package avahi-dnsconfd 0.6.32~rc+dfsg-1ubuntu2 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed pre-removal script returned error exit status 1

[Jeff S]

interesting issues while updating packages this morning...

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: avahi-dnsconfd 0.6.32~rc+dfsg-1ubuntu2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-16.32-generic 4.4.6
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-16-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: wl
ApportVersion: 2.20-0ubuntu3
Architecture: amd64
Date: Wed Mar 30 09:33:28 2016
DpkgTerminalLog:
 Removing avahi-discover (0.6.32~rc+dfsg-1ubuntu2) ...
 Removing avahi-dnsconfd (0.6.32~rc+dfsg-1ubuntu2) ...
 Job for avahi-daemon.socket canceled.
 dpkg: error processing package avahi-dnsconfd (--remove):
  subprocess installed pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
DuplicateSignature:
 Removing avahi-dnsconfd (0.6.32~rc+dfsg-1ubuntu2) ...
 Job for avahi-daemon.socket canceled.
 dpkg: error processing package avahi-dnsconfd (--remove):
  subprocess installed pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-01-06 (83 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 15.10 "Wily Werewolf" - Release amd64 (20151021)
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.4ubuntu1
 apt 1.2.9
SourcePackage: avahi
Title: package avahi-dnsconfd 0.6.32~rc+dfsg-1ubuntu2 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[ernsteiswuerfel (erhard-f)]

Just got hit by this bug on my PPC-system (PowerMac G5 7,3) after upgrading from 16.04 to 16.10.

[David Venz (david-venz)]

In my case, I installed ubuntu-mate-desktop, then xfce4, was running in xfce4 and did: (a) apt purge ubuntu-mate-desktop, (b) apt autoremove - which removed among other packages the avahi-dnsconfd package.

[Richard Hiltbrunn (rhiltbrunn)]

Was just doing a commandline update and as things were finishing up, this happened.

[David Martinka (mainmachine)]

Added "set -x" to the prerm script at /var/lib/dpkg/info/avahi-dnsconfd.prerm for more verbose console output and re-ran apt update && apt upgrade and it looks like it's failing here:

deb-systemd-invoke stop avahi-daemon.socket

```
The following packages will be upgraded:
  avahi-dnsconfd
1 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0 B/14.1 kB of archives.
After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n]
(Reading database ... 459430 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../avahi-dnsconfd_0.6.32~rc+dfsg-1ubuntu2.1_amd64.deb ...
+ dpkg-maintscript-helper rm_conffile /etc/default/avahi-dnsconfd 0.6.26-1~ avahi-dnsconfd -- upgrade 0.6.32~rc+dfsg-1ubuntu2.1
+ [ -d /run/systemd/system ]
+ deb-systemd-invoke stop avahi-daemon.socket
Job for avahi-daemon.socket canceled.
dpkg: warning: subprocess old pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
dpkg: trying script from the new package instead ...
Job for avahi-daemon.socket canceled.
dpkg: error processing archive /var/cache/apt/archives/avahi-dnsconfd_0.6.32~rc+dfsg-1ubuntu2.1_amd64.deb (--unpack):
 subprocess new pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
 /var/cache/apt/archives/avahi-dnsconfd_0.6.32~rc+dfsg-1ubuntu2.1_amd64.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
```

When run manually this command fails as well:

```
$ deb-systemd-invoke stop avahi-daemon.socket
Job for avahi-daemon.socket canceled.

$ deb-systemd-invoke status avahi-daemon.socket
● avahi-daemon.socket - Avahi mDNS/DNS-SD Stack Activation Socket
   Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/avahi-daemon.socket; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
   Active: active (running) since Thu 2018-04-05 01:15:39 EDT; 22h ago
   Listen: /var/run/avahi-daemon/socket (Stream)

Apr 05 01:15:39 MYCOMPUTER systemd[1]: Listening on Avahi mDNS/DNS-SD Stack Activation Socket.
Apr 05 22:50:26 MYCOMPUTER systemd[1]: Listening on Avahi mDNS/DNS-SD Stack Activation Socket.
Apr 05 22:50:26 MYCOMPUTER systemd[1]: Listening on Avahi mDNS/DNS-SD Stack Activation Socket.
Apr 05 22:50:26 MYCOMPUTER systemd[1]: Listening on Avahi mDNS/DNS-SD Stack Activation Socket.
Apr 05 23:20:31 MYCOMPUTER systemd[1]: Listening on Avahi mDNS/DNS-SD Stack Activation Socket.
Apr 05 23:20:31 MYCOMPUTER systemd[1]: Listening on Avahi mDNS/DNS-SD Stack Activation Socket.
Apr 05 23:20:31 MYCOMPUTER systemd[1]: Listening on Avahi mDNS/DNS-SD Stack Activation Socket.
Apr 05 23:21:29 MYCOMPUTER systemd[1]: Listening on Avahi mDNS/DNS-SD Stack Activation Socket.
```

[Dave (owensd2)]

Occurred during 1st Update to the install.

[Trent Lloyd (lathiat)]

This seems to be some kind of weird interaction with systemd activation...

root@optane:/lib/systemd# systemctl stop avahi-daemon.socket
Job for avahi-daemon.socket canceled.

I think basically the issue is the service is immediately started again due to activation.. i'm not sure why avahi-dnsconfd is stopping it anyway though so I will check into that.

[magisterludi (magisterludi)]

I confirm I have the same error on update the system

[carlos (candeias-m-carlos)]

I had this issue before with ubuntu 16.04lts. The weird part is that it worked fine until one update that failed, i believe it was by end of 2017. unfortunately and go figure ;),had same issue with the previous version of elementaryOS, mint and now ubuntu mate.
Weirdly enough for me, with solusOS as well. i'm not a tec./linux savvy but i was always able to install different linux distros by myself but lately ... or its me that arrived at the end of my linux learning curve or i will need to replace soon my 11 year old x61s.

[Biquet3000 (sambuku)]

Simple user who don't understand all that, I'm French and just using Ubuntu but can't resolve problem by myself. Please find an easier way to fix problems for me. Thanks...

[Jeffry Johnston (ubuntu-kidsquid)]

Ran into this problem today on 16.04. Here's a brute-force hack that got me past the problem. Attempt at your own risk:

# First, try to update:
sudo apt-get upgrade
# STOP if you don't see the following messages:
# Job for avahi-daemon.socket canceled.
# dpkg: warning: subprocess old pre-removal script returned error exit status 1

# Here's the hack:
sudo sed -i.backup 's:deb-systemd-invoke stop avahi-daemon.socket >/dev/null:echo:' /var/lib/dpkg/info/avahi-dnsconfd.prerm

# Try to update again
sudo apt-get upgrade
# avahi-daemon should now install without the pre-removal script error message. If it doesn't, you should restore the backup:
sudo mv /var/lib/dpkg/info/avahi-dnsconfd.prerm.backup /var/lib/dpkg/info/avahi-dnsconfd.prerm

HTH