recent update to intel-oneapi-runtime-opencl has broken apt on my linux system

[crobar]

I recently installed an update for the above package via apt. I get the following error:

Preparing to unpack .../intel-oneapi-runtime-opencl_2025.1.0-973_amd64.deb ...
dpkg: warning: old intel-oneapi-runtime-opencl package pre-removal script subprocess returned error exit status 2
dpkg: trying script from the new package instead ...
dpkg: error processing archive /var/cache/apt/archives/intel-oneapi-runtime-opencl_2025.1.0-973_amd64.deb (--unpack):
new intel-oneapi-runtime-opencl package pre-removal script subprocess returned error exit status 2
openCL has already registered, skipping update-alternatives ...
update-alternatives: warning: forcing reinstallation of alternative /opt/intel/oneapi/redist because link group opencl-intel-runtime is broken
Errors were encountered while processing:
/var/cache/apt/archives/intel-oneapi-runtime-opencl_2025.1.0-973_amd64.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

it seem maybe the package fails to unpack

Now apt is broken and I can't update anything n the system.

My system is running Mint Linux 21.1 (which is based on Ubuntu 22.04)

How do I fix this?

[crobar]

The root cause of the problem is the pre-removal script which contains a silly error, and some crazy stuff which I hope is removed in the new version.

I mean this script

/var/lib/dpkg/info/intel-oneapi-runtime-opencl.prerm

the script fails because it sets set -e in the body, but also contains the following function at the top

remove_alternative() {
    update-alternatives --display "$1" &>/dev/null
    if [ $? = 0 ]; then
        update-alternatives --remove "$1" "$2"
    else
        echo "Alternative for $1 is not found, skipping ..."
    fi
}

when the following command in this function returns a non-zero exit code the script exits and returns that exit code:

update-alternatives --display "$1" &>/dev/null

​

Now, as for the crazy stuff, there's also the following snippet:

if [ -e "/etc/OpenCL/vendors" ] ; then
    rmdir --ignore-fail-on-non-empty "/etc/OpenCL/vendors" 2>/dev/null
    rmdir --ignore-fail-on-non-empty "/etc/OpenCL" 2>/dev/null
    if [ -z "$(ls -A /etc)" ] ; then
        rmdir "/etc" 2>/dev/null
    fi
fi

So there's some possibility this script will decide to just go delete /etc !!!!  WTF?

[crobar · Accepted solution]

For anyone else struggling with this, replace the script mentioned in the previous post with something like the following and you will be able to fix your installation. I also comment out the dangerous "rmdir /etc" to avoid that possibility.

#!/bin/bash

# Copyright Intel Corporation.
#
# This software and the related documents are Intel copyrighted materials,
# and your use of them is governed by the express license under which they
# were provided to you ("License"). Unless the License provides otherwise,
# you may not use, modify, copy, publish, distribute, disclose or transmit
# this software or the related documents without Intel's prior written
# permission.
#
# This software and the related documents are provided as is, with no express
# or implied warranties, other than those that are expressly stated in the
# License.

INSTALL_DIR=/opt/intel/oneapi/redist

#
#   If post-install script failed to install alternative, uninstalling package also fails, because
#   'update-alternatives' cannot remove non-existing alternative. Let us check the alternative
#   exists before removing it.
#
#remove_alternative() {
#    update-alternatives --display "$1" &>/dev/null
#    if [ $? = 0 ]; then
#        update-alternatives --remove "$1" "$2"
#    else
#        echo "Alternative for $1 is not found, skipping ..."
#    fi
#}

remove_alternative() {
    if update-alternatives --display "$1" &>/dev/null; then
        update-alternatives --remove "$1" "$2"
    else
        echo "Alternative for $1 is not found, skipping ..."
    fi
}

set -e

LIB_OPENCL_SO=`find "${INSTALL_DIR}" -name "libOpenCL.so"`

if [ "${LIB_OPENCL_SO}" ]; then
    remove_alternative opencl-libOpenCL.so  "${LIB_OPENCL_SO}"
fi

LIB_INSTALL_DIR="${INSTALL_DIR}"
remove_alternative opencl-intel-runtime "${LIB_INSTALL_DIR}"

if [ -e "/etc/OpenCL/vendors" ] ; then
    rmdir --ignore-fail-on-non-empty "/etc/OpenCL/vendors" 2>/dev/null
    rmdir --ignore-fail-on-non-empty "/etc/OpenCL" 2>/dev/null
    if [ -z "$(ls -A /etc)" ] ; then
#        rmdir "/etc" 2>/dev/null
    fi
fi

exit 0

[captainabernathy]

consider changing....

if [ -e "/etc/OpenCL/vendors" ] ; then
    rmdir --ignore-fail-on-non-empty "/etc/OpenCL/vendors" 2>/dev/null
    rmdir --ignore-fail-on-non-empty "/etc/OpenCL" 2>/dev/null
    if [ -z "$(ls -A /etc)" ] ; then
#        rmdir "/etc" 2>/dev/null
    fi
fi

to...

if [ -e "/etc/OpenCL/vendors" ] ; then
    rmdir --ignore-fail-on-non-empty "/etc/OpenCL/vendors" 2>/dev/null
    rmdir --ignore-fail-on-non-empty "/etc/OpenCL" 2>/dev/null
#    if [ -z "$(ls -A /etc)" ] ; then
#        rmdir "/etc" 2>/dev/null
#    fi
fi

just bc some shell's might get cranky

[crobar]

Thanks, here's the full updated script for my own reference and others:

#!/bin/bash

# Copyright Intel Corporation.
#
# This software and the related documents are Intel copyrighted materials,
# and your use of them is governed by the express license under which they
# were provided to you ("License"). Unless the License provides otherwise,
# you may not use, modify, copy, publish, distribute, disclose or transmit
# this software or the related documents without Intel's prior written
# permission.
#
# This software and the related documents are provided as is, with no express
# or implied warranties, other than those that are expressly stated in the
# License.

INSTALL_DIR=/opt/intel/oneapi/redist

#
#   If post-install script failed to install alternative, uninstalling package also fails, because
#   'update-alternatives' cannot remove non-existing alternative. Let us check the alternative
#   exists before removing it.
#
#remove_alternative() {
#    update-alternatives --display "$1" &>/dev/null
#    if [ $? = 0 ]; then
#        update-alternatives --remove "$1" "$2"
#    else
#        echo "Alternative for $1 is not found, skipping ..."
#    fi
#}

remove_alternative() {
    if update-alternatives --display "$1" &>/dev/null; then
        update-alternatives --remove "$1" "$2"
    else
        echo "Alternative for $1 is not found, skipping ..."
    fi
}

set -e

LIB_OPENCL_SO=`find "${INSTALL_DIR}" -name "libOpenCL.so"`

if [ "${LIB_OPENCL_SO}" ]; then
    remove_alternative opencl-libOpenCL.so  "${LIB_OPENCL_SO}"
fi

LIB_INSTALL_DIR="${INSTALL_DIR}"
remove_alternative opencl-intel-runtime "${LIB_INSTALL_DIR}"

if [ -e "/etc/OpenCL/vendors" ] ; then
    rmdir --ignore-fail-on-non-empty "/etc/OpenCL/vendors" 2>/dev/null
    rmdir --ignore-fail-on-non-empty "/etc/OpenCL" 2>/dev/null
#    if [ -z "$(ls -A /etc)" ] ; then
#        rmdir "/etc" 2>/dev/null
#    fi
fi

exit 0

[Deeksha_S_Intel]

Hi Richard, we hope you are doing great!

Could you kindly confirm whether your issue has been resolved, or if you require further assistance from Intel®? This will enable us to investigate further or direct your request to the higher team for additional assistance.

Have a great day ahead!

[crobar]

The immediate problem is solved for me personally, but the general issue should be escalated to the development team for investigation.

[Deeksha_S_Intel]

Hi Richard, thank you for your response.

We would like to inform you that we are routing your query to the dedicated team for further assistance.

[cw_intel]

Thanks for your investigation. We have reported the issue to the related team and will let you know when we have any updates.

[crobar]

New update has been pushed out, and the issue is still present, and broken my package manager again.