[clug] apt-get problem :-S

[Nemo -earth native-]

I got this the other day

Reason for problem: apt allocates a static sized block of memory and if
the packages and release files it downloads from the sources.list exceed
that memory, kaput bang - you get what you see there. 

Simple solution: comment out a few lines in your sources.list and try
again

'Better' solution: check out `man apt.conf` and look for the
'Cache-Limit options


When I first saw this I considered it a bug - shoulnd't your package
management program be SUPER robust? and besides, having a static memory
size like that assumes a level of knowing the maximum possible size of
the next debian release...

However, having it allocate memory dynamically as needed could be a
security risk - do you really trust a file on a remote site to determine
memory usage on your local machine? (try gzipping a few gig of null's to
get an idea of how a malicious packages.gz file could hurt ;)

er, I think that's answered for you now? :)

(PS: make sure you have the latest apt-get - the default limit has
probably been increased since the version you have anyways, due to
exactly this ;)

.../Nemo




On Fri, Feb 13, 2004 at 11:31:21PM +1100, Cody Miller did utter:
> hi
> sorry bout this 
> 
> here is the problem 
> 
> <-------------- OOPS -------------->
> Reading Package Lists... Error!
> E: Dynamic MMap ran out of room
> E: Dynamic MMap ran out of room
> E: Dynamic MMap ran out of room
> E: Error occured while processing le (NewVersion1)
> E: Problem with MergeList
> /var/lib/apt/lists/mirror.pacific.net.au_debian_dists_stable_main_binary-i386_Packages
> E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.
> <-------------- OOPS -------------->
> 
> i am new to debian 
> 
> help much appreciated

-- 
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                                                    earth native