Question

How to Fix: "Failed to open serialization file readonly file system"

Posted on December 1, 2019
Ubuntu 18.04
Asked by jahagirdarvs

Hi, I performed apt update +upgrade and rebooted the machine when prompted to do so. Now my droplet fails to boot and gives a message of “Failed to open serialization file readonly file system” Is there any guidance on how to resolve this issue?

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Blake • December 4, 2019

Accepted Answer

Ok so after running up a new droplet with my week old backup and updating to the point that it broke as described. I identified that it was the snapd package (snapd/bionic-updates 2.42.1+18.04 amd64 [upgradable from: 2.40+18.04]) that caused the break.

I then booted via the recovery console and removed the snapd package. I then shutdown and switched back to booting via the standard method and the test system is now working as expected.

I am now going to fully update the test system and reboot.

If this works I will replicate this to my live system.

Edit: This has worked and I have replicated to live system and all is working. The ‘snapd’ package was the issue for me, once removed all was good.

jahagirdarvs • December 4, 2019

@ghostseven @alexanderlndbrg Did you get any resolution from DigitalOcean’s support staff?

In my case, Once in a day someone responds, "Hey we checked your console. Everything is fine!"

My response of “That’s because it is booted in recovery mode. It does not work in normal mode” falls on deaf ears…

I have also posted to serverfault without any response https://serverfault.com/questions/994177/digital-ocean-failed-to-open-serialization-file-readonly-file-system-issue-u

alexanderlndbrg • December 3, 2019

Just wanted to chime in to say that I had the exact same issue right now. The recovery-reboot method worked for me as well. I’ve also created a ticket.