package xl2tpd 1.3.1+dfsg-1 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1

[Stuart Harris]

just tried to install like this:
sudo apt-get install l2tp-ipsec-vpn

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: xl2tpd 1.3.1+dfsg-1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-24.39-generic 3.2.16
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-24-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu8
Architecture: amd64
Date: Tue Jun 12 14:55:34 2012
DuplicateSignature:
 Setting up xl2tpd (1.3.1+dfsg-1) ...
 Starting xl2tpd: invoke-rc.d: initscript xl2tpd, action "start" failed.
 dpkg: error processing xl2tpd (--configure):
  subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
SourcePackage: xl2tpd
Title: package xl2tpd 1.3.1+dfsg-1 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to precise on 2012-04-27 (45 days ago)
modified.conffile..etc.xl2tpd.xl2tpd.conf: [deleted]

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Rob Fone (confuzed)]

This error just occured for me so I submitted the problem and selected this issue as being the same, however I notice the original report is for Ubuntu 12.04 so I wanted to make a note that this issue occurs for me using 12.10.

[Matt Wagenknecht (mattwag)]

I too encountered the issue on a server install of 12.04.3 LTS.. The init script for xl2tpd is looking for the /etc/xl2tpd/xl2tdp.conf file on start up and can't find it. It is not created as part of the install. The following workaround should resolve.

as root:

touch /etc/xl2tpd/xl2tpd.conf
apt-get install -f

This should allow the install of xl2tpd and, thereby, everything else..

[Alexander Polyakov (eradicator-kai)]

root@widesmile:/# touch /etc/xl2tpd/xl2tpd.conf
root@widesmile:/# apt-get install -f
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
1 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
Setting up xl2tpd (1.3.1+dfsg-1) ...
Starting xl2tpd: invoke-rc.d: initscript xl2tpd, action "start" failed.
dpkg: error processing xl2tpd (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
No apport report written because MaxReports is reached already
                                                              Errors were encountered while processing:
 xl2tpd
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

[Ted Chen (e-ted)]

@eradicator-kai

stop the process manually first. For some reason, the init.d script will return 1 if xl2tpd is already running when issued start.