[arch-announce] filesystem upgrade - manual intervention required

[Arch Linux: Recent news updates: Tom Gundersen]

Tom Gundersen wrote:

As of `filesystem-2012.6-2` the folders `/var/run` and `/var/lock` will be
replaced by symlinks to `/run` and `/run/lock`, respectively.

On most systems this is already the case, as `initscripts` create the symlinks
on boot. However, these symlinks are not owned by any package, which is what we
are fixing with this upgrade.

If the symlinks are already in place on your system (which should be the case
for most people), then you can simply perform

`# pacman -Syu --ignore filesystem && pacman -S filesystem --force`

Otherwise, if `/var/run` or `/var/lock` are directories (e.g. if you are using
`systemd` and never booted with `initscripts`) you need to delete the
directories before performing the update. As these directories are used at
runtime, it is recommended to shutdown any background tasks before performing

`# rm -rf /var/run /var/lock && pacman -Syu && reboot`

Note: In general, it is strongly advised to avoid the `--force` switch as it is
not safe. However, in this particular case it is safe, and suggested to avoid
having to manually delete the `/var/run` or `/var/lock` symlinks.

Lastly, on upgrading `filesystem` users of kernels prior to `linux-3.4` will get
a warning about permissions on `/sys`. This is nothing to worry about, as of
`linux-3.4` the permissions will be `555`, and this upgrade reflects this in the
`filesyste` package.

URL: http://www.archlinux.org/news/filesystem-upgrade-manual-intervention-required-1/