How To Solve Error: “E: Could not get lock /var/cache/apt/archives/lock – open (11: Resource temporarily unavailable) E: Unable to lock directory /var/cache/apt/archives/” On Debian 7 or Ubuntu
Today I have keep getting an annoying error when I try to install some libraries.
"E: Could not get lock /var/cache/apt/archives/lock - open (11: Resource temporarily unavailable) E: Unable to lock directory /var/cache/apt/archives/"
This is the first time i got this error and i don't have any clue how to solve this. I googled a bit and found the solution after spending almost an hour. I wanted to share.
Problem:
Here what i did to install to python libraries.
# apt-get install python-twisted
Sample output:
Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done The following extra packages will be installed: python-crypto python-openssl python-pam python-pkg-resources python-pyasn1 python-serial python-twisted-bin python-twisted-conch python-twisted-core python-twisted-lore python-twisted-mail python-twisted-names python-twisted-news python-twisted-runner python-twisted-web python-twisted-words python-zope.interface Suggested packages: python-crypto-dbg python-crypto-doc python-openssl-doc python-openssl-dbg python-distribute python-distribute-doc doc-base python-wxgtk2.8 python-wxgtk2.6 python-wxgtk python-twisted-bin-dbg python-tk python-gtk2 python-glade2 python-qt3 python-twisted-runner-dbg The following NEW packages will be installed: python-crypto python-openssl python-pam python-pkg-resources python-pyasn1 python-serial python-twisted python-twisted-bin python-twisted-conch python-twisted-core python-twisted-lore python-twisted-mail python-twisted-names python-twisted-news python-twisted-runner python-twisted-web python-twisted-words python-zope.interface 0 upgraded, 18 newly installed, 0 to remove and 65 not upgraded. E: Could not get lock /var/cache/apt/archives/lock - open (11: Resource temporarily unavailable) E: Unable to lock directory /var/cache/apt/archives/
Solution:
If you encounter with the same error, do the following steps.
Run the following command to unlock the apt package managers.
# rm /var/cache/apt/archives/lock
Now update the sources list using command:
# apt-get update
Finally try again to install the packages you want.
# apt-get install python-twisted
Sample output:
Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done The following extra packages will be installed: python-crypto python-openssl python-pam python-pkg-resources python-pyasn1 python-serial python-twisted-bin python-twisted-conch python-twisted-core python-twisted-lore python-twisted-mail python-twisted-names python-twisted-news python-twisted-runner python-twisted-web python-twisted-words python-zope.interface Suggested packages: python-crypto-dbg python-crypto-doc python-openssl-doc python-openssl-dbg python-distribute python-distribute-doc doc-base python-wxgtk2.8 python-wxgtk2.6 python-wxgtk python-twisted-bin-dbg python-tk python-gtk2 python-glade2 python-qt3 python-twisted-runner-dbg The following NEW packages will be installed: python-crypto python-openssl python-pam python-pkg-resources python-pyasn1 python-serial python-twisted python-twisted-bin python-twisted-conch python-twisted-core python-twisted-lore python-twisted-mail python-twisted-names python-twisted-news python-twisted-runner python-twisted-web python-twisted-words python-zope.interface 0 upgraded, 18 newly installed, 0 to remove and 65 not upgraded. Need to get 3,697 kB of archives. After this operation, 16.9 MB of additional disk space will be used. Do you want to continue [Y/n]?
Voila! Now the package manager lock has been released and you'll be able to install the packages without any issues.