[Pkg-sysvinit-devel] Bug#786469: sysvinit-utils, util-linux: can't upgrade - 'installation run will require temporarily removing the essential package'

[James Cowgill]

Package: sysvinit-utils, util-linux
Version: sysvinit-utils/2.88dsf-59.2, util-linux/2.26.2-4
Severity: grave

Hi,

I have a system running sid which I haven't upgraded for a few weeks. I
was greeted with this just now (apt-get upgrade fails as well, but I
used install to make the output smaller).

# apt-get install -Vy util-linux
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
   initscripts (2.88dsf-59.2)
Suggested packages:
   bootlogd (2.88dsf-59.2)
   sash (3.8-3+b1)
   dosfstools (3.0.27-1)
   kbd (1.15.5-2)
   console-tools ()
   util-linux-locales (2.26.2-4)
The following packages will be upgraded:
   initscripts (2.88dsf-59 => 2.88dsf-59.2)
   sysvinit-utils (2.88dsf-59 => 2.88dsf-59.2)
   util-linux (2.26.2-2 => 2.26.2-4)
3 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 128 not upgraded.
Need to get 0 B/1006 kB of archives.
After this operation, 62.5 kB of additional disk space will be used.
E: This installation run will require temporarily removing the essential package util-linux:i386 due to a Conflicts/Pre-Depends loop. This is often bad, but if you really want to do it, activate the APT::Force-LoopBreak option.
E: Internal Error, Could not early remove util-linux:i386 (2)
# cd /var/cache/apt/archives
# dpkg --auto-deconfigure -i util-linux_2.26.2-4_i386.deb sysvinit-utils_2.88dsf-59.2_i386.deb initscripts_2.88dsf-59.2_i386.deb 
dpkg: considering deconfiguration of sysvinit-utils, which would be broken by installation of util-linux ...
dpkg: no, sysvinit-utils is essential, will not deconfigure
 it in order to enable installation of util-linux
dpkg: error processing archive util-linux_2.26.2-4_i386.deb (--install):
 installing util-linux would break existing software
dpkg: considering deconfiguration of util-linux, which would be broken by installation of sysvinit-utils ...
dpkg: no, util-linux is essential, will not deconfigure
 it in order to enable installation of sysvinit-utils
dpkg: error processing archive sysvinit-utils_2.88dsf-59.2_i386.deb (--install):
 installing sysvinit-utils would break existing software
dpkg: considering deconfiguration of util-linux, which would be broken by installation of initscripts ...
dpkg: no, util-linux is essential, will not deconfigure
 it in order to enable installation of initscripts
dpkg: error processing archive initscripts_2.88dsf-59.2_i386.deb (--install):
 installing initscripts would break existing software
Errors were encountered while processing:
 util-linux_2.26.2-4_i386.deb
 sysvinit-utils_2.88dsf-59.2_i386.deb
 initscripts_2.88dsf-59.2_i386.deb

From util-linux:
 Breaks: sysvinit-utils (<< 2.88dsf-59.1~)
From sysvinit-utils:
 Breaks: util-linux (<< 2.26.2-3)

So from the versions I have I don't see anyway to upgrade either of
these packages without deconfiguring the other first - and apt/dpkg
refuses to do that to an essential package.

For good measure I also tried upgrading a jessie chroot to sid and got
the same error.

Thanks,
James
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