[debian-mysql] Bug#668593: Bug#668593: mysql-server-5.1: "Incorrect key file for table" error when out of space (e.g. /tmp is tmpfs)

[Ian Campbell]

On Fri, 2012-04-13 at 14:49 +0200, Olaf van der Spek wrote:
> On Fri, Apr 13, 2012 at 2:36 PM, Ian Campbell <ijc at hellion.org.uk> wrote:
> >> Why would /var/tmp be a better default?
> >> Is /var/tmp guaranteed to have more space available?
> >
> > I thought it wasn't a tmpfs, but I don't have a system running with
> > RAMTMP=yes to check now.
> >
> > Anyway, it was a question, don't know what the right answer is nor what
> > the default should be.
> 
> http://www.pathname.com/fhs/pub/fhs-2.3.html#TMPTEMPORARYFILES
> /tmp : Temporary files
> /var/tmp : Temporary files preserved between system reboots
> 
> /tmp looks like the right choice
> 
> The real issue seems to be using a low capacity tmpfs for /tmp

The real issue here is that the error message when you run out of space
says "Incorrect key file for table". It should say something like "Out
of space", it was really only a coincidence which led me to realise what
the underlying issue was.

The question of what the default path should be is a distraction, I'm
sorry I mentioned it.

Ian.
-- 
Ian Campbell

Of course you have a purpose -- to find a purpose.