[Bug 1742695] [NEW] apt-get update silently fails fetching security updates

[Roman Fiedler]

Public bug reported:

On Ubuntu Xenial, apt-get fails silently when security update server
cannot be reached. This state could be detected by scanning the apt-get
output afterwards. But manually adding workarounds to each apt-get
invocation in production automation is prone to error, thus leaving
machines without security updates.

Expected behaviour (e.g.):
* 0 - all OK
* 1 - temporary failure (e.g. network)
* 2 - permanent failure


Test:
* Change your update server IP in /etc/hosts to something unreachable
* Run apt-get update (might take a while)
* Check exit status


$ lsb_release -r -d
Description:    Ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS
Release:        16.04
rfiedler at n3ahit1403:~$ 

ii  apt                                 1.2.24
amd64        commandline package manager

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

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1742695

Title:
  apt-get update silently fails fetching security updates

Status in apt package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  On Ubuntu Xenial, apt-get fails silently when security update server
  cannot be reached. This state could be detected by scanning the apt-
  get output afterwards. But manually adding workarounds to each apt-get
  invocation in production automation is prone to error, thus leaving
  machines without security updates.

  Expected behaviour (e.g.):
  * 0 - all OK
  * 1 - temporary failure (e.g. network)
  * 2 - permanent failure

  
  Test:
  * Change your update server IP in /etc/hosts to something unreachable
  * Run apt-get update (might take a while)
  * Check exit status

  
  $ lsb_release -r -d
  Description:    Ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS
  Release:        16.04
  rfiedler at n3ahit1403:~$ 

  ii  apt                                 1.2.24
  amd64        commandline package manager

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