package openssh-server 1:5.3p1-3ubuntu4 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1

[Rossco]

Im using 10.04.1
Setting up ZoneMinder survalance software
Tried to download ssh as instructed by kirichkov.com from his web site:
http://kirichkov.com/368/howto-make-a-cctv-dvr-with-ubuntu-10-04-and-zoneminder
using command: sudo apt-get install openssh-server
Crash indicater showd up on my top panel which request sending this bug report.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
Package: openssh-server 1:5.3p1-3ubuntu4
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-25.45-generic 2.6.32.21+drm33.7
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-25-generic x86_64
AptOrdering:
 openssh-server: Install
 openssh-server: Configure
Architecture: amd64
Date: Thu Nov 11 12:42:41 2010
ErrorMessage: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04.1 LTS "Lucid Lynx" - Release amd64 (20100816.1)
SourcePackage: openssh
Title: package openssh-server 1:5.3p1-3ubuntu4 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1

[James Page (james-page)]

Error in DpkgTerminalLog:

Unpacking openssh-server (from .../openssh-server_1%3a5.3p1-3ubuntu4_amd64.deb) ...

debconf: DbDriver "config": /var/cache/debconf/config.dat is locked by another process: Resource temporarily unavailable

dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/openssh-server_1%3a5.3p1-3ubuntu4_amd64.deb (--unpack):

 subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1

[James Page (james-page)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better.

It appears that during the installation process, another process had locked /var/cache/debconf/config.dat. fuser -v will return the locking process if any. Kill it and try performing the upgrade again. Most often, this is only a transient situation and fuser will return nothing. Simply performing the update again should solve this issue.

Please update this bug report if this resolves your issue.

Thanks

[Rossco (wudgulah)]

Thanks James,

I remember that synaptic was doing something, I didn't realize it was the problem.
I retried the upgrade and everything worked fine.

Thanks again
Rossco

[James Page (james-page)]

No problem; glad to hear that this resolved your issue.

I'll mark this bug as invalid as you have now resolved your issue.