Ubuntu
update-manager package

Update Manager finds suggested updates but will not download/install them?!?

Asked by Paul deSerres

I'm stuck in an endless loop of trying to run the Update Manager for Ubuntu 10.10. When I open the U.M, it finds numerous needed (?) updates, including several "Important Security Updates", "Recommended Updates", and "Other Updates" - for a total of 117 suggested updates.

Then when I click the "Install Updates" button, I have to enter my password to "Authenticate" this action: I then get the message "Requires installation of untrusted packages - The action would require the installation of packages from not authenticated sources", which appears to abort the entire update procedure. Clicking on the "Details" button of that warning box produces this (cryptic) information:

"libnm-glib2 libnm-util1 mobile-broadband-provider-info modemmanager network-manager network-manager-gnome network-manager-pptp network-manager-pptp-gnome"

After this message, the update process of downloading and installing aborts.

I found the update that included that file, unchecked it, and tried to "Install Updates" again. It then found another "untrusted" update file, and produced another warning box. Unchecked that update as well. This same issue happened 2 more times, until Update Manager seemed to be satisfied that I was not going to download any "untrusted" updates - that U.M. had suggested in the first place?!?

U.M. now appears to be downloading 64.1 Mb of updates, but I'll only believe it's actually going to update anything when it's actually done doing so!

Please forgive my noob question - just trying to study up for my Linux coursework - but is there a workaround for this issue?

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freedomrun
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PeterPall (peterpall) said : 		#1

No noob question at all. The answer is as follows:

The list of all available packages is kept in separate file on the server for every section of packages (Universe, Multiverse, Proposed updates, Security updates,...).
The hash values that make sure that these lists are authentic are kept in a separate file on the server.

If your computer does complain about "untrusted" sources this means that at least one of these files could not be downloaded from the server. And if you cannot update to the newest version of a package - since you don't see it in the list of packages - that might block the entire update process.

So try to choose a different mirror for your updates, press the "refresh" button - and hope everything works out fine.

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Paul deSerres (pds318) said : 		#2

PeterPall:

Thanks for the quick response! I guess the only question I have remaining is how one goes about choosing a different mirror source from which to obtain updates?

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Best freedomrun (freedomrun) said : 		#3

You can choose a different mirror source from which to obtain updates by going to Administration menu, then Software Sources, then Download from: -> Other - Select Best Server and the system will do that for you

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Paul deSerres (pds318) said : 		#4

Thanks Nafterburner:

Two issues:

1) For some reason there is no "Software Sources" option under my Administration menu. What I have are: Add'l Drivers, Computer Janitor, Disk Utility, Language Support, Logfile Viewer, Login Screen, Network Tools, Printing, Startup Disk Creator, Synaptic Package Manager, System Monitor, System Testing, Time and Date, Update Manager, and Users and Groups.

2) I've been losing my internet connection each time the machine is shut down. I managed to get Auto Etho configured by using the "wired" tab of "Auto Ethernet" working yesterday by entering the computer's MAC address into both the "Device MAC Address & "Cloned MAC Address" boxes, but this only worked until I shut the machine down overnight.

As this Ubuntu OS has had so many issues running on VMware Player (unreliable internet connection, date/time changes to different settings than when originally set up, etc. - I'm beginning to wonder if I got a bad Ubuntu 10.10 download.

Thanks so much for the help! - Paul

Please accept my apologies for posting these questions here if I should have instead begun a new thread.

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Paul deSerres (pds318) said : 		#5

Edit:

Any tips on how to configure Network Connections to connect reliably and automatically? I'm using a Netgear WNR-1000 router connected to a Verizon Westell 6100 DSL modem. The host computer has no problems staying online.

Again, please accept my apologies for posting these questions here if I should have instead begun a new thread.

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PeterPall (peterpall) said : 		#6

No tip on that. But the menu entry for software properties is part of the software-properties-gtk package.

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Paul deSerres (pds318) said : 		#7

OK, I got that, and found several available servers, including one from Duke University (http://archive.linux.duke.edu/ubuntu) right nearby.

If I could just get my internet connection working again, I'd be set. If anyone has any advice regarding my Internet Connections settings, I'm all ears.

Thanks! Paul