Failed dist-upgrade due to udev CONFIG_SYSFS_DEPRECATED nonsense

bgoodr · 04-25-2010, 02:35 PM

I was on Debian Lenny and needed to get to CUPS 1.4.2 or above which required an upgrade to Debian Squeeze. During the apt-get dist-upgrade, I ran into this snag:

Code:

Preparing to replace udev 0.125-7+lenny3 (using .../archives/udev_151-3_i386.deb) ...


Since release 150, udev requires that support for the CONFIG_SYSFS_DEPRECATED
feature is disabled in the running kernel.

Please upgrade your kernel before or while upgrading udev.

AT YOUR OWN RISK, you can force the installation of this version of udev
WHICH DOES NOT WORK WITH YOUR RUNNING KERNEL AND WILL BREAK YOUR SYSTEM
AT THE NEXT REBOOT by creating the /etc/udev/kernel-upgrade file.
There is always a safer way to upgrade, do not try this unless you
understand what you are doing!


dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/udev_151-3_i386.deb (--unpack):
 subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1

No matter what I tried, including trying to use various calls to aptitude, it refused to let me get past it. I even tried doing what it said to do by upgrading the kernel, but it still kept coming back with that error message.

I ended up giving in and just downloading the Debian 5.0.4 Network Install CD ISO's and reloading it from scratch. So, this post is to warn others that the Debian dist-upgrade from Lenny to Squeeze is broken by udev.

bg

j1alu · 04-25-2010, 02:42 PM

As long as you first upgrade the kernel, boot into the newer one and run the upgrade and dist-upgrade after that it does work.

bgoodr · 04-25-2010, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j1alu

As long as you first upgrade the kernel, boot into the newer one and run the upgrade and dist-upgrade after that it does work.

But that doesn't help much after the system gets into that bad state. No matter what I tried, neither apt-get nor aptitude would comply without stopping dead in its tracks with that same message indicating upgrading the kernel.

Now, granted, there might have been some combination of apt-get + dpkg + aptitude commands I could have issued, but hours of Googling only turned up "pastebins" for the error but no backreferences to any solutions.

But, just in case I encounter this upon the next attempt at a apt-get dist-upgrade, what is the apt-get command just to upgrade the kernel and that will fix that udev dependency problem?

bg

j1alu · 04-25-2010, 03:03 PM

Yes, sure it ain't of help after that happened. It was just info for others.
I had that problem in vbox and it took me hours and hours and a lot of luck to get it sorted.
I can see your anger, a very annoying problem.

perhaps something like:
apt-get install linux-image-2.6-32-i386
I am not on Debian right now. Just do:
apt-cache search linux-image
and pick a higher one. The backports-kernel would work too.

Of course: as far i know.

j1alu · 04-25-2010, 03:07 PM

PS:
Best might be to wait till forums.debian.net is up again. There are some threads and a short how-to about the problem.

bgoodr · 04-25-2010, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j1alu

PS:
Best might be to wait till forums.debian.net is up again. There are some threads and a short how-to about the problem.

Good advice.

Actually, the Network installer for Debian is really messed up right now too (http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...29#post3947329 happened to me). This sort of nastiness is why I dumped Fedora for Debian. But now I am having to upgrade because CUPS 1.4.2+ is what I need for a new printer.

bg