Aptitude fails to upgrade libc6

**funicorn** · October 27th, 2012

Sorry I forgot to come back earlier. Yes, libc6 is very important and any damage is not acceptable. This is exactly why I suggest you have it installed with or even downgraded to a 'safe' version for insurance.

The new error message is not the same as the original one. It only tells that there are other packages of which a higher version has been installed but of which a different( lower, in this case) version is needed by what you are installing. Hence you cannot just downgrade the target package alone, instead you have to downgrade all in the dependency chain as a bunch, which in your case doesn't involve too many, like 4 packages maybe.

So you may have figured out yourself how to solve this, just type the same command again and add more package names to the end. According to the dpkg error report, you should add libc6-bin=2.15-0ubuntu10.2 and libc6-dev-bin=2.15-0ubuntu10.2. Just keep in mind that these packages might need to be upgraded again in future.

Anyway the baseline is, if you run to even more errors after that 'apt-get' command, hold it and see clearly what the output is, and do not rush to confirm the proceeding.

Originally Posted by Sun_Blood

Still gives me error. But I guess this can be solved by adding the -f switch but I want to ask you first if that is good or not. libc6 is not a package that I want to be broken/unstable because then the whole server will go down.

btw why is sudo -i bad? And what should I do instead if I want a root shell for a longer period of time?
I use sudo for quick commands but sometimes I need to do lots as root and adding sudo to all commands is tiresome.

Code:

sudo apt-get install --reinstall libc6=2.15-0ubuntu10.2 libc6-dev=2.15-0ubuntu10.2
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
You might want to run 'apt-get -f install' to correct these:
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 libc6 : Depends: libc-bin (= 2.15-0ubuntu10.2)
 libc6-dev : Depends: libc-dev-bin (= 2.15-0ubuntu10.2)
E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or specify a solution).

**Sun_Blood** · October 29th, 2012

Hi,

So the problems continues.

Code:

apt-get install --reinstall libc6=2.15-0ubuntu10.2 libc6-dev=2.15-0ubuntu10.2 libc-bin=2.15-0ubuntu10.2
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
Suggested packages:
  glibc-doc
The following packages will be DOWNGRADED:
  libc6-dev
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 2 reinstalled, 1 downgraded, 0 to remove and 32 not upgraded.
1 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 8 776 kB of archives.
After this operation, 1 024 B disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? 
Get:1 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security/main libc6-dev amd64 2.15-0ubuntu10.2 [2 944 kB]
Get:2 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security/main libc-bin amd64 2.15-0ubuntu10.2 [1 181 kB]
Get:3 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security/main libc6 amd64 2.15-0ubuntu10.2 [4 651 kB]                                                                                                                                       
Fetched 8 776 kB in 18s (469 kB/s)                                                                                                                                                                                                           
Preconfiguring packages ...
(Reading database ... 68879 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace libc-bin 2.15-0ubuntu10.2 (using .../libc-bin_2.15-0ubuntu10.2_amd64.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement libc-bin ...
Processing triggers for man-db ...
Setting up libc-bin (2.15-0ubuntu10.2) ...
(Reading database ... 68879 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace libc6 2.15-0ubuntu10.2 (using .../libc6_2.15-0ubuntu10.2_amd64.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement libc6 ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libc6_2.15-0ubuntu10.2_amd64.deb (--unpack):
 unable to make backup link of `./usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/gconv/ISO8859-10.so' before installing new version: Operation not permitted
dpkg-deb: error: subprocess paste was killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Errors were encountered while processing:
 /var/cache/apt/archives/libc6_2.15-0ubuntu10.2_amd64.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

**funicorn** · October 29th, 2012

add libc-dev-bin=...

**Sun_Blood** · November 1st, 2012

Originally Posted by funicorn

add libc-dev-bin=...

Still same. Very strange this.

Code:

apt-get install --reinstall libc6=2.15-0ubuntu10.2 libc6-dev=2.15-0ubuntu10.2 libc-bin=2.15-0ubuntu10.2 libc-dev-bin=2.15-0ubuntu10.2
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
Suggested packages:
  glibc-doc
The following packages will be DOWNGRADED:
  libc6-dev
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 3 reinstalled, 1 downgraded, 0 to remove and 31 not upgraded.
1 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 84,5 kB/8 860 kB of archives.
After this operation, 1 024 B disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? 
Get:1 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security/main libc-dev-bin amd64 2.15-0ubuntu10.2 [84,5 kB]
Fetched 84,5 kB in 0s (316 kB/s)        
Preconfiguring packages ...
(Reading database ... 68879 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace libc-bin 2.15-0ubuntu10.2 (using .../libc-bin_2.15-0ubuntu10.2_amd64.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement libc-bin ...
Processing triggers for man-db ...
Setting up libc-bin (2.15-0ubuntu10.2) ...
(Reading database ... 68879 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace libc6 2.15-0ubuntu10.2 (using .../libc6_2.15-0ubuntu10.2_amd64.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement libc6 ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libc6_2.15-0ubuntu10.2_amd64.deb (--unpack):
 unable to make backup link of `./usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/gconv/ISO8859-10.so' before installing new version: Operation not permitted
dpkg-deb: error: subprocess paste was killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Errors were encountered while processing:
 /var/cache/apt/archives/libc6_2.15-0ubuntu10.2_amd64.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

**funicorn** · November 2nd, 2012

Wired it is. can you check the file permission of `/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/gconv/ISO8859-10.so' ?

In my case it's -rw-r--r-- with owner:group root:root. And

Code:

ldd /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/gconv/ISO8859-10.so

linux-vdso.so.1 => (0x00007ffffd2f4000)
libc.so.6 => /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6 (0x00007f42ee7b7000)
/lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2 (0x00007f42eeda7000)

What's also wired is dpkg wants to backup link of `./usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/gconv/ISO8859-10.so.' I just cannot understand why `.' is there. Anyway I think it's related to the link library files of `/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/gconv/ISO8859-10.so'. So check those too.

**Sun_Blood** · November 2nd, 2012

Originally Posted by funicorn

Wired it is. can you check the file permission of `/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/gconv/ISO8859-10.so' ?

In my case it's -rw-r--r-- with owner:group root:root. And

Code:

ldd /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/gconv/ISO8859-10.so

What's also wired is dpkg wants to backup link of `./usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/gconv/ISO8859-10.so.' I just cannot understand why `.' is there. Anyway I think it's related to the link library files of `/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/gconv/ISO8859-10.so'. So check those too.

I hope we can find a solution soon

Code:

root@NA*****:~#ldd /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/gconv/ISO8859-10.so
        linux-vdso.so.1 =>  (0x00007fff683ff000)
        libc.so.6 => /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6 (0x00007f1bd663e000)
        /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2 (0x00007f1bd6c08000)

root@*****C:~# ls -al /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/gconv/ISO8859-10.so
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 10272 Sep 29 11:51 /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/gconv/ISO8859-10.so

**funicorn** · November 3rd, 2012

To be honest I coundn't understand what's happening during the libc6 installation. It seems it tries to commit the preinst script in the debian directory inside the package. But I'm totally lost for the specific action of 'make backup link of `./usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/gconv/ISO8859-10.so'.

You can try to run the downgrade command under '/' and see what happens.

Also, you can use dpkg --force-downgrade -i xxx.deb to force downgrade debian packages, in which case you need download the wanted version of above packages in advance. However it might bring up risk to damage the system. Use it with caution.

Do not force downgrade, see the new post below.

**funicorn** · November 3rd, 2012

OK I downloaded the libc6 package and looked in to the debian scripts inside. I found the problem occurred to you is related the prerm script, which is used to preserve the system library links. I'm still not clear about the details. But I'm sure it's related to /lib64, which is either a symbol link to /lib or a real directory. This is the key difference. It's possible that a old version of libc6 uses symbol link of /lib64, where as a higher version uses real directory. So you should do following things:

Do not downgrade libc6 with --force-downgrade, since I realized it's very dangerous.

check the path /lib64 is a symbol link or a real directory

check what reside in /lib64, are they all symbol links or real files

download the debian package of the current version of libc6 installed in your system, open it with file-roller, compare the files in /lib64 of the archive and those in /lib64 of your system, to see if there is any difference.

you can also download the old version of libc6, open it and compare the files in /lib64 with those in the newer(currently installed) version.

**Tomelirolla** · November 4th, 2012

I'm having the same problem. When I try to update anything or install anything from software centre I get

Code:

The following packages have unmet dependencies:

libc6: Depends: libc-bin (= 2.15-0ubuntu10.2) but 2.15-0ubuntu10.3 is installed
libc6-dev: Depends: libc6 (= 2.15-0ubuntu10.3) but 2.15-0ubuntu10.2 is installed
           Depends: libc-dev-bin (= 2.15-0ubuntu10.3) but 2.15-0ubuntu10.3 is installed
libc6-i386: Depends: libc6 (= 2.15-0ubuntu10.3) but 2.15-0ubuntu10.2 is installed
libc6:i386: Depends: libc-bin (= 2.15-0ubuntu10.2) but 2.15-0ubuntu10.3 is installed

I tried

Code:

sudo apt-get -f install

and I got

Code:

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
Correcting dependencies... Done
The following package was automatically installed and is no longer required:
  amarok-help-en
Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them.
The following extra packages will be installed:
  libc6 libc6:i386
Suggested packages:
  glibc-doc glibc-doc:i386 locales:i386
The following packages will be upgraded:
  libc6 libc6:i386
2 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 107 not upgraded.
5 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 0 B/8,593 kB of archives.
After this operation, 8,192 B of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? y
Preconfiguring packages ...
(Reading database ... 275361 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace libc6 2.15-0ubuntu10.2 (using .../libc6_2.15-0ubuntu10.3_amd64.deb) ...

A copy of the C library was found in an unexpected directory:
  '/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc-2.15.so.dpkg-tmp'
It is not safe to upgrade the C library in this situation;
please remove that copy of the C library or get it out of
'/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu' and try again.

dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/libc6_2.15-0ubuntu10.3_amd64.deb (--unpack):
 subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
 /var/cache/apt/archives/libc6_2.15-0ubuntu10.3_amd64.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

**Sun_Blood** · November 4th, 2012

Originally Posted by funicorn

OK I downloaded the libc6 package and looked in to the debian scripts inside. I found the problem occurred to you is related the prerm script, which is used to preserve the system library links. I'm still not clear about the details. But I'm sure it's related to /lib64, which is either a symbol link to /lib or a real directory. This is the key difference. It's possible that a old version of libc6 uses symbol link of /lib64, where as a higher version uses real directory. So you should do following things:

Do not downgrade libc6 with --force-downgrade, since I realized it's very dangerous.

check the path /lib64 is a symbol link or a real directory

check what reside in /lib64, are they all symbol links or real files

download the debian package of the current version of libc6 installed in your system, open it with file-roller, compare the files in /lib64 of the archive and those in /lib64 of your system, to see if there is any difference.

you can also download the old version of libc6, open it and compare the files in /lib64 with those in the newer(currently installed) version.

Hi,
I feel you are on the right track here, but I can't relay understand exactly what I need to do.

I checked /lib64 and it's a real directory but inside that there is 1 file that is only a symbolic link.

Code:

root@N***C:/# ls -al /
total 96
*****
drwxr-xr-x  21 root root  4096 Oct 16 11:58 lib
drwxr-xr-x   2 root root  4096 Oct  3 06:46 lib64
*****
root@N****C:/# ls -al /lib64/
total 8
drwxr-xr-x  2 root root 4096 Oct  3 06:46 .
drwxr-xr-x 23 root root 4096 Oct 12 06:51 ..
lrwxrwxrwx  1 root root   32 Sep 29 11:51 ld-linux-x86-64.so.2 -> /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/ld-2.15.so
root@NASHTPC:/#

What should I do as the next step?