

* initramfs: >> Initializing ...
*         >> Appending devices cpio data ...
*         >> Appending base_layout cpio data ...
*         >> Appending util-linux cpio data ...
*         >> Appending eudev cpio data ...
*         >> Appending devicemanager cpio data ...
*         >> Appending auxiliary cpio data ...
*         >> Appending busybox cpio data ...
*         >> Appending btrfs cpio data ...
*         >> Appending e2fsprogs cpio data ...
* ERROR: Command 'nice -n10 make -j8 V=1' failed!
* ERROR: create_initramfs(): append_data(): append_e2fsprogs(): populate_binpkg(): gkbuild(): Failed to create binpkg of e2fsprogs-1.47.0!
* Please consult '/var/log/genkernel.log' for more information and any
* errors that were reported above.
* 
* Report any genkernel bugs to bugs.gentoo.org and
* assign your bug to genkernel@gentoo.org. Please include
* as much information as you can in your bug report; attaching
* '/var/log/genkernel.log' so that your issue can be dealt with effectively.
* 
* Please do *not* report kernel compilation failures as genkernel bugs!
* 
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/home/root/bin/kernel-tools.py", line 197, in <module>
    sys.exit(main())
             ~~~~^^
  File "/home/root/bin/kernel-tools.py", line 178, in main
    genkernel(mode = build_mode)
    ~~~~~~~~~^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/home/root/bin/kernel-tools.py", line 122, in genkernel
    raise RuntimeError("An error occurred while building the kernel")
RuntimeError: An error occurred while building the kernel
#

The last few lines of /var/log/genkernel.log:

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x86_64-pc-linux-gnu-gcc -I. -I../../lib -I../../lib  -I/var/tmp/genkernel/gk_xDtZjYUu/e2fsprogs/buildroot/usr/include  -Os -pipe -fomit-frame-pointer -I/var/tmp/genkernel/gk_xDtZjYUu/e2fsprogs/buildroot/usr/include -pthread  -DHAVE_CONFIG_H  -c unix_io.c -o unix_io.o
x86_64-pc-linux-gnu-gcc -I. -I../../lib -I../../lib  -I/var/tmp/genkernel/gk_xDtZjYUu/e2fsprogs/buildroot/usr/include  -Os -pipe -fomit-frame-pointer -I/var/tmp/genkernel/gk_xDtZjYUu/e2fsprogs/buildroot/usr/include -pthread  -DHAVE_CONFIG_H  -c sparse_io.c -o sparse_io.o
tdb.c:113:13: error: 'bool' cannot be defined via 'typedef'
  113 | typedef int bool;
      |             ^~~~
tdb.c:113:13: note: 'bool' is a keyword with '-std=c23' onwards
tdb.c:113:1: warning: useless type name in empty declaration
  113 | typedef int bool;
      | ^~~~~~~
x86_64-pc-linux-gnu-gcc -I. -I../../lib -I../../lib  -I/var/tmp/genkernel/gk_xDtZjYUu/e2fsprogs/buildroot/usr/include  -Os -pipe -fomit-frame-pointer -I/var/tmp/genkernel/gk_xDtZjYUu/e2fsprogs/buildroot/usr/include -pthread  -DHAVE_CONFIG_H  -c unlink.c -o unlink.o
make[2]: *** [Makefile:619: tdb.o] Error 1
make[2]: *** Waiting for unfinished jobs....
make[2]: Leaving directory '/var/tmp/genkernel/gk_xDtZjYUu/e2fsprogs/e2fsprogs-1.47.0/lib/ext2fs'
make[1]: *** [Makefile:458: all-libs-recursive] Error 1
make[1]: Leaving directory '/var/tmp/genkernel/gk_xDtZjYUu/e2fsprogs/e2fsprogs-1.47.0'
make: *** [Makefile:372: all] Error 2
* ERROR: Command 'nice -n10 make -j8 V=1' failed!

* ERROR: create_initramfs(): append_data(): append_e2fsprogs(): populate_binpkg(): gkbuild(): Failed to create binpkg of e2fsprogs-1.47.0!
* Please consult '/var/log/genkernel.log' for more information and any
* errors that were reported above.
* 
* Report any genkernel bugs to bugs.gentoo.org and
* assign your bug to genkernel@gentoo.org. Please include
* as much information as you can in your bug report; attaching
* '/var/log/genkernel.log' so that your issue can be dealt with effectively.
* 
* Please do *not* report kernel compilation failures as genkernel bugs!
* 

* mount: >> Boot partition state on '/boot' was not changed; Skipping restore boot partition state ...
>>> Ended on: 2026-02-11 18:43:13 (after 0 days 0 hours 22 minutes 52 seconds)

gcc version:

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# gcc --version
gcc (Gentoo 15.2.1_p20251122 p3) 15.2.1 20251122
Copyright (C) 2025 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.  There is NO
warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

# eselect gcc list
  [1] x86_64-pc-linux-gnu-15 *
# 

I didn't have any problem compiling other kernels in the 6.18 series until this point.

I didn't install any new package recently. I'm just updating the system every other week.

I do remember glibc updates recently, but I'm not sure if it is related.

Any idea what could cause the compilation to fail for this specific kernel.

[Hu]

Why are you trying to use genkernel? As I understand it, users are encouraged to move off it.

Why are you trying to build e2fsprogs-1.47.0? That version is not even in the main tree anymore. Your specific error is a gcc porting issue. Build e2fsprogs with an age-appropriate C standard version, use a compiler from that age, or build an e2fsprogs that is new enough to have been fixed.

[flexibeast]

Why are you trying to use genkernel? As I understand it, users are encouraged to move off it.

Yes, the "genkernel" page on the wiki has a warning:

genkernel is unmaintained; documentation presented here may be incomplete and may not reflect the current state of Gentoo tooling. Users encountering issues with genkernel will be asked to use another tool. Please see the Distribution kernel section in the Handbook for a supported alternative.

Here's the "Distribution kernel" section in the Handbook.

[MorgothSauron]

I've been using genkernel for so long that it never crossed my mind it was discontinued/unmaintained.

I have no problem to move to a different method to compile the kernel. I'd prefer to continue to use the gentoo-sources package.

I guess compiling the kernel is more or less a matter of running the right make commands in /usr/src/linux.

However, I need an initramfs (luks + root on btrfs). What are the options to generate an initramfs ? dracut ?

At this stage I'm asking for clues to start working in the right direction to do things in a more modern way.

[pietinger]

[...] [1] I'd prefer to continue to use the gentoo-sources package.

[2] I guess compiling the kernel is more or less a matter of running the right make commands in /usr/src/linux.

[3] However, I need an initramfs (luks + root on btrfs). What are the options to generate an initramfs ? dracut ?

1) Great, this gives you some advantages.
2) Yes and no. The first configuration of your manually configured kernel is hard. Later it is easy with doing just an "make oldconfig".
3) If you compile all necessary kernel modules for accessing the root partition as built-in, then ugrd can create a very small initramfs. Also the developer of ugrd is very active in our forum ...

Maybe start here:
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/User:Pieti ... figuration

[MorgothSauron]

[...] [1] I'd prefer to continue to use the gentoo-sources package.

[2] I guess compiling the kernel is more or less a matter of running the right make commands in /usr/src/linux.

[3] However, I need an initramfs (luks + root on btrfs). What are the options to generate an initramfs ? dracut ?

1) Great, this gives you some advantages.
2) Yes and no. The first configuration of your manually configured kernel is hard. Later it is easy with doing just an "make oldconfig".
3) If you compile all necessary kernel modules for accessing the root partition as built-in, then ugrd can create a very small initramfs. Also the developer of ugrd is very active in our forum ...

Maybe start here:
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/User:Pieti ... figuration

I'm not an expert, but I had to configure the kernel on some occasions to add drivers or to add extra modules not included by default.

I did some quick test and it seems to work properly with the following steps.

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# dump the running configuration
zcat /proc/config.gz > /usr/src/linux/.config

# oldconfig
make -C /usr/src/linux oldconfig

# compile
make -C /usr/src/linux -j$(nproc)

# install
make -C /usr/src/linux install
make -C /usr/src/linux modules_install

# run dracut to generate a new initramfs for the new kernel. not specifying the version will use the running kernel version
dracut --host-only --kver 6.18.9-gentoo-x86_64 --force

# update grub configuration
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

# reboot to test new configuration

I'm sure there's a better way to do it, but I wanted to compile and boot 6.18.9. I suppose something like installkernel could be the solution to avoid these manual steps.

There was no problem booting the new kernel.

The only thing I noticed is that the LUKS passphrase prompt is not easy to notice ... it is hidden among other output lines. Its there, but not the last line of output. At first I though the system wouldn't boot. I just typed the passphrase and the system booted normally.

I will have a look at ugrd for sure.

I will mark this post as solved. Not using genkernel allowed me to compile and install the 6.18.9 kernel with a working initramfs using dracut

Edit: I added the --kver option to the dracut command to make sure it uses the newly installed kernel instead of the running one. Here I specify 6.18.9 because it's the kernel I was installing at that time. I use the name of the kernel as it is listed under /lib/modules. I successfully applied this procedure today with 6.19.0

[pietinger]

[1] I'm not an expert, but I had to configure the kernel on some occasions to add drivers or to add extra modules not included by default.

[2] I did some quick test and it seems to work properly with the following steps.

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# dump the running configuration
zcat /proc/config.gz > /usr/src/linux/.config

# oldconfig
make -C /usr/src/linux oldconfig
[...]

[3] I'm sure there's a better way to do it, but I wanted to compile and boot 6.18.9. I suppose something like installkernel could be the solution to avoid these manual steps.

[4] There was no problem booting the new kernel.

1) It is not necessary to be a kernel expert ... I am also not a kernel expert ...

2) Perfect. This tells me you already had a working config and could use it. You did all well.

3) No. installkernel will not help you with these steps. installkernel will only install a hook, so when you copy your kernel to /boot (with "make install") it will be renamed to the correct name ... which is important for grub-mkconfig later.
(see my chapter: https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/User:Pieti ... el_package )

4. Great ... but ... I dont know which kernel version you had before. When you had used genkernel before then there will be surely some kernel options not enabled. For example we got (with 6.16) CONFIG_X86_NATIVE_CPU ...
(see also here: https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/User:Pieti ... s_for_6.16 )
... which I can strongly recommend ... so what I want to suggest is: Take your current .config and verify with "make menuconfig" all the (new) options of 6.18

and yes, from my "main" article about

https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/User:Pieti ... figuration

there is a link to:

https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/User:Pieti ... rsion_6.18

Maybe have a look and optimize (and harden) your kernel.

[zen_desu]

There was no problem booting the new kernel.

The only thing I noticed is that the LUKS passphrase prompt is not easy to notice ... it is hidden among other output lines. Its there, but not the last line of output. At first I though the system wouldn't boot. I just typed the passphrase and the system booted normally.

I will have a look at ugrd for sure.

I will mark this post as solved. Not using genkernel allowed me to compile and install the 6.18.9 kernel with a working initramfs using dracut

If you use installkernel, you can set USE flags for your preferred initramfs/bootloader, and running "make install" in the sources dir will automatically regenerate/configure that stuff. It's not required but helps you keep things working reliably. When regenerating an initramfs in particular, you have to be sure to provide the kernel version of the kernel you're building otherwise the kernel which is running will be targeted for initramfs builds. installkernel passes this info for you.

If dracut just worked for you, there isn't much of a reason to use ugrd unless you're just interested in smaller images and more "validation" for the generated image. ugrd is basically only designed to make "hostonly" images but they are very minimal and will only include utils to boot.

If you're interested in a custom initramfs, the build dir ugrd makes is designed to be explored/edited by the user, and the whole "init" is just POSIX shell.

In your case, adding the "quiet" cmdline arg to the kernel command line should make it easier to see the prompt, but you may enjoy the typical logging from ugrd as it's designed to look somewhat like openrc and shouldn't have much "noise"