Bug#1078166: apt-daily.service is sometimes executed during package installation

[Julian Andres Klode]

On Wed, Aug 07, 2024 at 04:33:40PM GMT, Vincent Lefevre wrote:
> Package: apt
> Version: 2.9.7
> Severity: normal
> 
> The installation/upgrade of some packages reloads the systemd daemons,
> which occasionally has the effect to execute the apt-daily service,
> which runs "/usr/lib/apt/apt.systemd.daily update".
> 
> This is silly, because precisely at this time, either there already
> is a /var/lib/dpkg/lock-frontend lock (due to the installation) and
> the command fails, or if the frontend, like aptitude, releases the
> lock temporarily, this may make installation by the frontend fail.
> In any case, this is not satisfactory.
> 
> If the "apt.systemd.daily update" must be run at this time (reload
> of systemd daemons), there is a major problem. Otherwise, it should
> be run at a later time, so that there is a high probability that
> the installation has finished, avoiding a lock failure. Or why not
> completely relying on a randomized timer?


As I mentioned in the other thread, we do not do anything with the
systemd services. We do restart the timers, which I guess could mess
up the randomization or something?

But I don't know, I'd need more info from systemd people.
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