dpkg: ../../src/packages.c:221: process_queue: Assertion `dependtry <= 4' failed

[Graham Lowe]

Binary package hint: update-manager

I was updating from 8.04 to 8.10

ProblemType: Package
Architecture: i386
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 8.10
ErrorMessage: ErrorMessage: SystemError in cache.commit(): E:Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2), E:Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg exited unexpectedly, E:Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1), E:Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1), E:Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1), E:Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1), E:Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg exited unexpectedly

Package: update-manager 1:0.93.32
PackageArchitecture: all
SourcePackage: update-manager
Title: package update-manager 1:0.93.32 failed to install/upgrade: ErrorMessage: SystemError in cache.commit(): E:Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2), E:Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg exited unexpectedly, E:Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1), E:Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1), E:Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1), E:Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1), E:Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg exited unexpectedly
Uname: Linux 2.6.24-19-generic i686

[Michael Vogt (mvo)]

Here is what is causing the error:

Setting up gsfonts (1:8.11+urwcyr1.0.7~pre43-2) ...
(Re-)registering PostScript fonts...
done.
dpkg: ../../src/packages.c:221: process_queue: Assertion `dependtry <= 4' failed.
dpkg: regarding .../cups-pdf_2.4.8-1ubuntu1_i386.deb containing cups-pdf, pre-dependency problem:
 cups-pdf pre-depends on cups (>= 1.1.15)
  cups is unpacked, but has never been configured.
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/cups-pdf_2.4.8-1ubuntu1_i386.deb (--unpack):
 pre-dependency problem - not installing cups-pdf

Please try using the recovery option in the boot menu to restore the package to a working state.

[Michael Vogt (mvo)]

The failure looks like the pre-depends caused a problem with the ordering algorithm.

[Jean-Baptiste Lallement (jibel)]

I'm reaffecting the apt to dpkg. This is a known issue for other packages as well ( ufw bug 262451 and python-sip4 in bug 279709 )
This is fixed in debian in dpkg 1.14.21 ( http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=486843 )

[Colin Watson (cjwatson)]

As noted, this is fixed in Jaunty. We may need to backport the fix to Intrepid to support upgrades, though.

[Colin Watson (cjwatson)]

Actually, I'm going to track this in bug 262451.