mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

JLloyd13 · 2012-06-24 12:37:46

just did my second install of arch and pacman fails to fetch xorg and alsa etc. saying error: failed to open file /var/lib/pacman/(filename) I have no idea whats going on here, frist install worked fine. the only thing i can think of is maybe the mirror isnt working, I used ftp@dal, canada. any help is very much welcome

Trilby · 2012-06-24 13:54:54

I think there are two separate issues here - one a non-issue.

On a new install, when you first run `pacman -Syu` (you did that right), you should get messages saying that the database files don't exist yet. This is fine, this is pacman's first run, it will create the databases. If something may have gone wrong and you had to change your mirror list, `pacman -Syy` will get the databases back in sync.

The other issue is ftp. Ftp mirrors cause many headaches. The simple solution is don't use them.

Update your mirror list, run pacman -Syyu, then continue as usual.

JLloyd13 · 2012-06-24 15:01:33

thanks, ill switch to a http mirror run pacman Syy and get back to u

Last edited by JLloyd13 (2012-06-24 15:01:45)

JLloyd13 · 2012-06-24 15:43:34

i switched it http@dal using nano but still get errors when running -Syy, -Syu, or -Syyu. I expected this thou so ran pacman -S sudo. it will resolve dependces ask me to continue but then fail to retrieve file. im stuck

Trilby · 2012-06-24 15:57:33

Post the actual errors.

JLloyd13 · 2012-06-24 18:03:09

[root@A880GZ ~]# pacman -S sudo
resolving dependencies . . .
looking for inter-conflicts . . .

Targets (1) : sudo-1.8.1.p2-1

Total Download Size:        0.37  MB
Total Installed Size:          1.36  MB

Proceed with installation? [Y/n] y
: : Retrieving packages from core . . .
error:  falied retrieving file 'sudo-1.8.1.p2-1-x86_ 64.pkg.tar.xz' from mirror.its.dal.ca  :No address record
warning: failed to retrieve some files from core
error:  failed to commit transaction (No address record) 
Errors occurred, no packages were upgraded

Last edited by JLloyd13 (2012-06-24 23:33:16)

DarkCerberus · 2012-06-24 18:37:33

Have you done pacman-key --init & pacman-key --populate archlinux - this was enabled by the devs awhile ago and it's required for installing packages.

jasonwryan · 2012-06-24 18:51:50

Please use code tags: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Fo … s_and_Code

And you may want to look at the wiki and use a mirror tool like reflector...

JLloyd13 · 2012-06-24 22:10:57

ill fix my post as soon as i figure out how to use that.

how am i supposed to use reflector if i cant install packages?

@darkcerberus i pulled the pacman-key wiki page and it said all i need to do to disable it is to uncomment this line siglevel never in /etc/pacman.conf but in /etc/pacman.conf im seeing no such option. also the frist time i install arch about a month ago on a netinstall i never had to edit this file for that reason. also this problem didnt happen the frist time

Trilby · 2012-06-24 22:24:55

I suspect your mirrorlist is not properly formatted. Can you post that please.

Put the file contents in

code tags like these.

Hit the quote button on my post to see how these work.

Here is an example excerpt taken verbatim from my mirrorlist.

Server = http://mirror.rit.edu/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = http://mirror.us.leaseweb.net/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch

Last edited by Trilby (2012-06-24 22:27:11)

JLloyd13 · 2012-06-24 23:32:51

Trilby wrote:

I suspect your mirrorlist is not properly formatted. Can you post that please.
Put the file contents in
code tags like these.
Hit the quote button on my post to see how these work.
Here is an example excerpt taken verbatim from my mirrorlist.
Server = http://mirror.rit.edu/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = http://mirror.us.leaseweb.net/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch

ok i see how that works now. so what im i supposed to do to properly format my mirrorlist? you have to excuse my newbness im relitivly new to arch.

Trilby · 2012-06-24 23:36:46

? First post it so we can see if it is properly done. Do the entries in it look similar to those two examples? If not it may need to be edited.

JLloyd13 · 2012-06-25 02:37:32

How do i see my mirror list entrys? Do you meen the config file? Am i supposed to have two mirrors?

Trilby · 2012-06-25 02:39:33

/etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist

It's the file you should have changed to get rid of the ftp sites. Which file did you edit??

jasonwryan · 2012-06-25 02:40:22

JLloyd13 wrote:

How do i see my mirror list entrys? Do you meen the config file? Am i supposed to have two mirrors?

Maybe you should do a little reading before you go any further: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Mirrors

JLloyd13 · 2012-06-25 23:27:12

I have fixed the problem! i did two things, and im not sure what was the one that did it. frist of all i picked 5 mirrors vs two, second of all i listed my closest mirror in pacman.conf. thanks for all the help, i can now contimue to install my system

Trilby · 2012-06-25 23:29:53

Glad it's working, but you shouldn't put the mirror directly in pacman.conf. If you do, then your mirrorlist is irrelevant.

Pacman conf should just point to the mirrorlist. You can put the closest one first in your mirrorlist - pacman attempts to connect to them in order and only goes on to the second if the first fails (and to the third if the first two fail, etc).

Also note that closest isn't always best. But if it works, great, get rolling. But once up and running you'll probably want to check out reflector which will make a mirrorlist of those mirrors that are best for you (most up to date, fastest, etc).

Last edited by Trilby (2012-06-25 23:31:08)

JLloyd13 · 2012-06-26 01:33:17

well, it sort of works. first of all i hit pacman -Syu, it asks me to update pacman first. i say yes. then it picks up the couple package before failing to pick up the rest. any idea? i ran -Syy. also when it fails to get the package at http@dal (listed in pacman.conf)when it fails after the first couple, it then tries all the mirrors listed in pacman.d/mirrorlist and fails on them too (after having got all the first couple on http@dal no prob) i have no idea, is there something i havn'nt synced up yet? also trilby pacman is using the mirrors listed in pacman.d/mirrors after it tries the one listed in pacman.conf. i left pacman.d/mirrorlist listed in pacman.conf, just with my closest mirror between (Server = http://its... etc.)

Last edited by JLloyd13 (2012-06-26 01:36:31)

jasonwryan · 2012-06-26 01:37:17

Trilby wrote:

Post the actual errors.

JLloyd13 · 2012-06-26 20:29:27

now it wont fetch any files.

pacman -Syu
error: failed retrieving file 'file A' from mirror A : No address record
error: failed retrieving 'file A' from mirror B :
No address record

it will do this for all my mirrors before giving up and moving to file B, where it does the same thing. i have run this multiple times and the network on the other os (its dual booted) works fine. also the fact that it did load some of the files last night tells my the network is working here to

Trilby · 2012-06-26 20:33:51

OK, this was a very small step in the right direction: you posted the error ... but was that the actual error? Did it really say 'file A' from mirror A, or is that a shorthand you are using?

Either way I also asked for you to post your mirror list so we could see what you have done to it. I'm quite confident now the error is in your mirror list and/or pacman.conf. IF you post those files (the actual content of those files, not a description or interpretation of them) then and only then will anyone be able to help you.

Last edited by Trilby (2012-06-26 20:34:12)

Inxsible · 2012-06-26 20:50:40

that's some real patience right there Trilby.

JLloyd13 · 2012-06-27 01:01:53

Trilby wrote:

OK, this was a very small step in the right direction: you posted the error ... but was that the actual error? Did it really say 'file A' from mirror A, or is that a shorthand you are using?
Either way I also asked for you to post your mirror list so we could see what you have done to it. I'm quite confident now the error is in your mirror list and/or pacman.conf. IF you post those files (the actual content of those files, not a description or interpretation of them) then and only then will anyone be able to help you.

how can i when i have no software installed? yes that is shorthand. and currently its failing on all files. i can hand type all these files in but it will take some time. if im missing something because im new, please say so.

Trilby · 2012-06-27 01:10:52

How much software do you need? This has been discussed in several threads, and undoubtedly on the wiki:

You could use links or which ever web browser comes with the base install. You could use curl/wget. You can use the pastebin script floating around. Even in the absence of any network connectivity you can use 'cp' and a flash drive. You clearly have a computer which you can use to post to the forums.

There is no magic here. If you want solutions, we need information.

Inxsible wrote:

that's some real patience right there Trilby.

I think it just ran out.

Last edited by Trilby (2012-06-27 01:13:15)

jasonwryan · 2012-06-27 01:18:52

You got to post #24 though:

Arch Linux

#1 2012-06-24 12:37:46

mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

#2 2012-06-24 13:54:54

Re: mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

#3 2012-06-24 15:01:33

Re: mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

#4 2012-06-24 15:43:34

Re: mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

#5 2012-06-24 15:57:33

Re: mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

#6 2012-06-24 18:03:09

Re: mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

#7 2012-06-24 18:37:33

Re: mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

#8 2012-06-24 18:51:50

Re: mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

#9 2012-06-24 22:10:57

Re: mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

#10 2012-06-24 22:24:55

Re: mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

#11 2012-06-24 23:32:51

Re: mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

#12 2012-06-24 23:36:46

Re: mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

#13 2012-06-25 02:37:32

Re: mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

#14 2012-06-25 02:39:33

Re: mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

#15 2012-06-25 02:40:22

Re: mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

#16 2012-06-25 23:27:12

Re: mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

#17 2012-06-25 23:29:53

Re: mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

#18 2012-06-26 01:33:17

Re: mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

#19 2012-06-26 01:37:17

Re: mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

#20 2012-06-26 20:29:27

Re: mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

#21 2012-06-26 20:33:51

Re: mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

#22 2012-06-26 20:50:40

Re: mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

#23 2012-06-27 01:01:53

Re: mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

#24 2012-06-27 01:10:52

Re: mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

#25 2012-06-27 01:18:52

Re: mirror error? pacman failing to fetch xorg/alsa etc.

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