mariadb-server failed to install: invoke-rc.d: initscript mysql, action "stop" failed

[RUKUNDO Joseph]

I was installing phpmyadmin and maria db to later configure them with nginx

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 23.04
Package: mariadb-server (not installed)
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 6.2.0-20.20-generic 6.2.6
Uname: Linux 6.2.0-20-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.26.1-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: unknown
Date: Tue Sep 5 11:26:42 2023
ErrorMessage: new mariadb-server package pre-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
InstallationDate: Installed on 2023-09-04 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 23.04 "Lunar Lobster" - Release amd64 (20230418)
Python3Details: /usr/bin/python3.11, Python 3.11.4, python3-minimal, 3.11.2-1
PythonDetails: N/A
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.21.21ubuntu1
 apt 2.6.0ubuntu0.1
SourcePackage: mariadb
Title: package mariadb-server (not installed) failed to install/upgrade: new mariadb-server package pre-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Otto Kekäläinen (otto)]

Relevant log:

Preparing to unpack .../0-mariadb-server_1%3a10.11.2-1_amd64.deb ...
Failed to stop mariadb.service: Unit mariadb.service not loaded.
invoke-rc.d: initscript mariadb, action "stop" failed.
Failed to stop mysql.service: Unit mysql.service not loaded.
invoke-rc.d: initscript mysql, action "stop" failed.
Attempt to stop MariaDB/MySQL server returned exitcode 5
There is a MariaDB/MySQL server running, but we failed in our attempts to stop it.
Stop it yourself and try again!
dpkg: error processing archive /tmp/apt-dpkg-install-rlmkoy/0-mariadb-server_1%3a10.11.2-1_amd64.deb (--unpack):
 new mariadb-server package pre-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1

Not sure about the root cause but https://salsa.debian.org/mariadb-team/mariadb-server/-/merge_requests/26 might make it easier to debug and the fix might even be one of the commits in https://salsa.debian.org/mariadb-team/mariadb-server/-/merge_requests/48

[Otto Kekäläinen (otto)]

See also https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/mariadb-10.6/+bug/2011293 in 10.6 and Debian bug https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=1033234

[Otto Kekäläinen (otto)]

The fix for this in Ubuntu 24.04 is pending at https://salsa.debian.org/mariadb-team/mariadb-server/-/merge_requests/106

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

This bug was fixed in the package mariadb - 1:10.11.11-0ubuntu0.24.04.2

---------------
mariadb (1:10.11.11-0ubuntu0.24.04.2) noble-security; urgency=medium

  * Fix building with Clang on RISC-V to unblock the promotion of the
    10.11.11 upstate to Ubuntu 24.04 "Noble"
  * Backport upstream fix for INSERT SELECT on NOT NULL (Closes: #1099515)
    to fix severe regression in 10.11.11
  * Add patch to remove unnecessary capabilities from AmbientCapabilities
    and revert "Set CAP_IPC_LOCK capability if possible" to mitigate potential
    security issue in a change in 10.11.11

 -- Otto Kekäläinen <email address hidden> Fri, 21 Mar 2025 12:28:06 -0700