[Novalug] Stand me in the corner.. I've been bad

[Rob Payne]

Cliff,

Just a couple additional thoughts that I've not seen mentioned.  Have
you looked for any errors, generated by your attempts to remove the
directory or by having removed the files within /oracle?  They might
show up within log files within /var/log.  Try these, and see if they
show you anything:

ls -lt /var/log | head

Then review the logs that have recently changed.

I don't know remember seeing anything about what distro you were
using, but if this is one of oracle's supported platforms.  Just a
WAG, but it could have loaded a module that is keeping that directory
in use.  I wouldn't think it would have anything to hold it open,
though, if you've already removed everything within that directory.
Have you done an 'ls -A' within that directory to make sure they
aren't using any dirty (dot-files, dot-directory) tricks to hide
things in there which haven't been removed?

I believe someone already asked if there was a device mounted within
that directory, but I don't see that you've answered it.  The rescue
disk will go ahead and "mount all of the partitions for you" if you
ask it to.  If it did that, and that's your problem, that would
explain why the problem would occur when you booted from the rescue
disk.  A fix for this would be 'umount /oracle ; rmdir /oracle', if
that is the problem.

Well, this has been long-winded enough, so I'll leave you to it.  Have
a great weekend!

				 -rob

On Fri, Apr 06, 2007 at 04:55:50PM -0400, Palmer wrote:
> I've tried several things but to no avail..
> lsof bad_software_lives_here
>   produces no output at all
> fuser bad_software_lives_here
>   reports that noone is using the directory
>   (that is, when its not responding with a "segmentation fault" error)
> using the fedora rescue disk then attempting to remove the directory
>   responds with the "Device or Resource Busy" message
> As root, chowning bad_software_lives_here to root:root then
>   chmod 777 bad_software_lives_here
>   works but does produces the same error message when I attempt to rmdir
> 
> I appreciate all the input several of you have offered, but I'm still stuck.
> Further ideas will be appreciated.
> 
> > Someone already mentioned fuser, which can show open file handles. Also
> > try
> > using lsof to see what  has what files opened.
> >
> > Rebooting / init 1  or anything to stop all processes will close the file
> > handle and let you remove the directory for sure. But if you are curious
> > to
> > see what it is that has the directory open, use lsof or fuser.
> >
> > -Nick
> >
> > On 4/5/07, Cliff Palmer <cliff at palmercs.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> I installed some trial software, used it, finished with it, and then
> >> used their supplied uninstaller.  The uninstaller _almost_ worked...
> >>
> >> The software installs in a directory I was instructed to create
> >> immediately off root (i.e. mkdir /bad_software_lives_here) then did the
> >> chgowner/chgmod thing.  When the uninstaller was finished this directory
> >> was empty (ls -alrt as root shows nothing), but the directory was not
> >> removed.
> >>
> >> Attempts to rmdir /bad_software_lives_here produce the cryptic "Device
> >> or resource busy" response.
> >>
> >> I have verified via ps -eF shows no process with that directory named.
> >> I also did a ps - EF before the install and saved the results, then
> >> compared it with the same thing after the install to see what processes
> >> this evil software starts.  None of the identified processes are still
> >> there (or so says both ps and top).
> >>
> >> Can someone show me what to write on the board 50 times that will remove
> >> this directory...
> >>
> >> Thanks
> >> Cliff
> >> *Dunce Cap already mounted*
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >>
> >
> 
> 
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