Questions related to dpkg, the system that powers most software installs. (Note: apt-get is a very similar tag.)
42
votes
11answers
86k views
How do I fix a “Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock” problem?
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (11 Resource temporarily unavailable)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/)
Is another process using it? How can I fix ...
25
votes
1answer
1k views
How to create a meta-package that automatically installs other packages?
I'd like to be able to create a package that doesnt contain any code or programs itself, but instead installs other packages that exist in the repositories onto a computer, sort of how the ...
17
votes
7answers
15k views
How to let `dpkg -i` install dependencies for me?
Say, I have foo-1.2.3.deb which depends on perl and python, however, running command:
dpkg -i ./foo-1.2.3.deb
won't install these dependencies. So I must apt-get install perl python by hand.
How ...
16
votes
3answers
3k views
apt-get vs. aptitude .vs synaptic compatibility
I had been a Debian user for almost 3 years... but memories have gone really fuzzy...
I "kind of" remember that I should only use one of the package managers...
Either apt-get, aptitude, or synaptic, ...
13
votes
5answers
3k views
Is it possible to install a .deb from a URL?
Is there a way to install a deb package directly from a URL, using a shell?
Something like
dpkg -i http://domain.com/path/to/package.deb
(I know I could use wget and then dpkg, I'm just wondering ...
13
votes
3answers
4k views
How do I get a list of installed files from a package?
I want to know where i can find my installed application when i installed it on ubuntu using package manager
I installed Rabbit mq and gave locate rabbitmq which gave me following result
...
12
votes
5answers
12k views
How do I rebuild a corrupt dpkg status file?
Whenever I type sudo apt-get remove and then press the Tab key for auto-completion I get the following message:
grep-status: /var/lib/dpkg/status:15945: expected a colon.
I don't see anything ...
12
votes
3answers
906 views
How to find the number of packages needing update from the command line?
I'm working on some system admin automation using fabric and I'd like to be able to monitor the number of packages that need upgrading on a given machine. This is the same information that I can see ...
12
votes
6answers
9k views
How to install MySQL 5.6?
I just installed Ubuntu 12.10 (amd64), and want to install a recent version of MySQL 5.6.
If possible, I would like to install (not upgrade) it the "Debian Way' (i.e., using apt-get or dpkg).
The ...
11
votes
3answers
1k views
Why do some packages conflict with themselves?
After an upgrade to Oneiric I have had some troubles with the package manager (it wanted to remove half of my system, including libc6, zlib1g packages etc). During the fight with aptitude I've noticed ...
11
votes
2answers
3k views
What do the various dpkg flags like 'ii' 'rc' mean?
I frequently need to check which packages are installed, and I use the following command:
dpkg -l | grep foo
which gives the following output
Desired=Unknown/Install/Remove/Purge/Hold
| ...
11
votes
1answer
4k views
dpkg: error: parsing file '/var/lib/dpkg/available' near line 0
Been trying to install git-core package for almost more than half a day now. Everytime i do, I get this error:
dpkg: error: parsing file '/var/lib/dpkg/available' near line 0:
newline in field name ...
11
votes
1answer
4k views
Restoring all data and dependencies from dpkg --set-selections '*'
So I can run on one machine:
dpkg --get-selections '*' > selection.txt
On another machine:
dpkg --set-selections < selection.txt
... followed by either of the following:
aptitude install
...
10
votes
2answers
2k views
How can I install 'Revenge of the Titans'?
Revenge of the Titans is one of the games from the Humble Indie Bundle. I downloaded the i386 .deb file (I'm on a 32bit installation) and tried to install it using the Software Centre. However, when ...
10
votes
1answer
8k views
How do I change my timezone to UTC/GMT?
Currently when I execute the date command from bash I get the following displayed
Thu May 17 12:21:00 IST 2012
Below is my timezone config based on executing dpkg-reconfigure tzdata
Current ...
10
votes
0answers
24k views
Installation Error, “Unable to lock the administration directory” [duplicate]
Whenever I try to install any software through Terminal or Software on my Ubuntu 11.04, I'm getting this response:
In Terminal:
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (11: Resource ...
9
votes
3answers
1k views
How can I find the version number of an installed package via dpkg?
I use the dpkg -l command to find out what version of a package I have installed. For example:
dpkg -l network-manager
returns the information on the package:
...
9
votes
4answers
643 views
Does installing packages manually with dpkg prevent a future upgrade path?
I manage a private network which has no internet connectivity due to the security policy of the customer. This network has a single Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Server installation (soon to be several more) and ...
9
votes
4answers
19k views
Do Dpkg and apt-get install dependencies?
I've been wondering, is there a way to tell dpkg or apt-get that when I want to install a package also install all the dependencies it requires? I installed a package using dpkg but it complained ...
9
votes
1answer
1k views
How to fake a package version installed?
Being an early adopter and using 11.04 daily builds I sometimes meet a situation when some packages require earlier versions of other packages than those I have installed. Usually newer (but refused) ...
7
votes
4answers
2k views
What's apt-get's equivalent option of this dpkg command?
dpkg -L <package>
This command gives me a list of all the installed files, what's apt-get's equivalent option for it? I read the man page but couldn't figure out.
7
votes
1answer
324 views
Cloud server stuck on dpkg --configure -a
I have an amazon micro instance which runs one or two things for me. The config is minimal, it mainly acts as a host for a java application and couchdb.
I tried to install curl today and got this ...
6
votes
8answers
1k views
Useful apt (dpkg) commands
Please post your less-known, but useful apt commands involving apt-*, dpkg, or aptitude.
6
votes
3answers
323 views
6
votes
3answers
2k views
how to list packages from a ppa/source in command line
I want to list all the files from a source, say extras.ubuntu.com from the command line. What is the command for that?
dpkg --list lists all files or just the filename.
6
votes
1answer
670 views
Building a .deb file, install dependencies too
I am part of a small team that develop an intranet web app. We want to a method of easy installation, so we were thinking about how apt-get works, especially with installing dependencies.
Our app has ...
6
votes
2answers
123 views
Will installing a program from the Software Center also include updates from its PPA?
For example I installed VLC from the Ubuntu Software Center would it also include VLC's PPA repository so that when my laptop would do a software update, VLC updates would automatically be included ...
6
votes
2answers
4k views
Why isn't `auto-remove' removing all unnecessary dependencies?
I just installed a package (dansguardian in this case) and apt told me that I had unmet dependencies.
# sudo apt-get install dansguardian
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree ...
6
votes
2answers
6k views
apt-get fails to upgrade, install, remove etc
I upgraded from 11.10 to 12.04, had no issues that I noticed. Recently tried to install something via software center, but it was throwing errors. Changed to trying to sudo apt-get install instead but ...
5
votes
2answers
956 views
Can I rebuild a package without recompiling the source?
I am building a new .deb and want to fix lintian errors in the packaging. However, every time I rebuild, the rules file does a 'make clean' and thus starts compiling again.
Is there a way to ...
5
votes
3answers
5k views
How to remove a half-installed package? (Sun JDK - Java)
I've tried installing Sun JDK from sudo add-apt-repository ppa:eugenesan/java, it failed with the following:
Downloading...
--2012-05-05 15:50:09-- ...
5
votes
1answer
725 views
Alternatives to rpm -qa and rpm -ql in ubuntu
I am following Linux CBT tutorials for RHEL to learn some LINUX basics.
If I want to know if a particular package is installed in ubuntu, I usually type dpkg -l and grep the needed name. Such as
...
5
votes
1answer
4k views
Force apt-get to overwrite file installed by another package
(I realize a similar question was asked before but the answers there don't handle these details)
I'm on Ubuntu 10.10 and need both python2.5 (coming from deadnsakes -- ...
5
votes
1answer
73 views
How to block downgrade of a package using dpkg?
I want to prevent installation of lower version of the package over higher version using dpkg.
5
votes
1answer
929 views
How to resolve package conflicts installing LibreOffice 3.6.4?
The latest release of LibreOffice is 3.6.4, however only 3.6.2 is available in the software centre. I have installed the file available at ...
5
votes
3answers
6k views
First update after fresk Kubuntu install hangs because of dpkg - now what?
I installed a clean Kubuntu 11.10 64bit on a Dell Latitude E6500. Rebooted after install, ran the update manager Muon first thing, said apply all upgrades, and then at 57% ("Running dpkg") the ...
5
votes
3answers
244 views
Find minimal equivalent of packages currently installed
I have used a tool that calculates the minimal set of packages you can install to get the current set of packages you have. This is different than telling you what your selections are. It literally ...
5
votes
2answers
206 views
sudo dpkg error - blank line in value of field 'Maintainer'
I am running on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS and am trying to install NX. When using a sudo dpkg command for the plugin (nxplugin_3.5.0-6_i386.deb) I get an error.
I have tried a number of things. Other ...
5
votes
3answers
403 views
What does it mean “Processing Triggers for…” after installing/Uninstalling?
When i uninstalled a deb package i get this:
Processing triggers for bamfdaemon ...
Rebuilding /usr/share/applications/bamf.index...
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils ...
...
5
votes
1answer
71 views
Cannot uninstall myspell-he
I tried to install a Hebrew spell checker for LibreOffice. I downloaded a package named myspell-he_1.1-1_all.deb and tried to install it through the software center. Installation failed and I can ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
How can I filter “dpkg --get-selections” to just packages available in repositories?
I would like to get a list of packages installed on one system and install all of them on another system.
I know that dpkg --get-selections can give me a list of all installed packages which I can ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
How do I finish installing Sun JDK after cancelling out of the legal term screen?
I am a newcomer to linux and have had lots of problems in installing java on my newly installed Ubuntu 11.10. I use a statistical programming environment called R and many of the packages there ...
5
votes
1answer
320 views
Can you recommend a good tutorial on building custom package versions?
After installing Ubuntu 11.04 I was disappointed by the fact there are still Scala 2.7 (when 2.8 is long ago current actual branch) and Mono 2.6 (when pretty a time has passed after 2.8 release). I am ...
5
votes
1answer
554 views
Cannot resolve package dependencies following LTS upgrade from Lucid to Precise
After a failed LTS upgrade from Lucid to Precise, I'm stuck in package limbo. As root I have run
dpkg --configure -a
apt-get -f install
Outputs appended below.
The default package archive at this ...
5
votes
1answer
42 views
How can I build an installer by tracking filesystem changes?
Ages ago I used to package software on Windows using InstallShield AdminStudio. I used it for building customized installers for company applications from existing app installers. I'd like to do ...
5
votes
2answers
3k views
Find (and reinstall) packages with corrupted files (without breaking anything)
I usually prefer to fix a Linux system than to reinstall from scratch. My computers have seen many distribution upgrades and a list of PPAs or third-party repositories. APT usually makes sure that ...
5
votes
1answer
2k views
Can't upgrade packages, it gets stuck on openjdk-6-jre-headless
I am using Ubuntu Maverick (server).
When I run:
apt-get upgrade
it gets stuck on:
Setting up openjdk-6-jre-headless (6b20-1.9.7-0ubuntu1) ...
Why? And what can I do to stop it?
I tried ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
What does “selecting previously deselected package” mean?
Whenever I install software from the command-line using apt-get or aptitude, I see messages like this:
Selecting previously deselected package foobar-cil-dev.
I understand "downloading" and ...
4
votes
2answers
553 views
What is the difference between dependencies and pre-depends?
Can some one explain me what is meant by dependencies, pre-depends and the difference between those 2 type of package requirements when I am installing something in Ubuntu?
4
votes
1answer
293 views
Recompile all packages and trigger on updates
I am using Ubuntu on a bespoke router and after seeing the latency drops capable with custom compiling on Gentoo, I would like to recompile all packages with CFLAGS="-march=atom". The guide for this ...
