apt-get produces the error; exim: failed to find uid for user name "Debian-exim". Exim is an MTA or mail transport agent. Do not suggest I use Postfix please.

[Tom H]

On Mon, Dec 12, 2016 at 6:08 PM, Nate Homier <purplenate26 at gmail.com> wrote:


> Ubuntu 16.10, up to date.
>
> I had installed Exim4 and had a problem that required a reinstall.
> Reinstalling gives error.
>
> The main part of the error message is;
> exim: failed to find uid for user name "Debian-exim"
> Invalid new configfile /var/lib/exim4/config.autogenerated.tmp, not
> installing
> /var/lib/exim4/config.autogenerated.tmp to
> /var/lib/exim4/config.autogenerated
> dpkg: error processing package exim4-config (--configure):
>  subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1

Usually, maintainer scripts check for an application's user with
"getent passwd <user>".

What does "getent passwd Debian-exim" return?


> I really like Exim4 and do not like Postfix, so please do not suggest
> Postfix.

Why would anyone suggest that?!


> What should I do at this point.

1) If the getent command above doesn't return Debian-exim's passwd
entry, find the postinst "Debian-exim" creation snippet (in
"/var/lib/dpkg/info/"; my guess is that it'd be in the exim4-base
postinst), run it (just the "adduser ..." snippet, not the entire
postinst), and try your "apt-get ..."

2) If (1) doesn't work, save your exim config (if you want to do so),
purge all exim packages, and re-install exim.