update-alternatives tries and fails to write to '/usr/local/var/log/alternatives.log': File or folder does not exist

[David]

xx@ubuntu-VBox:~$ lsb_release -rd
Description: Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS
Release: 18.04

xx@ubuntu-VBox:~$ apt-cache policy firefox
firefox:
  Geïnstalleerd: 62.0+build2-0ubuntu0.18.04.5
  Kandidaat: 62.0+build2-0ubuntu0.18.04.5
  Versietabel:
 *** 62.0+build2-0ubuntu0.18.04.5 500
        500 http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-updates/main amd64 Packages
        500 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-security/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     59.0.2+build1-0ubuntu1 500
        500 http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic/main amd64 Packages

The package failed to install

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
Package: firefox 62.0+build2-0ubuntu0.18.04.5
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-33.36-generic 4.15.18
Uname: Linux 4.15.0-33-generic x86_64
AddonCompatCheckDisabled: False
ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.2
AptOrdering:
 firefox:amd64: Install
 NULL: ConfigurePending
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: gdm 1267 F.... pulseaudio
                      david 3470 F.... pulseaudio
BuildID: 20180913170256
Channel: Unavailable
Date: Wed Sep 19 10:51:38 2018
ErrorMessage: geïnstalleerd firefox pakket post-installation script subproces meldde een fout afsluitstatus 2
ForcedLayersAccel: False
IfupdownConfig:
 # interfaces(5) file used by ifup(8) and ifdown(8)
 auto lo
 iface lo inet loopback
InstallationDate: Installed on 2018-08-27 (22 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 18.04 LTS "Bionic Beaver" - Release amd64 (20180426)
IpRoute:
 default via 10.0.2.2 dev enp0s3 proto dhcp metric 100
 10.0.2.0/24 dev enp0s3 proto kernel scope link src 10.0.2.15 metric 100
 169.254.0.0/16 dev enp0s3 scope link metric 1000
IwConfig:
 enp0s3 no wireless extensions.

 lo no wireless extensions.
NoProfiles: True
PulseList: Error: command ['pacmd', 'list'] failed with exit code 1: No PulseAudio daemon running, or not running as session daemon.
Python3Details: /usr/bin/python3.6, Python 3.6.5, python3-minimal, 3.6.5-3ubuntu1
PythonDetails: N/A
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.19.0.5ubuntu2
 apt 1.6.3ubuntu0.1
RfKill:

RunningIncompatibleAddons: False
SourcePackage: firefox
Title: package firefox 62.0+build2-0ubuntu0.18.04.5 failed to install/upgrade: geïnstalleerd firefox pakket post-installation script subproces meldde een fout afsluitstatus 2
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 12/01/2006
dmi.bios.vendor: innotek GmbH
dmi.bios.version: VirtualBox
dmi.board.name: VirtualBox
dmi.board.vendor: Oracle Corporation
dmi.board.version: 1.2
dmi.chassis.type: 1
dmi.chassis.vendor: Oracle Corporation
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvninnotekGmbH:bvrVirtualBox:bd12/01/2006:svninnotekGmbH:pnVirtualBox:pvr1.2:rvnOracleCorporation:rnVirtualBox:rvr1.2:cvnOracleCorporation:ct1:cvr:
dmi.product.family: Virtual Machine
dmi.product.name: VirtualBox
dmi.product.version: 1.2
dmi.sys.vendor: innotek GmbH

[Olivier Tilloy (osomon)]

Translated error message:

update-alternatives: error: can not add anything to '/usr/local/var/log/alternatives.log': File or folder does not exist

[Olivier Tilloy (osomon)]

It is weird that update-alternatives would want to write to /usr/local/var/log/alternatives.log. It should write to /var/log/alternatives.log.

@David: Anything unusual in your setup that might explain this error?

[David (mrmusic00)]

the package came pre installed with ubuntu bionic.
I didn't change anything to the setup.
Because of this error i can't install any package using software manager
or apt-get.

Op 21-9-2018 om 17:34 schreef Olivier Tilloy:
> It is weird that update-alternatives would want to write to
> /usr/local/var/log/alternatives.log. It should write to
> /var/log/alternatives.log.
>
> @David: Anything unusual in your setup that might explain this error?
>
> ** Changed in: firefox (Ubuntu)
> Status: New => Incomplete
>

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[Olivier Tilloy (osomon)]

Can you please share the output of the following commands?

    apt policy dpkg

    update-alternatives --version

The location of alternatives.log is determined at build time, which makes me think you might have a locally built version of update-alternatives that tries to write to the wrong location.

[David (mrmusic00)]

david@Vbox:~$ update-alternatives --version
Debian update-alternatives versie 1.19.0.5.

Dit is vrije programmatuur; zie de GNU General Public Licentie versie 2
of later voor kopieervoorwaarden. Er is GEEN garantie.

david@Vbox:~$ apt policy dpkg
dpkg:
  Geïnstalleerd: 1.19.0.5ubuntu2
  Kandidaat: 1.19.0.5ubuntu2
  Versietabel:
 *** 1.19.0.5ubuntu2 500
        500 http://nl.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

[Olivier Tilloy (osomon)]

Those are the expected versions, I'm not sure what's going on that makes update-alternatives want to write to /usr/local/var/log/alternatives.log.