[leafnode-list] Re: Cannot update timestamp on /var/spool/news/interesting.groups/...: Operation not permitted

[Matthias Andree]

David Aldred <nr at familyaldred.org.uk> writes:

>> What type of file system is used for the /var partition?  The /etc/fstab
>> or /etc/vfstab file may tell.  If /var is not on a separate partition,
>> check your root partition.
> from /etc/fstab:
>
> /dev/hda1 / ext2 defaults 1 1

Looks sane, although not actually used for the root partition on many
systems, as the root partition (as specified by the root=... boot-time
kernel option) is autoprobed for its file system type, unless explicitly
specified on the command line.

> (var is on the root partition)
>>
>> Has someone or something accidentally set "immutable" flags on the file
>> (chattr on Linux, chflags on BSD) or tampered with ACLs (access control
>> lists)?
>
> There's nothing shown on an lsattr; where would I look for any ACL?

With getfacl.

>> Ultimately, is your file system corrupt? Use fsck to check.  (you may
>> shut your system down to single-user mode and unmount /var or downgrade
>> it to read-only mode to be able to check it).
>
> Just tried an fsck from single-user mode, and it reported all was
> clean.

Did it run a full check? If not, try "e2fsck -fpC0 /dev/hda1" - the f
will force a full check, the p will enable safe repairs and the C0 will
show the progress bar, spinner and percent figure.

The problem is that I have no other idea from your description than file
system corruption.

> The error is being reported when I move from one newsgroup to another in KNode 
> - does the KNode user (ie me!) have to have write access to the spool?  It 
> would seem somehow a bit strange....

Only if you yourself were in the "news" UNIX group.

-- 
Matthias Andree