[Bug 1801891] [NEW] apt update blocked/locked, processes hung for days due to avahi-browse

[TJ]

Public bug reported:

Using 18.04 I hit a problem:

$ sudo apt -o=Debug::Acquire::gpgv=true update

WARNING: apt does not have a stable CLI interface. Use with caution in
scripts.

Reading package lists...
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/apt/lists/lock - open (11: Resource temporarily unavailable)
E: Unable to lock directory /var/lib/apt/lists/


Investigating further I discovered a 3 day old cron job is hung:

$ date
Tue  6 Nov 08:50:20 GMT 2018

$ ps -efly | grep apt
S tj       31068  8492  0  80   0  1016  5384 pipe_w 08:48 pts/4    00:00:00 grep --color=auto apt
S root     31280     1  0  80   0   860  1157 -      Nov03 ?        00:00:00 /bin/sh /usr/lib/apt/apt.systemd.daily update
S root     31285 31280  0  80   0  1748  1157 -      Nov03 ?        00:00:00 /bin/sh /usr/lib/apt/apt.systemd.daily lock_is_held update
S root     31331 31285  0  80   0  8080 15493 -      Nov03 ?        00:00:00 apt-get -qq -y update
S root     31336 31331  0  80   0  5556 19025 -      Nov03 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/apt/methods/http
S root     32312 31331  0  80   0  5636 19025 -      Nov03 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/apt/methods/http
S _apt     32314 31331  0  80   0  9548 10752 -      Nov03 ?        00:00:00 /usr/bin/python /usr/share/squid-deb-proxy-client/apt-avahi-discover http://apt.postgresql.org/pub/repos/apt/dists/bionic-pgdg/InRelease
S _apt     32315 32314  0  80   0  1536 10458 -      Nov03 ?        00:00:00 avahi-browse -kprtf _apt_proxy._tcp

I've successfully installed packages using "apt install" since the date
these update processes started.

Checking the mDNS proxy command manually it returns with no result:

$ avahi-browse -kprtf _apt_proxy._tcp
$

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

-- 
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/1801891

Title:
  apt update blocked/locked, processes hung for days due to avahi-browse

Status in apt package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  Using 18.04 I hit a problem:

  $ sudo apt -o=Debug::Acquire::gpgv=true update

  WARNING: apt does not have a stable CLI interface. Use with caution in
  scripts.

  Reading package lists...
  E: Could not get lock /var/lib/apt/lists/lock - open (11: Resource temporarily unavailable)
  E: Unable to lock directory /var/lib/apt/lists/

  
  Investigating further I discovered a 3 day old cron job is hung:

  $ date
  Tue  6 Nov 08:50:20 GMT 2018

  $ ps -efly | grep apt
  S tj       31068  8492  0  80   0  1016  5384 pipe_w 08:48 pts/4    00:00:00 grep --color=auto apt
  S root     31280     1  0  80   0   860  1157 -      Nov03 ?        00:00:00 /bin/sh /usr/lib/apt/apt.systemd.daily update
  S root     31285 31280  0  80   0  1748  1157 -      Nov03 ?        00:00:00 /bin/sh /usr/lib/apt/apt.systemd.daily lock_is_held update
  S root     31331 31285  0  80   0  8080 15493 -      Nov03 ?        00:00:00 apt-get -qq -y update
  S root     31336 31331  0  80   0  5556 19025 -      Nov03 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/apt/methods/http
  S root     32312 31331  0  80   0  5636 19025 -      Nov03 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/apt/methods/http
  S _apt     32314 31331  0  80   0  9548 10752 -      Nov03 ?        00:00:00 /usr/bin/python /usr/share/squid-deb-proxy-client/apt-avahi-discover http://apt.postgresql.org/pub/repos/apt/dists/bionic-pgdg/InRelease
  S _apt     32315 32314  0  80   0  1536 10458 -      Nov03 ?        00:00:00 avahi-browse -kprtf _apt_proxy._tcp

  I've successfully installed packages using "apt install" since the
  date these update processes started.

  Checking the mDNS proxy command manually it returns with no result:

  $ avahi-browse -kprtf _apt_proxy._tcp
  $

To manage notifications about this bug go to:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/apt/+bug/1801891/+subscriptions