Bug#309486: libc6 upgrade failed leaving system unusable
Package: libc6
Version: 2.3.2.ds1-22
Severity: critical
Justification: breaks the whole system
I don't know whether this is a libc6 bug or a dpkg bug. During
a routine update from unstable (of a few weeks ago) to current
unstable, I started getting segfaults during a libc6 upgrade.
After that, every command segfaulted, including init, meaning
the system wouldn't boot. I used a rescue CD to unpack the .deb
and replace the files in /lib. Then it worked.
The disk wasn't full (6Gb available).
Hamish
Here's the upgrade log.
Fetched 104MB in 3m42s (465kB/s)
Preconfiguring packages ...
(Reading database ... 43118 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace libc6-dev 2.3.2.ds1-21 (using .../libc6-dev_2.3.2.ds1-22_i386.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement libc6-dev ...
Preparing to replace debconf-i18n 1.4.48 (using .../debconf-i18n_1.4.49_all.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement debconf-i18n ...
Preparing to replace debconf 1.4.48 (using .../debconf_1.4.49_all.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement debconf ...
Preparing to replace locales 2.3.2.ds1-21 (using .../locales_2.3.2.ds1-22_all.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement locales ...
Preparing to replace libc6 2.3.2.ds1-21 (using .../libc6_2.3.2.ds1-22_i386.deb) ...
/var/lib/dpkg/tmp.ci/preinst: line 124: 11779 Segmentation fault expr $dir : "/lib.*" >/dev/null
/var/lib/dpkg/tmp.ci/preinst: line 124: 11780 Segmentation fault expr $dir : "/emul/.*" >/dev/null
/var/lib/dpkg/tmp.ci/preinst: line 124: 11785 Segmentation fault expr $dir : "/lib.*" >/dev/null
/var/lib/dpkg/tmp.ci/preinst: line 124: 11786 Segmentation fault expr $dir : "/emul/.*" >/dev/null
/usr/lib/dpkg/methods/apt/install: line 107: 11808 Segmentation fault $DPKG "$DPKG_OPTS" --configure -a
installation script returned error exit status 100.
Press <enter> to continue.
installation script was terminated by a signal: Segmentation fault.
Press <enter> to continue.
installation script was terminated by a signal: Segmentation fault.
Press <enter> to continue.
tv:~#
tv:~#
tv:~# ls
Illegal instruction
tv:~# dmesg
Segmentation fault
tv:~# cat
Segmentation fault
-- System Information:
Debian Release: 3.1
APT prefers unstable
APT policy: (500, 'unstable')
Architecture: i386 (i686)
Shell: /bin/sh linked to /bin/bash
Kernel: Linux 2.6.10
Locale: LANG=C, LC_CTYPE=C (charmap=ANSI_X3.4-1968)
Versions of packages libc6 depends on:
ii libdb1-compat 2.1.3-7 The Berkeley database routines [gl
-- no debconf information
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