[Bug 346386] [MASTER] Update fails with invalid package files with "Encountered a section with no Package: header"

[Edward Goldstick]

Hello,

I do not understand the origin of either this message or the one that
motivated it because I did not send the latter even if my email address
is attached to it.  I have occasionally received updates and queries
about the original bug, so perhaps there is something strange going on
somewhere...

Fwiw (and thanks again for your diligence with these problems in the
first place...)

Ed (ejgoldstick at gmail.com)

On Jun 1, 2012, at 8:37 AM, papukaija wrote:

> This bug is fixed. Please open a new bug if you still have issues with
> apt. Thanks.
> 
> -- 
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to a
> duplicate bug report (802061).
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/346386
> 
> Title:
>  [MASTER] Update fails with invalid package files with "Encountered a
>  section with no Package: header"
> 
> Status in “apt” package in Ubuntu:
>  Fix Released
> Status in “apt” source package in Natty:
>  Fix Released
> Status in “apt” package in Debian:
>  Fix Released
> 
> Bug description:
>  Binary package hint: adept-updater
> 
>  Pertinent data printed when attempting to run Updater as follows:
> 
>  An unresolvable problem occurred while initializing the package
>  information.
> 
>  Please report this bug against the 'update-manager' package and
>  include the following error message:
> 
>  'E:Encountered a section with no Package: header, E:Problem with
>  MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/us.archive.ubuntu
>  .com_ubuntu_dists_intrepid_universe_binary-amd64_Packages, E:The
>  package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.'
> 
>  WORKAROUND:
>  Remove problematic files from /var/lib/apt/lists/ and rerun apt-get update.
> 
>  In the event that one is connected to a network with a proxy server
>  that returns html pages (like a web page requesting you to login) and
>  not package list files.   Those html files will get downloaded to
>  /var/lib/apt/lists/ and prevent someone from using a package manager
>  until the problem html pages are removed.
> 
>  TEST CASE:
>  1) Ensure /etc/apt/sources.list points to archive.ubuntu.com
>  2) Setup proxy server to block access to archive.ubuntu.com and return something like http://people.canonical.com/~brian/tmp/not-packages.html
>  3) Execute 'sudo apt-get update' in a terminal
>  4) Observe the following:
>  'E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
>   E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_natty_main_binary-amd64_Packages
>   E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.'
>  5) Try 'apt-cache policy apt' and be sad that it doesn't work
>  6) run 'sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/*Packages' to clear the error.
> 
>  With the proposed package installed repeat steps 1 to 3.
>  4) Observe the following:
>  ''Get:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com oneiric InRelease [189 B]
>  Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com oneiric InRelease
>  E: GPG error: http://archive.ubuntu.com oneiric InRelease: The following signatures were invalid: NODATA 1 NODATA 2'
>  5) Try 'apt-cache policy apt' and be happy that it works
> 
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/apt/+bug/346386/+subscriptions

-- 
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu
Foundations Bugs, which is subscribed to apt in Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/346386

Title:
  [MASTER] Update fails with invalid package files with "Encountered a
  section with no Package: header"

Status in “apt” package in Ubuntu:
  Fix Released
Status in “apt” source package in Natty:
  Fix Released
Status in “apt” package in Debian:
  Fix Released

Bug description:
  Binary package hint: adept-updater

  Pertinent data printed when attempting to run Updater as follows:

  An unresolvable problem occurred while initializing the package
  information.

  Please report this bug against the 'update-manager' package and
  include the following error message:

  'E:Encountered a section with no Package: header, E:Problem with
  MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/us.archive.ubuntu
  .com_ubuntu_dists_intrepid_universe_binary-amd64_Packages, E:The
  package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.'

  WORKAROUND:
  Remove problematic files from /var/lib/apt/lists/ and rerun apt-get update.

  In the event that one is connected to a network with a proxy server
  that returns html pages (like a web page requesting you to login) and
  not package list files.   Those html files will get downloaded to
  /var/lib/apt/lists/ and prevent someone from using a package manager
  until the problem html pages are removed.

  TEST CASE:
  1) Ensure /etc/apt/sources.list points to archive.ubuntu.com
  2) Setup proxy server to block access to archive.ubuntu.com and return something like http://people.canonical.com/~brian/tmp/not-packages.html
  3) Execute 'sudo apt-get update' in a terminal
  4) Observe the following:
  'E: Encountered a section with no Package: header
   E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_natty_main_binary-amd64_Packages
   E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.'
  5) Try 'apt-cache policy apt' and be sad that it doesn't work
  6) run 'sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/*Packages' to clear the error.

  With the proposed package installed repeat steps 1 to 3.
  4) Observe the following:
  ''Get:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com oneiric InRelease [189 B]
  Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com oneiric InRelease
  E: GPG error: http://archive.ubuntu.com oneiric InRelease: The following signatures were invalid: NODATA 1 NODATA 2'
  5) Try 'apt-cache policy apt' and be happy that it works

To manage notifications about this bug go to:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/apt/+bug/346386/+subscriptions