package bsdmainutils 9.0.6ubuntu3 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2

[Michael Malone]

Doing release upgrade, got this error.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: bsdmainutils 9.0.6ubuntu3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-98.145-generic 3.13.11-ckt39
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-98-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.1
Architecture: amd64
Date: Thu Nov 17 08:20:56 2016
DuplicateSignature:
 package:bsdmainutils:9.0.6ubuntu3
 Setting up bsdmainutils (9.0.6ubuntu3) ...
 update-alternatives: error: /var/lib/dpkg/alternatives/write corrupt: line not terminated while trying to read status
 dpkg: error processing package bsdmainutils (--configure):
  subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2
InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-08-21 (1551 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-Server 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64 (20120424.1)
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.4ubuntu1.1
 apt 1.2.15
SourcePackage: bsdmainutils
Title: package bsdmainutils 9.0.6ubuntu3 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to xenial on 2016-11-19 (0 days ago)

[Rolf Leggewie (r0lf)]

looks like an intermittent error. is this still an issue?

from DpkgTerminalLog.txt:
Setting up bsdmainutils (9.0.6ubuntu3) ...
update-alternatives: error: /var/lib/dpkg/alternatives/write corrupt: line not terminated while trying to read status
dpkg: error processing package bsdmainutils (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2