Error getting repository data for ol6_x86_64_userspace_ksplice, repository not found

During ODA deployment I could see that starting 18.7, immediately after reimaging or patching the ODA, I was getting some regular errors in the root mail box. The error message came every hour at 13 minutes and 43 minutes.

Problem analysis

ksplice is now implemented and use in ODA Version 18.7. It is an open-source extension of the Linux kernel that allows security patches to be applied to a running kernel without the need for reboots, avoiding downtimes and improving availability.

Unfortunately, there is some implementation bug and an email alert is generated every 30 mins in the root linux user mailbox.

The message error is the following one :
1 Cron Daemon Mon Jan 6 18:43 26/1176 "Cron export PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin && [ -x /usr/bin/ksplice ] && (/usr/bin/ksplice --cron user upgrade; /usr/bin/ksp"
 
 
Message 910:
From [email protected] Mon Jan 6 17:43:02 2020
Return-Path:
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 2020 17:43:02 +0100
From: [email protected] (Cron Daemon)
To: [email protected]
Subject: Cron export PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin && [ -x /usr/bin/ksplice ] && (/usr/bin/ksplice --cron user upgrade; /usr/bin/ksplice --cron xen upgrade)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Auto-Submitted: auto-generated
X-Cron-Env:
X-Cron-Env:
X-Cron-Env:
X-Cron-Env:
X-Cron-Env:
X-Cron-Env:
Status: R
 
Error getting repository data for ol6_x86_64_userspace_ksplice, repository not found

During my troubleshooting, I could find some community discussion : https://community.oracle.com/thread/4300505?parent=MOSC_EXTERNAL&sourceId=MOSC&id=4300505
This is considered by oracle as a bug in the 18.7 Release and tracked under Bug 30147824 :
Bug 30147824 – ENABLING AUTOINSTALL=YES WITH KSPLICE SENDS FREQUENT EMAIL TO ROOT ABOUT MISSING OL6_X86_64_USERSPACE_KSPLICE REPO

Workaround

Waiting for a final solution, following workaround can be implemented. Oracle Workaround is just not to execute ksplice.

[root@ODA01 ~]# cd /etc/cron.d
 
[root@ODA01 cron.d]# ls -l
total 20
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 113 Aug 23 2016 0hourly
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 818 Dec 18 19:08 ksplice
-rw-------. 1 root root 108 Mar 22 2017 raid-check
-rw-------. 1 root root 235 Jan 25 2018 sysstat
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 747 Dec 18 19:08 uptrack
 
[root@ODA01 cron.d]# more ksplice
# Replaced by Ksplice on 2019-12-18
# /etc/cron.d/ksplice: cron job for the Ksplice client
#
# PLEASE DO NOT MODIFY THIS CRON JOB.
# Instead, contact Ksplice Support at [email protected].
#
# The offsets below are chosen specifically to distribute server load
# and allow for Ksplice server maintenance windows. This cron job
# also only contacts the Ksplice server every Nth time it runs,
# depending on a load control setting on the Ksplice server.
#
# If you would like to adjust the frequency with which your
# systems check for updates, please contact Ksplice Support at
# [email protected]
13,43 * * * * root export PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin && [ -x /usr/bin/ksplice ] && (/usr/bin/ksplice --cron user upgrade; /usr/bin/ksplice --cron xen upgrade)
 
[root@ODA01 cron.d]# mv ksplice /root/Extras/
 
[root@ODA01 cron.d]# ls -l
total 16
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 113 Aug 23 2016 0hourly
-rw-------. 1 root root 108 Mar 22 2017 raid-check
-rw-------. 1 root root 235 Jan 25 2018 sysstat
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 747 Dec 18 19:08 uptrack
 
[root@ODA01 cron.d]# ls -l /root/Extras/ksplice
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 818 Dec 18 19:08 /root/Extras/ksplice