[SOLVED] Upgrading an old arch box

cmmps · 2020-08-17 13:27:01

Hi

I'm having troubles trying to update an old box with arch linux. The box is not being updated for some years.

First I bumped into the changes from .xz to .zst. Then I tried to update just pacman and got into another issue:

pacman: /usr/lib/libc.so.6: version `GLIBC_2.27' not found (required by pacman)

Then I tried to boot with the most recent image. Mounted the partitions and performed a

pacstrap /mnt base linux linux-headers

After that I entered in chroot to make sure to apply the new kernel by running

mkinitcpio -p linux

After reboot, the GLBIC issue remains. I prefer not to format the box, as I was using it as a server and there will be a lot to do, specially with a postgresql database that I first need to backup.

Any ideas?

Best regards,

Last edited by cmmps (2020-08-17 14:56:25)

graysky · 2020-08-17 13:40:10

For years of time, you will be facing an uphill battle from what I have read based on other posts of this type. As I recall, the advice is to just reinstall but if you want to try it out, the general recommendation is to step through the ALA in time increments that coincide with Arch News announcement of manual intervention required.

EDIT:

ALA = https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Arch_Linux_Archive
Arch News = https://www.archlinux.org/news/

Last edited by graysky (2020-08-17 13:41:03)

schard · 2020-08-17 13:43:21

Just perform the upgrade with the pacman version from the installation medium and the --sysroot parameter.
The cause of your current problem is most likely the partial upgrade to a newer pacman version that was built against a new libc, which has not yet been upgraded.
This is the reason, why partial upgrades are not supported.

Scimmia · 2020-08-17 13:48:49

From that error, we're talking over two and a half years? Really, just reinstall, it'll be quicker and less painful.

Trilby · 2020-08-17 14:10:10

I agree to reinstall - but if not obvious, you should be able to take a few steps that will help maintain the system more-or-less as it is (just updated). Check the wiki page about migrating systems to generate a list of explicitly installed packages. Assuming you have a seperate home partition, store the list in $HOME, don't touch the home partition during the reinstall, then after reinstalling the base system, you can install all the formerly installed packages from the list.

Pair this with backups of any relevant system-wide configs and it should be a relatively painless transition.

cmmps · 2020-08-17 14:56:04

Thank you all for your advises. As I said, the box as been using as a server and the most complicated things would be to setup everything again. There are not much packages installed and I don't even use X. Just command line.

@schard - Thank you very much! Your tip just saved my day! With some other tweeks, --cachedir, --config, etc.. I was able to update most of the packages.

I still have to handle just a few more packages to complete my updates!

EDIT: pacman is now working fine!

Best regards,

Last edited by cmmps (2020-08-17 14:57:40)

Arch Linux

#1 2020-08-17 13:27:01

[SOLVED] Upgrading an old arch box

#2 2020-08-17 13:40:10

Re: [SOLVED] Upgrading an old arch box

#3 2020-08-17 13:43:21

Re: [SOLVED] Upgrading an old arch box

#4 2020-08-17 13:48:49

Re: [SOLVED] Upgrading an old arch box

#5 2020-08-17 14:10:10

Re: [SOLVED] Upgrading an old arch box

#6 2020-08-17 14:56:04

Re: [SOLVED] Upgrading an old arch box

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