Ok, so this bug seems to have been un-fixed (re-introduced) in 4.4.0-66, perhaps as part of the response to https://www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-3220-1 Please re-fix (or un-re-introduce) it in a future kernel for Xenial.
Fixing this bug also solves a problem with 'fdisk -l' which is discussed on askubuntu at: http://askubuntu.com/questions/703576 The ram disks became an issue when fdisk was updated. Also, I remember noticing ram[0..15] when I first switched to ubuntu (maybe 9.04), so I became curious. They seem to have been here since the beginning. You can find CONFIG_BLK_DEV_RAM=y in the /boot/config file of linux-image-2.6.8.1-3-386_2.6.8.1-16.1_i386.deb, which was the oldest one I could find on old-releases.ubuntu.com. If there is a prize for the longest-standing ubuntu bug, I guess this one wins it. Thanks, -Jeff -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Kernel Packages, which is subscribed to linux in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1593293 Title: brd module compiled as built-in Status in linux package in Ubuntu: Fix Released Status in linux source package in Xenial: Fix Released Status in linux source package in Yakkety: Fix Released Status in linux source package in Zesty: Fix Released Bug description: Block RAM disk module (brd, CONFIG_BLK_DEV_RAM) compiled as 'y', that means it is 'built-in' and can not be unloaded or loaded with different parameters. This render module completely useless because user can not anymore change it size. Please change it back to 'm' (module) to allow users use this module. Affected kernels (so far): Xenial, Yakkety (4.4). To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1593293/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~kernel-packages Post to : kernel-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~kernel-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp