Bug#36016: I tried a partial upgrade and hosed my system
Package: libc6, ldso, libreadlineg2, bash
Version: 2.0.7.199981211-6, 1.9.10-1, 2.1-12, 2.01.1-4
Severity: critical
I managed to hose my system so as to make bash no longer work.
However, running `ldconfig' as root fixed it. If I had logged out
before that point all would have been lost. Here is a transcript:
-chiark:~/download> really dpkg -iGEB mailman_1.0b8-3.deb
Selecting previously deselected package mailman.
(Reading database ... 38829 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking mailman (from mailman_1.0b8-3.deb) ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of mailman:
mailman depends on python-base; however:
Package python-base is not installed.
mailman depends on python-misc; however:
Package python-misc is not installed.
mailman depends on python-net; however:
Package python-net is not installed.
dpkg: error processing mailman (--install):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Errors were encountered while processing:
mailman
-chiark:~/download> really dpkg -iGEB python-base_1.5.1-7.deb python-dev_1.5.1-7.deb python-doc_1.5.1-2.deb python-examples_1.5.1-7.deb python-misc_1.5.1-7.deb python-net_1.5.1-7.debrk:~/download>
Selecting previously deselected package python-base.
(Reading database ... 39049 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking python-base (from python-base_1.5.1-7.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package python-dev.
Unpacking python-dev (from python-dev_1.5.1-7.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package python-doc.
Unpacking python-doc (from python-doc_1.5.1-2.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package python-examples.
Unpacking python-examples (from python-examples_1.5.1-7.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package python-misc.
Unpacking python-misc (from python-misc_1.5.1-7.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package python-net.
Unpacking python-net (from python-net_1.5.1-7.deb) ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-base:
python-base depends on libc6 (>= 2.0.7u); however:
Version of libc6 on system is 2.0.7t-1.
python-base depends on libncurses4; however:
Package libncurses4 is not installed.
python-base depends on libreadlineg2 (>= 2.1-12); however:
Version of libreadlineg2 on system is 2.1-11.
dpkg: error processing python-base (--install):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-dev:
python-dev depends on python-base (= 1.5.1-7); however:
Package python-base is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing python-dev (--install):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-doc:
python-doc depends on python; however:
Package python is not installed.
Package python-base which provides python is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing python-doc (--install):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-examples:
python-examples depends on python-base (= 1.5.1-7); however:
Package python-base is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing python-examples (--install):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-misc:
python-misc depends on python-base (= 1.5.1-7); however:
Package python-base is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing python-misc (--install):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of python-net:
python-net depends on python-base (= 1.5.1-7); however:
Package python-base is not configured yet.
python-net depends on libc6 (>= 2.0.7u); however:
Version of libc6 on system is 2.0.7t-1.
dpkg: error processing python-net (--install):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Errors were encountered while processing:
python-base
python-dev
python-doc
python-examples
python-misc
python-net
-chiark:~/download> really dpkg -iGOEB libc6_2.0.7.19981211-6.deb libncurses4_4.2-3.deb libreadlineg2_2.1-12.deb ldso_1.9.10-1.deb
(Reading database ... 40182 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace libc6 2.0.7t-1 (using libc6_2.0.7.19981211-6.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement libc6 ...
Replacing files in old package libc6-dev ...
Skipping deselected package libncurses4.
Preparing to replace libreadlineg2 2.1-11 (using libreadlineg2_2.1-12.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement libreadlineg2 ...
Preparing to replace ldso 1.9.9-1 (using ldso_1.9.10-1.deb) ...
sh: error in loading shared libraries
libncurses.so.4: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
dpkg: warning - old pre-removal script returned error exit status 127
dpkg - trying script from the new package instead ...
dpkg: error processing ldso_1.9.10-1.deb (--install):
there is no script in the new version of the package - giving up
sh: error in loading shared libraries
libncurses.so.4: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
dpkg: error while cleaning up:
subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 127
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of libc6:
libc6 depends on ldso (>= 1.8.10-1); however:
Package ldso is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing libc6 (--install):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of libreadlineg2:
libreadlineg2 depends on libc6 (>= 2.0.7u); however:
Package libc6 is not configured yet.
libreadlineg2 depends on libncurses4; however:
Package libncurses4 is not installed.
dpkg: error processing libreadlineg2 (--install):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Errors were encountered while processing:
ldso_1.9.10-1.deb
libc6
libreadlineg2
-chiark:~/download> really dpkg -iGEB libc6_2.0.7.19981211-6.deb libncurses4_4.2-3.deb libreadlineg2_2.1-12.deb ldso_1.9.10-1.deb
(Reading database ... 40181 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace libc6 2.0.7.19981211-6 (using libc6_2.0.7.19981211-6.deb) ...
sh: error in loading shared libraries
libncurses.so.4: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
dpkg: error processing libc6_2.0.7.19981211-6.deb (--install):
subprocess pre-installation script returned error exit status 127
Selecting previously deselected package libncurses4.
Unpacking libncurses4 (from libncurses4_4.2-3.deb) ...
Preparing to replace libreadlineg2 2.1-12 (using libreadlineg2_2.1-12.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement libreadlineg2 ...
Preparing to replace ldso 1.9.9-1 (using ldso_1.9.10-1.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement ldso ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of libncurses4:
libncurses4 depends on libc6 (>= 2.0.7u-6); however:
Package libc6 is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing libncurses4 (--install):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of libreadlineg2:
libreadlineg2 depends on libc6 (>= 2.0.7u); however:
Package libc6 is not configured yet.
libreadlineg2 depends on libncurses4; however:
Package libncurses4 is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing libreadlineg2 (--install):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Setting up ldso (1.9.10-1) ...
Errors were encountered while processing:
libc6_2.0.7.19981211-6.deb
libncurses4
libreadlineg2
You have new mail in /var/spool/mail/sysadmin
-chiark:~/download> really dpkg --purge libncurses4
(Reading database ... 40193 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing libncurses4 ...
-chiark:~/download> really dpkg -iGEB libc6_2.0.7.19981211-6.deb libncurses4_4.2-3.deb
(Reading database ... 40181 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace libc6 2.0.7.19981211-6 (using libc6_2.0.7.19981211-6.deb) ...
sh: error in loading shared libraries
libncurses.so.4: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
dpkg: error processing libc6_2.0.7.19981211-6.deb (--install):
subprocess pre-installation script returned error exit status 127
Selecting previously deselected package libncurses4.
Unpacking libncurses4 (from libncurses4_4.2-3.deb) ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of libncurses4:
libncurses4 depends on libc6 (>= 2.0.7u-6); however:
Package libc6 is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing libncurses4 (--install):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Errors were encountered while processing:
libc6_2.0.7.19981211-6.deb
libncurses4
You have new mail in /var/spool/mail/sysadmin
-chiark:~/download> really dpkg -i libncurses4_4.2-3.deb
(Reading database ... 40193 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace libncurses4 4.2-3 (using libncurses4_4.2-3.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement libncurses4 ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of libncurses4:
libncurses4 depends on libc6 (>= 2.0.7u-6); however:
Package libc6 is not configured yet.
dpkg: error processing libncurses4 (--install):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Errors were encountered while processing:
libncurses4
-chiark:~/download>
At this point bash is broken:
chiark:~> bash
bash: error in loading shared libraries
libncurses.so.4: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
chiark:~>
I guess, and say:
-chiark:~/download> really ldconfig
-chiark:~/download>
Now it seems to work:
-chiark:~/download> bash --version
GNU bash, version 2.01.1(1)-release (i486-pc-linux-gnu)
Copyright 1997 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
-chiark:~/download> dpkg -l bash
Desired=Unknown/Install/Remove/Purge
| Status=Not/Installed/Config-files/Unpacked/Failed-config/Half-installed
|/ Err?=(none)/Hold/Reinst-required/X=both-problems (Status,Err: uppercase=bad)
||/ Name Version Description
+++-===============-==============-============================================
ii bash 2.01.1-4 The GNU Bourne Again SHell
-chiark:~/download> dpkg --version
Debian Linux `dpkg' package management program version 1.4.1 (i386 elf).
Copyright 1994-1996 Ian Jackson, Bruce Perens. This is free software;
see the GNU General Public Licence version 2 or later for copying
conditions. There is NO warranty. See dpkg --licence for details.
-chiark:~/download>
-chiark:~/download> really dpkg --configure --pending
Setting up libc6 (2.0.7.19981211-6) ...
Setting up libncurses4 (4.2-3) ...
Setting up libreadlineg2 (2.1-12) ...
Setting up python-base (1.5.1-7) ...
Listing /usr/lib/python1.5 ...
Listing /usr/lib/python1.5/config ...
Listing /usr/lib/python1.5/lib-dynload ...
Listing /usr/lib/python1.5/plat-linux2 ...
Listing /usr/lib/python1.5 ...
Listing /usr/lib/python1.5/config ...
Listing /usr/lib/python1.5/lib-dynload ...
Listing /usr/lib/python1.5/plat-linux2 ...
Setting up python-misc (1.5.1-7) ...
Listing /usr/lib/python1.5 ...
Listing /usr/lib/python1.5/config ...
Listing /usr/lib/python1.5/lib-dynload ...
Listing /usr/lib/python1.5/plat-linux2 ...
Listing /usr/lib/python1.5 ...
Listing /usr/lib/python1.5/config ...
Listing /usr/lib/python1.5/lib-dynload ...
Listing /usr/lib/python1.5/plat-linux2 ...
Setting up python-examples (1.5.1-7) ...
Setting up python-net (1.5.1-7) ...
Listing /usr/lib/python1.5 ...
Listing /usr/lib/python1.5/config ...
Listing /usr/lib/python1.5/lib-dynload ...
Listing /usr/lib/python1.5/plat-linux2 ...
Listing /usr/lib/python1.5 ...
Listing /usr/lib/python1.5/config ...
Listing /usr/lib/python1.5/lib-dynload ...
Listing /usr/lib/python1.5/plat-linux2 ...
Setting up python-dev (1.5.1-7) ...
Setting up python-doc (1.5.1-2) ...
Setting up mailman (1.0b8-3) ...
Update-menus: waiting for dpkg to finish (forking to background)
Update-menus: (checking /var/lib/dpkg/lock)
Listing /usr/lib/mailman/Mailman ...
Listing /usr/lib/mailman/Mailman/Archiver ...
Listing /usr/lib/mailman/Mailman/Cgi ...
Listing /usr/lib/mailman/Mailman/Logging ...
Listing /usr/lib/mailman/Mailman/pythonlib ...
Listing /usr/lib/mailman/Mailman ...
Listing /usr/lib/mailman/Mailman/Archiver ...
Listing /usr/lib/mailman/Mailman/Cgi ...
Listing /usr/lib/mailman/Mailman/Logging ...
Listing /usr/lib/mailman/Mailman/pythonlib ...
Configuring mailman for domain chiark.greenend.org.uk ...
chgrp: invalid group name `list'
chgrp: invalid group name `list'
su: user list does not exist
dpkg: error processing mailman (--configure):
subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
mailman
-chiark:~/download> In file "/usr/lib/menu/xemacs19" at line 4:
section=Apps/Editors title="XEmacs19-tty" command="/usr/bin/xemacs19"
^
Unexpected end of line
-chiark:~/download>
(`really' is a program that executes its arguments as root, a la
nohup, nice, et al. If I had had to rely on `su', which uses a shell,
I would have been stuck.)
Ian.
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