Apt-Get Update Fails to Fetch Files, “Temporary Failure Resolving …” Error!
Tags: ubuntu
Published: 2021-11-30 05:50:55

---
title: Apt-Get Update Fails to Fetch Files, “Temporary Failure Resolving …” Error!
published: true
date: 2021-11-25 09:38:17 UTC
tags: Ubuntu
canonical_url: https://stackallflow.com/ubuntu/apt-get-update-fails-to-fetch-files-temporary-failure-resolving-error/
---

<header>
<p><span style="font-size: 1.2em; color: initial;">apt</span></p>
</header>

```
Err http://archive.canonical.com natty InRelease    
Err http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security InRelease               
Err http://extras.ubuntu.com natty InRelease                            
Err http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security Release.gpg
  Temporary failure resolving ‘security.ubuntu.com’
Err http://archive.canonical.com natty Release.gpg
  Temporary failure resolving ‘archive.canonical.com’
Err http://extras.ubuntu.com natty Release.gpg
  Temporary failure resolving ‘extras.ubuntu.com’
Err http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric InRelease
Err http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric-updates InRelease
Err http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com natty-backports InRelease
Err http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric Release.gpg
  Temporary failure resolving ‘gb.archive.ubuntu.com’
Err http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com oneiric-updates Release.gpg
  Temporary failure resolving ‘gb.archive.ubuntu.com’
Err http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com natty-backports Release.gpg
  Temporary failure resolving ‘gb.archive.ubuntu.com’

Reading package lists... Done
W: Failed to fetch http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/oneiric/InRelease      
W: Failed to fetch http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/oneiric-updates/InRelease  
W: Failed to fetch http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/natty-backports/InRelease  
W: Failed to fetch http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/oneiric-security/InRelease  
W: Failed to fetch http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/dists/natty/InRelease  
W: Failed to fetch http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/natty/InRelease  
W: Failed to fetch http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/dists/natty/Release.gpg Temporary failure resolving ‘archive.canonical.com’
W: Failed to fetch http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/oneiric-security/Release.gpg Temporary failure resolving ‘security.ubuntu.com’
W: Failed to fetch http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/natty/Release.gpg Temporary failure resolving ‘extras.ubuntu.com’
W: Failed to fetch http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/oneiric/Release.gpg Temporary failure resolving ‘gb.archive.ubuntu.com’
W: Failed to fetch http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/oneiric-updates/Release.gpg Temporary failure resolving ‘gb.archive.ubuntu.com’
W: Failed to fetch http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/natty-backports/Release.gpg Temporary failure resolving ‘gb.archive.ubuntu.com’
W: Some index files failed to download. They have been ignored, or old ones used instead.

```

This is what I’m seeing when I try to run `sudo apt-get update`. I did an update on my instance yesterday and am now experiencing this.

#### Accepted Answer

## overview

There are two parts to your question:

- fixing _temporary resolve_ messages
- fixing the package management issues

### Temporary resolve

It is likely that this issue is either:

- temporary due to your Internet Service Provider not correctly forwarding internet naming (DNS) to either its or external DNS servers, or
- due to a change in your network has similarly blocked this naming – for example, new router/modem, reconfiguring a switch with a new configuration.

Lets look at the possible DNS resolving issues.

First, temporarily add a known DNS server to your system.

```
echo "nameserver 8.8.8.8" | sudo tee /etc/resolv.conf > /dev/null

```

Then run `sudo apt-get update`.

If this fixes your _temporary resolving_ messages then either wait for 24 hours to see if your ISP fixes the issue for you (or just contact your ISP) – or you can permanently add a DNS server to your system:

```
echo "nameserver 8.8.8.8" | sudo tee /etc/resolvconf/resolv.conf.d/base > /dev/null

```

`8.8.8.8` is Google’s own DNS server.

[source](https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/apt/+question/197664)

Another example DNS server you could use is _[OpenDNS](https://www.opendns.com/opendns-ip-addresses/)_ – for example:

```
echo "nameserver 208.67.222.222" | sudo tee /etc/resolvconf/resolv.conf.d/base > /dev/null

```

### package-management issues

In addition to the _temporary resolve_ issues – you have a few package management issues that need to be corrected – I’m assuming you have tried recently to upgrade from one Ubuntu version to the next recommended version – in your case from Natty (11.04) to Oneiric (11.10)

Open a terminal and type

```
sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

```

Look for lines that have your a different distribution name in the list than you were expecting – in your case – you have upgraded to `oneiric` but you have another release name `natty`

For example, look for lines that look like `deb http:/archive.canonical.com/ natty backports`

Add a `#` to the beginning of the line to comment it out – for example

`#deb http:/archive.canonical.com/ natty backports`

Save and re-run:

```
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

```

You should not have any more release naming errors.

At the time of writing this, possible common [release names](https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DevelopmentCodeNames) include `lucid`, `maverick`, `natty`, `oneiric`, `precise`, `quantal`, `raring`, `saucy`, `trusty`, `utopic` and `vivid`.

The post [Apt-Get Update Fails to Fetch Files, “Temporary Failure Resolving …” Error!](https://stackallflow.com/ubuntu/apt-get-update-fails-to-fetch-files-temporary-failure-resolving-error/) appeared first on [Stack All Flow](https://stackallflow.com).