1. Forum
  2. FidoNet
  3. linux.debian.user

  • question to autorelabel

    From Hans@3:633/10 to All on Monday, May 18, 2026 16:50:02
    Dear list,

    on my debian/stable there is a folder named ".autorelabel" in /, which is a symlink to /usr/sbin.

    As far as I read, this is related to SElinux, but I could not find out, what it
    is used for.

    As far as I understood, this is some relabeling after a reboot.

    Question:
    Is it recommended to delete this link?
    After rebot it is still there. Is this correct?
    Does it make the system unsecure, when this link still exists after reboot? When is this link created (normal behaviour, by accident, by failute?)?

    Thanks for any answer and explanation. Can be short!

    Best

    Hans






    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From didier gaumet@3:633/10 to All on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 08:20:01
    Le 18/05/2026 … 16:40, Hans a ‚crit˙:
    Dear list,

    on my debian/stable there is a folder named ".autorelabel" in /, which is a symlink to /usr/sbin.

    As far as I read, this is related to SElinux, but I could not find out, what it
    is used for.

    As far as I understood, this is some relabeling after a reboot.

    Question:
    Is it recommended to delete this link?
    After rebot it is still there. Is this correct?
    Does it make the system unsecure, when this link still exists after reboot? When is this link created (normal behaviour, by accident, by failute?)?

    Thanks for any answer and explanation. Can be short!

    Best

    Hans

    Hello,

    (I do not use SELinux and am not knowledgeable on this subject)

    there is an explanation about this file here: https://docs.redhat.com/en/documentation/red_hat_enterprise_linux/5/html/deployment_guide/sec-sel-fsrelabel

    From what I understand it should be automatically destroyed after
    having triggered the relabeling.
    But that supposes that SELinux is actually used (by default Debian uses AppArmor instead).
    Possibly the existence of this file on your system could indicate that
    you intended to use SELinux or have used SELinux at some point but
    reversed to Apparmor.

    If you don't use SELinux it is safe to remove this file.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)