Update errors including unmet dependencies

Linux Support
42

I just installed Metacity desktop and rebooted. The result was no internet access as before so I repeated the actions we’ve done and am back on line straight away.
When I did apt install systemd-resolved --fix-missing part of the response was:

Configuration file ‘/etc/systemd/resolved.conf’
==> File on system created by you or by a script.
==> File also in package provided by package maintainer.
What would you like to do about it ? Your options are:
Y or I : install the package maintainer’s version
N or O : keep your currently-installed version
D : show the differences between the versions
Z : start a shell to examine the situation
The default action is to keep your current version.
*** resolved.conf (Y/I/N/O/D/Z) [default=N] ? y
Installing new version of config file /etc/systemd/resolved.conf …
Converting /etc/resolv.conf to a symlink to /run/systemd/resolve/stub-resolv.conf…
Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/sysinit.target.wants/systemd-resolved.service → /usr/lib/systemd/system/systemd-reso
lved.service.
Processing triggers for dbus (1.14.10-4ubuntu4.1) …
Processing triggers for man-db (2.12.0-4build2) …
root@E5570:/home/keith#

where I opted to install the package-maintainer’s version of /etc/systemd/resolved.conf and it worked fine. It remains to be seen if a reboot fails again, but I’ll report back. So far, though, all looks well.

I can’t begin to really understand what I’ve been doing, and I am really grateful for your help.

43

Ok, so the system maintains it’s own template for “/etc/resolv.conf” which “it” tweaks based on a whole load of other factors. The system actually uses “/etc/resolve.conf”, so the “systemd” package maintains a link (/etc/resolve.conf) to it’s own generated version.

This implements a “let the system look after it” policy, which is great so long as it works.

When you access a URL (gb.archive.ubuntu.com, linux.co.uk, whatever) then the name means nothing to the computer as the Internet runs on numerical addresses. So the system can only function if it has the ability to convert said names into said addresses. /etc/resolv.conf tells the system where to find the service that will convert names into numbers. Without it, nothing works, at least nothing network name related.

44

That’s helpful, MP, - I think! I find it all very mysterious but I’m up and running.
My thanks once more.
Keith