System Overview
Hardware: ODROID HC4
OS: Armbian (current version)
Kernel: 6.12.44-current-meson64
Use case: Production NAS with critical data
Problem Description
During apt upgrade, the following critical warnings appear:
dpkg: warning: This system uses merged-usr-via-aliased-dirs, going behind dpkg's
dpkg: warning: back, breaking its core assumptions. This can cause silent file
dpkg: warning: overwrites and disappearances
System state analysis reveals:
/bin, /sbin, /lib are correct symlinks to /usr/*
BUT: Files exist in duplicate (/bin/bash and /usr/bin/bash identical)
DKMS cannot build kernel modules (missing headers)
systemd cannot set journal flags (symlink to SD card)
NAS Configuration (Critical Infrastructure)
Storage Setup:
RAID1 with mdadm (two HDDs) + LUKS encryption
/var/log relocated to SD card
Filesystem:
/dev/mmcblk0p1: LABEL="armbi_root" TYPE="ext4"
/dev/sda: TYPE="crypto_LUKS"
/dev/sdb: TYPE="crypto_LUKS"
/dev/mapper/sda_luks: TYPE="linux_raid_member"
/dev/mapper/sdb_luks: TYPE="linux_raid_member"
/dev/md0: TYPE="ext4"
Reproduction
$ ls -la /bin /sbin /lib
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 7 Apr 22 2024 /bin -> usr/bin
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 7 Apr 22 2024 /lib -> usr/lib
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 8 Apr 22 2024 /sbin -> usr/sbin
$ ls -la /usr/bin/bash /bin/bash
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 1543048 Mar 31 2024 /bin/bash
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 1543048 Mar 31 2024 /usr/bin/bash # DUPLICATE!
Urgent Questions
1. Root Cause Analysis
Has anyone experienced this specific issue with Armbian on ODROID HC4?
Is this a known upgrade problem with a particular Armbian version?
2. Solution Paths
Which approach do you recommend for a production NAS?
A) System repair tool (is there an Armbian-specific one?)
Manual cleanup - any experiences with this?
C) Migration to new image - best method with LUKS+RAID?
D) Install kernel headers first despite warnings?
3. Migration Strategy with LUKS
How to safely migrate:
LUKS configuration (keys, passphrases)
mdadm RAID1 setup
Samba/NFS shares and ACLs
WireGuard configuration
Risk Assessment
Current risk:
Silent data corruption possible
Kernel updates may break filesystem modules
System might not boot after next reboot
Time pressure:
NAS must remain available, but security is top priority.
System Details
# dpkg --version
Debian 'dpkg' package management program version 1.22.6 (arm64).
# uname -a
Linux odroidhc4 6.12.44-current-meson64 #3 SMP PREEMPT Thu Aug 28 14:31:16 UTC 2025 aarch64 aarch64 aarch64 GNU/Linux
# cat /etc/armbian-image-release
BOARD=odroidhc4
BOARD_NAME="Odroid HC4"
VERSION=25.2.1
REVISION=25.2.1
IMAGE_UUID=54c1127b-9e70-4d3f-bedd-3faf1f5e58fa
BUILD_REPOSITORY_COMMIT=1f6972065
Request for assistance with:
Immediate actions to stabilize the system
Proven migration method for Armbian+ODROID+LUKS
Experiences with this specific bug
