Wrong FQDN after disconnected CD Install of precise beta1 - package postfix 2.8.7-1ubuntu2 failed to install/upgrade

[Ralf Heiringhoff]

Summary: postfix fails to install due to wrong FQDN set during disconnect CD installation of precise beta1

Hi all,

last night I've reinstalled my laptop using the ubuntu-12.04-beta1-alternate-amd64.iso, during the installation I've chosen to configure my network later (laptop; no wireless at the time) and it seems that this caused the installer to generate a "<myhostname>.(null)" entry for /etc/hosts.

------------------cut------------------
Setting up postfix (2.8.7-1ubuntu2) ...
Adding group `postfix' (GID 125) ...
Done.
Adding system user `postfix' (UID 115) ...
Adding new user `postfix' (UID 115) with group `postfix' ...
Not creating home directory `/var/spool/postfix'.
Creating /etc/postfix/dynamicmaps.cf
Adding tcp map entry to /etc/postfix/dynamicmaps.cf
Adding group `postdrop' (GID 126) ...
Done.
setting myhostname: think.(null)
setting alias maps
setting alias database
changing /etc/mailname to think.frosty-geek.net
setting myorigin
setting destinations: think.frosty-geek.net, think.(null), localhost.(null), localhost
setting relayhost:
setting mynetworks: 127.0.0.0/8 [::ffff:127.0.0.0]/104 [::1]/128
setting mailbox_size_limit: 0
setting recipient_delimiter: +
setting inet_interfaces: loopback-only
setting default_transport: error
setting relay_transport: error
/etc/aliases does not exist, creating it.
WARNING: /etc/aliases exists, but does not have a root alias.

Postfix is now set up with a default configuration. If you need to make
changes, edit
/etc/postfix/main.cf (and others) as needed. To view Postfix configuration
values, see postconf(1).

After modifying main.cf, be sure to run '/etc/init.d/postfix reload'.

Running newaliases
newaliases: warning: valid_hostname: invalid character 40(decimal): think.(null)
newaliases: fatal: file /etc/postfix/main.cf: parameter myhostname: bad parameter value: think.(null)
dpkg: error processing postfix (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 75
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ralf@think:~$ cat /etc/hosts
127.0.0.1 localhost
127.0.1.1 think.(null) think

# The following lines are desirable for IPv6 capable hosts
::1 ip6-localhost ip6-loopback
fe00::0 ip6-localnet
ff00::0 ip6-mcastprefix
ff02::1 ip6-allnodes
ff02::2 ip6-allrouters

ralf@think:~$ hostname
think
ralf@think:~$ hostname -f
think.(null)

ralf@think:~$ cat /etc/mailname
think.frosty-geek.net
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ralf@think:~$ cat /etc/postfix/main.cf
# See /usr/share/postfix/main.cf.dist for a commented, more complete version

# Debian specific: Specifying a file name will cause the first
# line of that file to be used as the name. The Debian default
# is /etc/mailname.
#myorigin = /etc/mailname

smtpd_banner = $myhostname ESMTP $mail_name (Ubuntu)
biff = no

# appending .domain is the MUA's job.
append_dot_mydomain = no

# Uncomment the next line to generate "delayed mail" warnings
#delay_warning_time = 4h

readme_directory = no

# TLS parameters
smtpd_tls_cert_file=/etc/ssl/certs/ssl-cert-snakeoil.pem
smtpd_tls_key_file=/etc/ssl/private/ssl-cert-snakeoil.key
smtpd_use_tls=yes
smtpd_tls_session_cache_database = btree:${data_directory}/smtpd_scache
smtp_tls_session_cache_database = btree:${data_directory}/smtp_scache

# See /usr/share/doc/postfix/TLS_README.gz in the postfix-doc package for
# information on enabling SSL in the smtp client.

myhostname = think.(null)
alias_maps = hash:/etc/aliases
alias_database = hash:/etc/aliases
myorigin = /etc/mailname
mydestination = think.frosty-geek.net, think.(null), localhost.(null), localhost
relayhost =
mynetworks = 127.0.0.0/8 [::ffff:127.0.0.0]/104 [::1]/128
mailbox_size_limit = 0
recipient_delimiter = +
inet_interfaces = loopback-only
default_transport = error
relay_transport = error
------------------cut------------------

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: postfix 2.8.7-1ubuntu2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-18.28-generic 3.2.9
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-18-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 1.94.1-0ubuntu1
Architecture: amd64
Date: Fri Mar 9 10:11:50 2012
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 75
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Beta amd64 (20120301)
SourcePackage: postfix
Title: package postfix 2.8.7-1ubuntu2 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 75
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Scott Kitterman (kitterman)]

Postfix failing to configure without a valid hostname is by design and not a bug. The installer is where this needs to be addressed.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

This bug was fixed in the package netcfg - 1.68ubuntu14

---------------
netcfg (1.68ubuntu14) precise; urgency=low

  * Fix detection of empty domains when writing to /etc/hosts in the case
    where there is no static IP address (LP: #950664).
 -- Colin Watson <email address hidden> Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:06:35 +0000

[Colin Watson (cjwatson)]

The /etc/hosts line in question should of course just have been "127.0.1.1 think". You'll probably need to fix this by hand.