mysql-server install problem

[Tomislav Renic <renic@envirogenca.com>]

I'm having a problem installing mysql-server on my Ultra 10. 
Unfortunately the following happens when I try to install it:

----------------
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  mysql-server
0 packages upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0  not upgraded.
Need to get 0B/3094kB of archives. After unpacking 8421kB will be used.
Preconfiguring packages ...
(Reading database ... 43863 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking mysql-server (from .../mysql-server_3.23.52-2_sparc.deb) ...
Password:
Enter new UNIX password:
Retype new UNIX password:
usermod: PAM authentication failed
dpkg: error processing 
/var/cache/apt/archives/mysql-server_3.23.52-2_sparc.deb (--unpack):
 subprocess pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
 /var/cache/apt/archives/mysql-server_3.23.52-2_sparc.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
--------------

It asks me for a password, and then eventually either looks if I use my 
root password or it gives me the usermod error.  I've got virtually the 
same setup on an i386 machine and the mysql-server package install just 
fine.

Any ideas?

THanks,
Tomislav Renic