Apt-get errors


Forum: Apt-get
Topic: Apt-get errors
started by: vocabulaic

Posted by vocabulaic on Nov. 13 2003,04:14
Using 0.4.10 on a hd-install, I have enabled apt-get via the pages' operation.

Now, however, when running apt-get install ANYTHING I get: "E: Cannot get debconf version. Is debconf installed?" I even tried "apt-get install debconf" --- same thing. "dpkg: can't mmap package info file '/var/lib/dpkg/available: No such device"

Any suggestions or tweaking to get apt-get to work? I'm remaking my server and need to get samba and httpd up as soon as possible! :)

Posted by Henk on Nov. 13 2003,21:17
Well my guess is that you have to do something with your sources.list file.

you can find this file at /etc/apt/sources.list
it defines the hosts where it is trying to download the files from

my sources.list lookes like

Code Sample

    deb  ftp://ftp.debian.org/debian/                     testing        main        contrib        non-free
    deb  ftp://debian.secsup.org/pub/linux/debian/        testing        main        contrib        non-free
    deb http://mirror.direct.ca/pub/linux/debian/         testing        main        contrib        non-free
    deb http://http.us.debian.org/debian                  testing        main        contrib        non-free
    deb http://non-us.debian.org/debian-non-US     testing/non-US        main        contrib        non-free
deb-src  ftp://ftp.debian.org/debian/                     testing        main        contrib        non-free
deb-src  ftp://debian.secsup.org/pub/linux/debian/        testing        main        contrib        non-free
deb-src http://http.us.debian.org/debian                  testing        main        contrib        non-free
deb-src http://mirror.direct.ca/pub/linux/debian/         testing        main        contrib        non-free
deb-src http://non-us.debian.org/debian-non-US     testing/non-US        main        contrib        non-free


the words testing mean that it actually gets the latest versions, meaning not always the most stable ones. good enough for me:)

Posted by vocabulaic on Nov. 13 2003,21:47
definitely not sources, as I'm using the same custom sources list from when I was running Lirabranet on Debian Secure... I touched available ot make it show up, but still had greater problems with dpkg and debconf. Went ahead and just wiped the HD... trying to find any debian-based thing I can instll as all I need on this computer is httpd/vsftp/iptables/tripwire/samba - Figured I could use DSL and cut out some of the X stuff I don't need, but after having seen how much of a PITA it would turn into to truly secure it (easy as heck to get into root -- if anyone is at my terminals) I'm trying other solutions...

oh well.

Posted by KevB on Nov. 14 2003,13:54
Quote (vocabulaic @ Nov. 13 2003,16:47)
I'm trying other solutions...

Why not just install Debian? Install the base system, in order to boot, then use apt-get to add the services/apps you need.
Posted by vocabulaic on Nov. 14 2003,16:59
I have yet to get a network .iso of debian to properly boot (this is a very finicky old system) - and have yet to find any mirror for the regular full .iso's that I get more than 3kb/sec to. Since I have to get this finished set up by tomorrow I may have to resort to hunting more.
Posted by KevB on Nov. 14 2003,19:15
Did you try www.linuxiso.org?

If you use a download manager such as GetRight you will be able to search for faster alternatives also.

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