[Bug 1762766] [NEW] apt-get update hangs when apt-transport-https is not installed

[Graham Leggett]

Public bug reported:

When "apt-get update" is run on a docker container running Ubuntu v16.04
and containing an additional apt source repository hosted on an https
webserver, the "apt-get update" command hangs.

The hang happens after connections to http ubuntu hosts are complete,
and apt-get remains stuck on "Working" at 0%. Removing the sources file
for the https repo causes apt-get to complete normally.

The source file contains 4 separate entries to 4 different repos on the
same https server. When the source file is modified so that just *one*
entry exists to one repo on the https server, we suddenly get a sensible
error message that tells us that apt-transport-https needs to be
installed.

Installing apt-transport-https into the docker container before adding
the sources list to the https servers works around the problem and
sanity returns.

Key notes:

- The use of docker isn't related to the bug, except that the docker
image doesn't contain the apt-transport-https package whereas our cloud
images do contain this package by default. This can give the impression
that this is a docker bug when it's not.

- The hang in "apt-get update" seems to occur when the sources file
contains more than one entry in the file. When just one entry exists in
the file (and all other entries are commented out) a sensible error
messages appears.

- We encountered this on a host that didn't support cut and paste, sorry
:(

** Affects: apt (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New

** Summary changed:

- apt-get update hangs when apt-transport-https is no installed
+ apt-get update hangs when apt-transport-https is not installed

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1762766

Title:
  apt-get update hangs when apt-transport-https is not installed

Status in apt package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  When "apt-get update" is run on a docker container running Ubuntu
  v16.04 and containing an additional apt source repository hosted on an
  https webserver, the "apt-get update" command hangs.

  The hang happens after connections to http ubuntu hosts are complete,
  and apt-get remains stuck on "Working" at 0%. Removing the sources
  file for the https repo causes apt-get to complete normally.

  The source file contains 4 separate entries to 4 different repos on
  the same https server. When the source file is modified so that just
  *one* entry exists to one repo on the https server, we suddenly get a
  sensible error message that tells us that apt-transport-https needs to
  be installed.

  Installing apt-transport-https into the docker container before adding
  the sources list to the https servers works around the problem and
  sanity returns.

  Key notes:

  - The use of docker isn't related to the bug, except that the docker
  image doesn't contain the apt-transport-https package whereas our
  cloud images do contain this package by default. This can give the
  impression that this is a docker bug when it's not.

  - The hang in "apt-get update" seems to occur when the sources file
  contains more than one entry in the file. When just one entry exists
  in the file (and all other entries are commented out) a sensible error
  messages appears.

  - We encountered this on a host that didn't support cut and paste,
  sorry :(

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