virtualbox-guest-utils fails to install on 20.04

[John Chittum]

Attempting to install virtualbox-guest-utils 6.1.4-dfsg-2 on ubuntu:focal (20.04) produces a broken state. Debug of `apt-get install virtualbox-guest-utils` below.

Steps to reproduce:

1. pull a fresh 20.04 image for testing (ex: lxc launch ubuntu-daily:20.04 test-container)
2. lxc exec test-container bash
3. apt update
4. apt full-upgrade
5. apt-get install virtualbox-guest-utils

Reading package lists...
Building dependency tree...
Reading state information...
Some packages could not be installed. This may mean that you have
requested an impossible situation or if you are using the unstable
distribution that some required packages have not yet been created
or been moved out of Incoming.
The following information may help to resolve the situation:

The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 glib-networking : Depends: gsettings-desktop-schemas but it is not going to be installed
 init : PreDepends: systemd-sysv but it is not going to be installed

Starting pkgProblemResolver with broken count: 1
Starting 2 pkgProblemResolver with broken count: 1
Investigating (0) systemd-timesyncd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken systemd-timesyncd:amd64 Conflicts on virtualbox-guest-utils:amd64 < none -> 6.1.4-dfsg-2 @un puN >
  Considering virtualbox-guest-utils:amd64 9998 as a solution to systemd-timesyncd:amd64 14
  Removing systemd-timesyncd:amd64 rather than change virtualbox-guest-utils:amd64
Investigating (1) systemd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken systemd:amd64 Depends on systemd-timesyncd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mR >
  Considering systemd-timesyncd:amd64 14 as a solution to systemd:amd64 59
  Added systemd-timesyncd:amd64 to the remove list
Broken systemd:amd64 Depends on time-daemon:amd64 < none @un H >
  Considering openntpd:amd64 0 as a solution to systemd:amd64 59
  Added openntpd:amd64 to the remove list
  Fixing systemd:amd64 via keep of systemd-timesyncd:amd64
  Fixing systemd:amd64 via keep of openntpd:amd64
Investigating (1) systemd-timesyncd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken systemd-timesyncd:amd64 Conflicts on virtualbox-guest-utils:amd64 < none -> 6.1.4-dfsg-2 @un puN >
  Considering virtualbox-guest-utils:amd64 9998 as a solution to systemd-timesyncd:amd64 14
  Removing systemd-timesyncd:amd64 rather than change virtualbox-guest-utils:amd64
Investigating (2) systemd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken systemd:amd64 Depends on systemd-timesyncd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mR >
  Considering systemd-timesyncd:amd64 14 as a solution to systemd:amd64 59
  Added systemd-timesyncd:amd64 to the remove list
Broken systemd:amd64 Depends on time-daemon:amd64 < none @un H >
  Considering openntpd:amd64 0 as a solution to systemd:amd64 59
  Added openntpd:amd64 to the remove list
  Fixing systemd:amd64 via keep of systemd-timesyncd:amd64
  Fixing systemd:amd64 via keep of openntpd:amd64
Investigating (2) systemd-timesyncd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken systemd-timesyncd:amd64 Conflicts on virtualbox-guest-utils:amd64 < none -> 6.1.4-dfsg-2 @un puN >
  Considering virtualbox-guest-utils:amd64 9998 as a solution to systemd-timesyncd:amd64 59
  Removing systemd-timesyncd:amd64 rather than change virtualbox-guest-utils:amd64
Investigating (3) systemd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken systemd:amd64 Depends on systemd-timesyncd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mR >
  Considering systemd-timesyncd:amd64 9998 as a solution to systemd:amd64 59
Broken systemd:amd64 Depends on time-daemon:amd64 < none @un H >
  Considering openntpd:amd64 59 as a solution to systemd:amd64 59
  Or group remove for systemd:amd64
Investigating (3) libpam-systemd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken libpam-systemd:amd64 Depends on systemd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mR > (= 245.4-2ubuntu1)
  Considering systemd:amd64 59 as a solution to libpam-systemd:amd64 23
  Removing libpam-systemd:amd64 rather than change systemd:amd64
Investigating (3) libnss-systemd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken libnss-systemd:amd64 Depends on systemd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mR > (= 245.4-2ubuntu1)
  Considering systemd:amd64 59 as a solution to libnss-systemd:amd64 14
  Removing libnss-systemd:amd64 rather than change systemd:amd64
Investigating (3) plymouth:amd64 < 0.9.4git20200323-0ubuntu6 @ii mK Ib >
Broken plymouth:amd64 Depends on systemd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mR > (>= 232-8~)
  Considering systemd:amd64 59 as a solution to plymouth:amd64 12
  Removing plymouth:amd64 rather than change systemd:amd64
Investigating (3) plymouth-theme-ubuntu-text:amd64 < 0.9.4git20200323-0ubuntu6 @ii mK Ib >
Broken plymouth-theme-ubuntu-text:amd64 Depends on plymouth:amd64 < 0.9.4git20200323-0ubuntu6 @ii mR > (= 0.9.4git20200323-0ubuntu6)
  Considering plymouth:amd64 59 as a solution to plymouth-theme-ubuntu-text:amd64 11
  Removing plymouth-theme-ubuntu-text:amd64 rather than change plymouth:amd64
Investigating (3) netplan.io:amd64 < 0.98-0ubuntu4 @ii mK Ib >
Broken netplan.io:amd64 Depends on systemd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mR > (>= 239~)
  Considering systemd:amd64 59 as a solution to netplan.io:amd64 8
  Removing netplan.io:amd64 rather than change systemd:amd64
Investigating (3) ubuntu-minimal:amd64 < 1.447 @ii mK Ib >
Broken ubuntu-minimal:amd64 Depends on netplan.io:amd64 < 0.98-0ubuntu4 @ii mR >
  Considering netplan.io:amd64 59 as a solution to ubuntu-minimal:amd64 3
  Removing ubuntu-minimal:amd64 rather than change netplan.io:amd64
Investigating (3) policykit-1:amd64 < 0.105-26ubuntu1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken policykit-1:amd64 Depends on libpam-systemd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mR >
  Considering libpam-systemd:amd64 59 as a solution to policykit-1:amd64 3
  Removing policykit-1:amd64 rather than change libpam-systemd:amd64
Investigating (3) ubuntu-standard:amd64 < 1.447 @ii mK Ib >
Broken ubuntu-standard:amd64 Depends on libpam-systemd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mR >
  Considering libpam-systemd:amd64 59 as a solution to ubuntu-standard:amd64 2
  Removing ubuntu-standard:amd64 rather than change libpam-systemd:amd64
Investigating (3) snapd:amd64 < 2.44.2+20.04 @ii mK Ib >
Broken snapd:amd64 Depends on systemd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mR >
  Considering systemd:amd64 59 as a solution to snapd:amd64 1
  Removing snapd:amd64 rather than change systemd:amd64
Investigating (3) dbus-user-session:amd64 < 1.12.16-2ubuntu2 @ii mK Ib >
Broken dbus-user-session:amd64 Depends on libpam-systemd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mR >
  Considering libpam-systemd:amd64 59 as a solution to dbus-user-session:amd64 0
  Removing dbus-user-session:amd64 rather than change libpam-systemd:amd64
Investigating (3) cloud-init:amd64 < 20.1-10-g71af48df-0ubuntu3 @ii mK Ib >
Broken cloud-init:amd64 Depends on netplan.io:amd64 < 0.98-0ubuntu4 @ii mR >
  Considering netplan.io:amd64 59 as a solution to cloud-init:amd64 -1
  Removing cloud-init:amd64 rather than change netplan.io:amd64
Investigating (4) systemd-sysv:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken systemd-sysv:amd64 PreDepends on systemd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mR >
  Considering systemd:amd64 59 as a solution to systemd-sysv:amd64 142
  Added systemd:amd64 to the remove list
Broken systemd-sysv:amd64 Depends on systemd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mR > (= 245.4-2ubuntu1)
  Considering systemd:amd64 59 as a solution to systemd-sysv:amd64 142
  Added systemd:amd64 to the remove list
  Fixing systemd-sysv:amd64 via keep of systemd:amd64
  Fixing systemd-sysv:amd64 via keep of systemd:amd64
Investigating (4) systemd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken systemd:amd64 Depends on systemd-timesyncd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mR >
  Considering systemd-timesyncd:amd64 9998 as a solution to systemd:amd64 142
Broken systemd:amd64 Depends on time-daemon:amd64 < none @un H >
  Considering openntpd:amd64 59 as a solution to systemd:amd64 142
  Added openntpd:amd64 to the remove list
  Fixing systemd:amd64 via keep of openntpd:amd64
Investigating (4) packagekit:amd64 < 1.1.13-2ubuntu1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken packagekit:amd64 Depends on policykit-1:amd64 < 0.105-26ubuntu1 @ii mR >
  Considering policykit-1:amd64 59 as a solution to packagekit:amd64 8
  Removing packagekit:amd64 rather than change policykit-1:amd64
Investigating (4) dconf-service:amd64 < 0.36.0-1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken dconf-service:amd64 Depends on default-dbus-session-bus:amd64 < none @un H >
  Considering dbus-user-session:amd64 59 as a solution to dconf-service:amd64 6
Broken dconf-service:amd64 Depends on dbus-session-bus:amd64 < none @un H >
  Considering dbus-x11:amd64 0 as a solution to dconf-service:amd64 6
  Added dbus-x11:amd64 to the remove list
  Fixing dconf-service:amd64 via keep of dbus-x11:amd64
Investigating (4) packagekit-tools:amd64 < 1.1.13-2ubuntu1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken packagekit-tools:amd64 Depends on packagekit:amd64 < 1.1.13-2ubuntu1 @ii mR > (= 1.1.13-2ubuntu1)
  Considering packagekit:amd64 59 as a solution to packagekit-tools:amd64 3
  Removing packagekit-tools:amd64 rather than change packagekit:amd64
Investigating (4) software-properties-common:amd64 < 0.98.7 @ii mK Ib >
Broken software-properties-common:amd64 Depends on packagekit:amd64 < 1.1.13-2ubuntu1 @ii mR >
  Considering packagekit:amd64 59 as a solution to software-properties-common:amd64 2
  Removing software-properties-common:amd64 rather than change packagekit:amd64
Investigating (4) ubuntu-server:amd64 < 1.447 @ii mK Ib >
Broken ubuntu-server:amd64 Depends on software-properties-common:amd64 < 0.98.7 @ii mR >
  Considering software-properties-common:amd64 59 as a solution to ubuntu-server:amd64 0
  Removing ubuntu-server:amd64 rather than change software-properties-common:amd64
Investigating (5) systemd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken systemd:amd64 Depends on systemd-timesyncd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mR >
  Considering systemd-timesyncd:amd64 9998 as a solution to systemd:amd64 142
Broken systemd:amd64 Depends on time-daemon:amd64 < none @un H >
  Considering openntpd:amd64 142 as a solution to systemd:amd64 142
  Or group remove for systemd:amd64
Investigating (5) dconf-service:amd64 < 0.36.0-1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken dconf-service:amd64 Depends on default-dbus-session-bus:amd64 < none @un H >
  Considering dbus-user-session:amd64 59 as a solution to dconf-service:amd64 6
Broken dconf-service:amd64 Depends on dbus-session-bus:amd64 < none @un H >
  Considering dbus-x11:amd64 6 as a solution to dconf-service:amd64 6
  Or group remove for dconf-service:amd64
Investigating (5) dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 < 0.36.0-1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 Depends on dconf-service:amd64 < 0.36.0-1 @ii mR > (>= 0.36.0-1)
  Considering dconf-service:amd64 6 as a solution to dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 5
  Removing dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 rather than change dconf-service:amd64
Investigating (5) gsettings-desktop-schemas:amd64 < 3.35.91-0ubuntu1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken gsettings-desktop-schemas:amd64 Depends on dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 < 0.36.0-1 @ii mR >
  Considering dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 6 as a solution to gsettings-desktop-schemas:amd64 4
Broken gsettings-desktop-schemas:amd64 Depends on gsettings-backend:amd64 < none @un H >
  Considering dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 6 as a solution to gsettings-desktop-schemas:amd64 4
  Or group remove for gsettings-desktop-schemas:amd64
Investigating (6) systemd-sysv:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken systemd-sysv:amd64 PreDepends on systemd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mR >
  Considering systemd:amd64 142 as a solution to systemd-sysv:amd64 142
  Removing systemd-sysv:amd64 rather than change systemd:amd64
Investigating (6) glib-networking:amd64 < 2.64.1-1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken glib-networking:amd64 Depends on gsettings-desktop-schemas:amd64 < 3.35.91-0ubuntu1 @ii mR >
  Considering gsettings-desktop-schemas:amd64 4 as a solution to glib-networking:amd64 10
  Added gsettings-desktop-schemas:amd64 to the remove list
  Fixing glib-networking:amd64 via keep of gsettings-desktop-schemas:amd64
Investigating (6) friendly-recovery:amd64 < 0.2.41 @ii mK Ib >
Broken friendly-recovery:amd64 Depends on systemd-sysv:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mR >
  Considering systemd-sysv:amd64 142 as a solution to friendly-recovery:amd64 5
  Removing friendly-recovery:amd64 rather than change systemd-sysv:amd64
Investigating (6) gsettings-desktop-schemas:amd64 < 3.35.91-0ubuntu1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken gsettings-desktop-schemas:amd64 Depends on dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 < 0.36.0-1 @ii mR >
  Considering dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 6 as a solution to gsettings-desktop-schemas:amd64 10
  Added dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 to the remove list
Broken gsettings-desktop-schemas:amd64 Depends on gsettings-backend:amd64 < none @un H >
  Considering dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 6 as a solution to gsettings-desktop-schemas:amd64 10
  Added dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 to the remove list
  Fixing gsettings-desktop-schemas:amd64 via keep of dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64
  Fixing gsettings-desktop-schemas:amd64 via keep of dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64
Investigating (7) init:amd64 < 1.57 @ii mK Ib >
Broken init:amd64 PreDepends on systemd-sysv:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mR >
  Considering systemd-sysv:amd64 142 as a solution to init:amd64 5107
  Added systemd-sysv:amd64 to the remove list
  Fixing init:amd64 via keep of systemd-sysv:amd64
Investigating (7) systemd-sysv:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken systemd-sysv:amd64 PreDepends on systemd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mR >
  Considering systemd:amd64 142 as a solution to systemd-sysv:amd64 5107
  Added systemd:amd64 to the remove list
Broken systemd-sysv:amd64 Depends on systemd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mR > (= 245.4-2ubuntu1)
  Considering systemd:amd64 142 as a solution to systemd-sysv:amd64 5107
  Added systemd:amd64 to the remove list
  Fixing systemd-sysv:amd64 via keep of systemd:amd64
  Fixing systemd-sysv:amd64 via keep of systemd:amd64
Investigating (7) systemd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken systemd:amd64 Depends on systemd-timesyncd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mR >
  Considering systemd-timesyncd:amd64 9998 as a solution to systemd:amd64 5107
Broken systemd:amd64 Depends on time-daemon:amd64 < none @un H >
  Considering openntpd:amd64 142 as a solution to systemd:amd64 5107
  Added openntpd:amd64 to the remove list
  Fixing systemd:amd64 via keep of openntpd:amd64
Investigating (7) dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 < 0.36.0-1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 Depends on dconf-service:amd64 < 0.36.0-1 @ii mR > (>= 0.36.0-1)
  Considering dconf-service:amd64 6 as a solution to dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 10
  Added dconf-service:amd64 to the remove list
Broken dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 Depends on dconf-service:amd64 < 0.36.0-1 @ii mR > (< 0.36.0-1.1~)
  Considering dconf-service:amd64 6 as a solution to dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 10
  Added dconf-service:amd64 to the remove list
  Fixing dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 via keep of dconf-service:amd64
  Fixing dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 via keep of dconf-service:amd64
Investigating (8) systemd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken systemd:amd64 Depends on systemd-timesyncd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mR >
  Considering systemd-timesyncd:amd64 9998 as a solution to systemd:amd64 5107
Broken systemd:amd64 Depends on time-daemon:amd64 < none @un H >
  Considering openntpd:amd64 5107 as a solution to systemd:amd64 5107
  Or group remove for systemd:amd64
Investigating (8) dconf-service:amd64 < 0.36.0-1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken dconf-service:amd64 Depends on default-dbus-session-bus:amd64 < none @un H >
  Considering dbus-user-session:amd64 59 as a solution to dconf-service:amd64 10
Broken dconf-service:amd64 Depends on dbus-session-bus:amd64 < none @un H >
  Considering dbus-x11:amd64 6 as a solution to dconf-service:amd64 10
  Added dbus-x11:amd64 to the remove list
  Fixing dconf-service:amd64 via keep of dbus-x11:amd64
Investigating (9) systemd-sysv:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken systemd-sysv:amd64 PreDepends on systemd:amd64 < 245.4-2ubuntu1 @ii mR >
  Considering systemd:amd64 5107 as a solution to systemd-sysv:amd64 5107
  Removing systemd-sysv:amd64 rather than change systemd:amd64
Investigating (9) dconf-service:amd64 < 0.36.0-1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken dconf-service:amd64 Depends on default-dbus-session-bus:amd64 < none @un H >
  Considering dbus-user-session:amd64 59 as a solution to dconf-service:amd64 10
Broken dconf-service:amd64 Depends on dbus-session-bus:amd64 < none @un H >
  Considering dbus-x11:amd64 10 as a solution to dconf-service:amd64 10
  Or group remove for dconf-service:amd64
Investigating (9) dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 < 0.36.0-1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 Depends on dconf-service:amd64 < 0.36.0-1 @ii mR > (>= 0.36.0-1)
  Considering dconf-service:amd64 10 as a solution to dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 10
  Removing dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 rather than change dconf-service:amd64
Investigating (9) gsettings-desktop-schemas:amd64 < 3.35.91-0ubuntu1 @ii mK Ib >
Broken gsettings-desktop-schemas:amd64 Depends on dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 < 0.36.0-1 @ii mR >
  Considering dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 10 as a solution to gsettings-desktop-schemas:amd64 10
Broken gsettings-desktop-schemas:amd64 Depends on gsettings-backend:amd64 < none @un H >
  Considering dconf-gsettings-backend:amd64 10 as a solution to gsettings-desktop-schemas:amd64 10
  Or group remove for gsettings-desktop-schemas:amd64
Done
E: Error, pkgProblemResolver::Resolve generated breaks, this may be caused by held packages.

[Robert C Jennings (rcj)]

systemd-timesyncd is conflicting with virtualbox-guest-utils but virtualbox-guest-utils isn't providing time-daemon... debian/control in virtualbox contains:

Package: virtualbox-guest-utils
Architecture: amd64 i386
Depends: adduser,
         pciutils,
         virtualbox-guest-dkms (= ${source:Version}) | virtualbox-guest-source (= ${source:Version}) | virtualbox-guest-modules,
         ${misc:Depends},
         ${shlibs:Depends}
#Conflicts: time-daemon, ntp
#Provides: time-daemon
#Replaces: time-daemon

[Steve Langasek (vorlon)]

The bug is in systemd-timesyncd, which has added a Conflicts: against virtualbox-guest-utils and virtualbox-guest-utils-hwe forcing their uninstallation when this is not intended. This has been corrected already in Debian in commit 02e27e24e4f84335f360c085d1e8c3f11bd12349 which we should cherry-pick.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Balint Reczey (rbalint)]

Fix released in 245.4-4ubuntu1