[Bug 1610361] Re: /usr/bin/deb-systemd-helper: error: systemctl preset failed on samba-ad-dc.service: No such file or directory

[Poru]

I just received the same error message upgrading from 2:4.5.8+dfsg-
0ubuntu0.17.04.3 on Ubuntu 17.04:

Setting up samba (2:4.5.8+dfsg-0ubuntu0.17.04.4) ...
Failed to preset unit: Unit file /etc/systemd/system/samba-ad-dc.service is masked.
/usr/bin/deb-systemd-helper: error: systemctl preset failed on samba-ad-dc.service: No such file or directory

To someone that isn't a "samba installation process expert", but who
understands plain English, this message is very clear: The installer
attempted to do something but it failed and as a result an error
occurred. Thus, even if Samba appears superficially to be working, it
may not be. It might have caused some subtle problem that will come back
to bite later.

So, irrespective of exit status; if, as described above, this message
does NOT actually indicate an error condition (because some other action
intended to achieve the same thing succeeded), then the fact that it is
displayed at all is a bug. For as long as it's there, people like me
will keep spending time investigating and reporting it in places like
this. It should be fixed so as not to waste everyone's time; even if
that does just involve outputting a message like "About to try something
as a fallback in case a previous step failed. A 'systemctl preset failed
message' is expected so please ignore it." first.

In post #7 Nish mentions that the installer is attempting "two ways that
the package is using to ensure the specific service is masked". What the
installer should really be doing is testing whether each of these
attempts succeeded and only outputting an error message if both fail
(and probably also, only trying the second method if the first failed).
Perhaps this is technically difficult or even impossible to achieve, I
don't know, but it seems that ought to be the solution.

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1610361

Title:
  /usr/bin/deb-systemd-helper: error: systemctl preset failed on samba-
  ad-dc.service: No such file or directory

Status in samba package in Ubuntu:
  Incomplete

Bug description:
  This is an error seen with that version upgrade; so the apport
  questions can be ignored as this is an upgrade issue, not a using
  problem.

  Unpacking samba (2:4.4.5+dfsg-2ubuntu3) over (2:4.4.5+dfsg-2ubuntu1)
  ...

  ....

  Setting up samba (2:4.4.5+dfsg-2ubuntu3) ...
  Failed to preset unit: Unit file /etc/systemd/system/samba-ad-dc.service is masked.
  /usr/bin/deb-systemd-helper: error: systemctl preset failed on samba-ad-dc.service: No such file or directory

  note: the previous 4.4.5+dfsg-2ubuntu1 upgrade over 4.3.9+dfsg-
  0ubuntu1 was clean. These two upgrades has been made on the same
  session (no reboot); so this can be related if systemd expect some
  activation(s) not made by the previous upgrade.

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.10
  Package: samba 2:4.4.5+dfsg-2ubuntu3
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.7.0-0.3-generic 4.7.0
  Uname: Linux 4.7.0-0-generic x86_64
  NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_uvm nvidia_drm nvidia_modeset nvidia
  ApportVersion: 2.20.3-0ubuntu5
  Architecture: amd64
  CurrentDesktop: GNOME
  Date: Fri Aug  5 19:30:09 2016
  RelatedPackageVersions:
   nautilus 1:3.20.1-3ubuntu1~yakkety1
   gvfs     1.28.2-1ubuntu1
  SambaClientRegression: Yes
  SourcePackage: samba
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

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