error: while setting up the build environment: getting attributes of path '/etc/hosts': Permission denied #41651

magnetophon · 2018-06-07T22:54:32Z

I get the above error when I nixos-rebuild.

Technical details

system: "x86_64-linux"
host os: Linux 4.16.11, NixOS, 18.09pre140958.696c6bed4e8 (Jellyfish)
multi-user?: no
sandbox: yes
version: nix-env (Nix) 2.0.2
channels(bart): ""
channels(root): "nixos"
warning: Nix search path entry '$HOME/.nix-defexpr/channels' does not exist, ignoring
nixpkgs: /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos

The text was updated successfully, but these errors were encountered:

ryantm · 2018-06-09T17:58:43Z

@magnetophon Can you provide a log of the nixos-rebuild and a copy of your configuration.nix file?

magnetophon · 2018-06-09T19:20:31Z

@ryantm here is the config, and here's the log:

bash -x nixos-rebuild test -I nixpkgs=$NIXPKGS                                                                                                                                           [21:18:23]
+ '[' -x /nix/store/xn5gv3lpfy91yvfy9b0i7klfcxh9xskz-bash-4.4-p19/bin/bash ']'
+ export SHELL=/nix/store/xn5gv3lpfy91yvfy9b0i7klfcxh9xskz-bash-4.4-p19/bin/bash
+ SHELL=/nix/store/xn5gv3lpfy91yvfy9b0i7klfcxh9xskz-bash-4.4-p19/bin/bash
+ set -e
+ origArgs=("$@")
+ extraBuildFlags=()
+ action=
+ buildNix=1
+ fast=
+ rollback=
+ upgrade=
+ repair=
+ profile=/nix/var/nix/profiles/system
+ buildHost=
+ targetHost=
+ '[' 3 -gt 0 ']'
+ i=test
+ shift 1
+ case "$i" in
+ '[' test = dry-run ']'
+ action=test
+ '[' 2 -gt 0 ']'
+ i=-I
+ shift 1
+ case "$i" in
+ j=nixpkgs=/home/bart/source/nixpkgs/
+ shift 1
+ extraBuildFlags+=("$i" "$j")
+ '[' 0 -gt 0 ']'
+ '[' -z '' -a -n '' ']'
+ '[' '' = localhost ']'
+ '[' '' = localhost ']'
+ '[' -z test ']'
+ canRun=
+ '[' test = switch -o test = boot -o test = test ']'
+ canRun=1
+ '[' -n '' -a -z '' ']'
+ '[' -z '' ']'
+ export PATH=/nix/store/j86jzz7hmcy305xn6zx33933zshi2v2i-nix-2.0.2/bin:/home/bart/bin:/run/wrappers/bin:/home/bart/.nix-profile/bin:/nix/var/nix/profiles/default/bin:/run/current-system/sw/bin:/etc/profiles/per-user/bart/bin
+ PATH=/nix/store/j86jzz7hmcy305xn6zx33933zshi2v2i-nix-2.0.2/bin:/home/bart/bin:/run/wrappers/bin:/home/bart/.nix-profile/bin:/nix/var/nix/profiles/default/bin:/run/current-system/sw/bin:/etc/profiles/per-user/bart/bin
+ '[' -z '' -a -n 1 -a -z '' ']'
++ nix-build --no-out-link --expr 'with import <nixpkgs/nixos> {}; config.system.build.nixos-rebuild' -I nixpkgs=/home/bart/source/nixpkgs/
warning: Nix search path entry '$HOME/.nix-defexpr/channels' does not exist, ignoring
+ p=/nix/store/swlmjq8mjvpiibhjwx98dpgm785b9xwd-nixos-rebuild
+ export _NIXOS_REBUILD_REEXEC=1
+ _NIXOS_REBUILD_REEXEC=1
+ exec /nix/store/swlmjq8mjvpiibhjwx98dpgm785b9xwd-nixos-rebuild/bin/nixos-rebuild test -I nixpkgs=/home/bart/source/nixpkgs/
building Nix...
warning: Nix search path entry '$HOME/.nix-defexpr/channels' does not exist, ignoring
building the system configuration...
warning: Nix search path entry '$HOME/.nix-defexpr/channels' does not exist, ignoring
these derivations will be built:
  /nix/store/6hrl08b0ia0lvvvqvjxwv7hcgn25xrmj-guitarix2-0.37.1.tar.xz.drv
  /nix/store/0ly37fsnc9q7lz8smigwqj40c8l2bqg9-guitarix-0.37.1.drv
  /nix/store/gcbx6dqkbnsc9jkc14yf3mbdswr0rzn3-nixos-version.drv
  /nix/store/imzvfkm9r5n0vvbrayydpys2lfxw9d71-source.drv
  /nix/store/xjs1fvf3iwzsbl1408d66cpg9yprq1x2-xdg-utils-1.1.2.drv
  /nix/store/sv2r436b3992r5jpl19fr62lfcmqb1d7-system-path.drv
  /nix/store/1c46xr0w96h0q2afwfdd3l1d59clydjq-set-environment.drv
  /nix/store/1cljgc43nrnwr5rld7f8ppfdmav2w3f9-etc-zshenv.drv
  /nix/store/24m1pskvjad9bxin8clba0ijvwmlwylg-issue.drv
  /nix/store/f5rl254zrzsalq6wjy1apqimvc7w8slp-etc-profile.drv
  /nix/store/v126bhnq18kby5hn75769p1vip86s5q5-dbus-1.drv
  /nix/store/hr6sciqagjbhfclvhvyc341w8031ycy4-unit-dbus.service.drv
  /nix/store/n62zdk8q1dgd7ilpj56yzfa2lai3m126-unit-systemd-fsck-.service.drv
  /nix/store/zid39l515xnn7gigk483m9x53z90j0rn-unit-polkit.service.drv
  /nix/store/m0nm3dplapfqj0kmfkjnrjqd82sfw6r6-system-units.drv
  /nix/store/ifc24563dlx2him5hxfilhii6h42v26b-unit-emacs.service.drv
  /nix/store/qwspf8ibagapaza4amm3vpc0rw19fz0g-user-units.drv
  /nix/store/2wlh49cjv8ah81d6d9k8iag92n2x41zj-etc.drv
  /nix/store/gfdv5jrl8ax7xbm9x7b86i6ahkw3m1im-nixos-system-thinknix-18.09.git.696c6be.drv
building '/nix/store/24m1pskvjad9bxin8clba0ijvwmlwylg-issue.drv'...
building '/nix/store/gcbx6dqkbnsc9jkc14yf3mbdswr0rzn3-nixos-version.drv'...
error: while setting up the build environment: getting attributes of path '/etc/hosts': Permission denied

magnetophon · 2018-07-05T14:33:18Z

Does anyone have an idea what's going on here?
I just tried to upgrade to the latest nixos-unstable, but am still getting this error.

ryantm · 2018-07-05T16:16:44Z

@magnetophon Thank you for trying the latest nixos-unstable. A suggestion I have for you is to try simplifying your configuration until you figure out which part of it is causing the error. You could start by combining all your configuration into one file and then remove half of it and binary search your way to what line is causing the problem.

magnetophon · 2018-07-09T16:44:02Z

Status update: I've been able to update my system by commenting out certain pkgs:

m32edit
musnix kernel (which earlier I have been able to build on this system in the period where I was having this problem)

I havent found a link between these pkgs yet.

ryantm · 2018-07-09T17:26:47Z

Are you still getting the same error message?

magnetophon · 2018-07-09T21:57:15Z

@ryantm Yes I am.
I just tried updating a pkg in my local nixpkgs, and got it again when I ran nixos-rebuild.

Also, as a user,I tried:

nix-env -f $NIXPKGS -i clipster
installing 'clipster-2.0.0'
these derivations will be built:
  /nix/store/rcdg9dab82vc1vqzk4qhvr5lx91jwi7x-source.drv
  /nix/store/4n3m6615w9cq9n5dz61ah2fb4l04gjad-clipster-2.0.0.drv
error: while setting up the build environment: getting attributes of path '/etc/hosts': Permission denied

ryantm · 2018-07-09T23:01:42Z

What is the output of ls -la /etc/hosts for your system?

For me, it's:

[ryantm@machine:~/p/nixpkgs]$ ls -la /etc/hosts  
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 17 Jun  5 21:44 /etc/hosts -> /etc/static/hosts

magnetophon · 2018-07-10T16:26:47Z

@ryantm
I get:

ls -la /etc/hosts
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 17  9 jul 18:46 /etc/hosts -> /etc/static/hosts

magnetophon · 2018-07-13T09:05:34Z

Another odd thing about this:
NixOS will rebuild a rt kernel just fine, but when I put a new version number of it in nixpkgs, I get the above error.

magnetophon · 2018-07-17T19:37:23Z

@ryantm I've simplified my configuration to the maximum, and stil get the same error, as long as I include one of the affected packages.
I'm building with nixos-rebuild test -I nixos-config=/home/me/test.nix -I nixpkgs=$NIXPKGS

This nixpkgs has a new version and hash for ir.lv2.
Without that, it doesn't build either, but that's because of library incompatibilities.

The content of test.nix is:

{pkgs, config, ...}: with pkgs;
{
  fileSystems =
  {
    "/" =
    {
      device = "/dev/mapper/VolGroup-nixos";
      fsType = "ext4";
      options = [ "relatime" "errors=remount-ro" "discard" ];
    };
    "/home" =
    { device = "/dev/mapper/VolGroup-home";
      fsType = "ext4";
      options = [ "relatime" "errors=remount-ro" "discard" ];
    };
  };

  swapDevices = [{
    device = "/dev/mapper/VolGroup-swap";
  }];

  boot.loader.systemd-boot.enable = true;

  environment.systemPackages = [    ir.lv2 ];
}

The output is:

nixos-rebuild test -I nixos-config=/home/bart/test.nix -I nixpkgs=$NIXPKGS                                                                                                               [21:25:54]
warning: Nix search path entry '$HOME/.nix-defexpr/channels' does not exist, ignoring
building Nix...
warning: Nix search path entry '$HOME/.nix-defexpr/channels' does not exist, ignoring
building the system configuration...
warning: Nix search path entry '$HOME/.nix-defexpr/channels' does not exist, ignoring
trace: warning: You don't have `system.nixos.stateVersion` explicitly set. Expect things to break.
these derivations will be built:
  /nix/store/nsalgsff163hzh63nqd6h9q916w06x0g-source.drv
  /nix/store/3n7hzab254q4mq65ly9593mj68v4aqj8-ir.lv2-1.2.4.drv
  /nix/store/ahhcn3scpzwwvs6ddfd64hwxir4ibfa3-system-path.drv
  /nix/store/2pidp87ir57gvhq3hl7qgrswwpa1c6nl-dbus-1.drv
  /nix/store/9fjg194j29lkfnxdwispy3c30ii3jsl3-hwdb.bin.drv
  /nix/store/1klbk9dj3i9s97by9alfxhyg3kf2r950-unit-script.drv
  /nix/store/1r4xjanizabchqzkb8dnb2p9mfj2bdkw-unit-post-resume.service.drv
  /nix/store/5hdw4znjv9nh7pppsrzndl4y04rhk564-unit-polkit.service.drv
  /nix/store/6i1bhbv7n8xy1mb9z5n58ij1868ny37r-unit-systemd-fsck-.service.drv
  /nix/store/lzviz5pkyfb3msnk5f2lncd17c5b3s88-unit-dbus.service.drv
  /nix/store/kfplkadmas91fvdwwiywya786bv3fvmm-unit-script.drv
  /nix/store/qhdghd2689r31jw0zfyss5ylj2vwr4n6-unit-pre-sleep.service.drv
  /nix/store/zdh0cc75n3xrapjjq0iqnqjmhkgajka2-firewall-stop.drv
  /nix/store/1w7j7gh0n9gz68plskjq9sdhml1pj2lq-firewall-reload.drv
  /nix/store/zsy80j1zsf77fz9fmldai4dn00hywida-unit-firewall.service.drv
  /nix/store/lpskpfrrsw2dmjfvzibxh9ilrff00mv0-system-units.drv
  /nix/store/46f6sgdck8j0498qnblyg2h4iiq6pig8-unit-dbus.service.drv
  /nix/store/wmqmzspnp4lhx1b8cmfp5khim56h4dqd-user-units.drv
  /nix/store/3jp4w9dnnir6fpyxl4d2fcay80gd7gsj-etc.drv
  /nix/store/623aa959y1kvnfhbsz69byhps8v8h221-stage-1-init.sh.drv
  /nix/store/530yqs4gmxcmigm2gbby6rsgpzam2bym-initrd.drv
  /nix/store/0byxkzclx6a6h44a9vkwkv4jkc68c1dh-nixos-system-nixos-18.09.git.dae9cf6.drv
building '/nix/store/9fjg194j29lkfnxdwispy3c30ii3jsl3-hwdb.bin.drv'...
building '/nix/store/zdh0cc75n3xrapjjq0iqnqjmhkgajka2-firewall-stop.drv'...
building '/nix/store/1klbk9dj3i9s97by9alfxhyg3kf2r950-unit-script.drv'...
building '/nix/store/kfplkadmas91fvdwwiywya786bv3fvmm-unit-script.drv'...
Adding hwdb files for package /nix/store/mhjpsx24jwm660rkcf43yrm2kww8q8y9-systemd-238
error: while setting up the build environment: getting attributes of path '/etc/hosts': Permission denied

I also get the error if I change

environment.systemPackages = [    ir.lv2 ];

into:

  environment.systemPackages = [    m32edit ];
  nixpkgs.config.allowUnfree = true;

and build without -I nixpkgs=$NIXPKGS.

How can I continue troubleshooting?

ryantm · 2018-07-18T13:47:07Z

@magnetophon How about we try using the --show-trace option with nixos-rebuild?

magnetophon · 2018-07-18T20:15:44Z

@ryantm Thanks, but unfortunately that doesn't tell us much:

nixos-rebuild test --show-trace -I nixos-config=/home/bart/test.nix -I nixpkgs=$NIXPKGS

warning: Nix search path entry '$HOME/.nix-defexpr/channels' does not exist, ignoring
building Nix...
warning: Nix search path entry '$HOME/.nix-defexpr/channels' does not exist, ignoring
building the system configuration...
warning: Nix search path entry '$HOME/.nix-defexpr/channels' does not exist, ignoring
trace: warning: You don't have `system.nixos.stateVersion` explicitly set. Expect things to break.
these derivations will be built:
  /nix/store/nsalgsff163hzh63nqd6h9q916w06x0g-source.drv
  /nix/store/3n7hzab254q4mq65ly9593mj68v4aqj8-ir.lv2-1.2.4.drv
  /nix/store/ahhcn3scpzwwvs6ddfd64hwxir4ibfa3-system-path.drv
  /nix/store/2pidp87ir57gvhq3hl7qgrswwpa1c6nl-dbus-1.drv
  /nix/store/5hdw4znjv9nh7pppsrzndl4y04rhk564-unit-polkit.service.drv
  /nix/store/6i1bhbv7n8xy1mb9z5n58ij1868ny37r-unit-systemd-fsck-.service.drv
  /nix/store/lzviz5pkyfb3msnk5f2lncd17c5b3s88-unit-dbus.service.drv
  /nix/store/lpskpfrrsw2dmjfvzibxh9ilrff00mv0-system-units.drv
  /nix/store/46f6sgdck8j0498qnblyg2h4iiq6pig8-unit-dbus.service.drv
  /nix/store/wmqmzspnp4lhx1b8cmfp5khim56h4dqd-user-units.drv
  /nix/store/3jp4w9dnnir6fpyxl4d2fcay80gd7gsj-etc.drv
  /nix/store/0byxkzclx6a6h44a9vkwkv4jkc68c1dh-nixos-system-nixos-18.09.git.dae9cf6.drv
error: while setting up the build environment: getting attributes of path '/etc/hosts': Permission denied

ryantm · 2018-07-19T03:17:05Z

Sorry, I don't have any other ideas. I see you don't have the stateVersion set, but I'm not sure how that would be relevant. Maybe try posting on the forum. Or asking on IRC.

ryantm · 2018-07-19T03:36:09Z

You could try installing your configuration on another machine or virtual machine and see if there is some state-based issue.

magnetophon · 2018-07-19T06:21:49Z

@ryantm Thanks.

Now we know it isn't config-related, It would have to be a state-based issue, wouldn't it?
I don't have a VM set up right now, and I'm online via sketchy mobile data, so no easy way to test.

If it is a state-based issue, would I have to reinstall my machine, or is there another way?

magnetophon · 2018-08-17T09:50:38Z

@ryantm I had some HW issues in the meantime, but now I'm back in buisiness, and on a decent net pipe.

The debugging continues.

magnetophon · 2018-08-17T10:58:29Z

Currently I'm running nix-store --verify --check-contents --repair, and it's finding and repairing lots of modified paths.
I think my old ssd was broken, and hope that after this repair, my NixOS will be healthy again...

magnetophon · 2018-08-17T11:17:50Z

That didn't fix it, unfortunately.

magnetophon · 2018-08-18T16:05:18Z

Turns out that my issue was this line, which links /etc/hosts to a file in my user home dir.
Thanks to @LnL7 for providing the fix on IRC!

chrissound · 2019-12-18T22:27:23Z

I got this same error when I by accident added my ssh private key to the sandbox (file permission 600)...

I'd assume this should be a bug then? As the only way to recover that I know of is, booting into a previous generation.

Setting the file permission to 777 temporarily, still results in the same error.

jonringer · 2023-10-05T23:44:51Z

Ran into this error when running nixos-install on a new SSD from an already established nixos install. The issue was that I was using su , using sudo -i seems to not cause issues.

More context: nix daemon was refrencing paths from /run/user/$UID which was the cause of the issue.

magnetophon mentioned this issue Jul 13, 2018

clipster: 1.5.0 -> 2.0.0 #43348

Merged

magnetophon closed this as completed Aug 18, 2018

Provide feedback

Saved searches

Use saved searches to filter your results more quickly

error: while setting up the build environment: getting attributes of path '/etc/hosts': Permission denied #41651

error: while setting up the build environment: getting attributes of path '/etc/hosts': Permission denied #41651

magnetophon commented Jun 7, 2018

ryantm commented Jun 9, 2018

magnetophon commented Jun 9, 2018

magnetophon commented Jul 5, 2018

ryantm commented Jul 5, 2018

magnetophon commented Jul 9, 2018

ryantm commented Jul 9, 2018

magnetophon commented Jul 9, 2018 •

edited

ryantm commented Jul 9, 2018 •

edited

magnetophon commented Jul 10, 2018

magnetophon commented Jul 13, 2018

magnetophon commented Jul 17, 2018 •

edited

ryantm commented Jul 18, 2018

magnetophon commented Jul 18, 2018

ryantm commented Jul 19, 2018

ryantm commented Jul 19, 2018

magnetophon commented Jul 19, 2018

magnetophon commented Aug 17, 2018

magnetophon commented Aug 17, 2018

magnetophon commented Aug 17, 2018

magnetophon commented Aug 18, 2018

chrissound commented Dec 18, 2019 •

edited

jonringer commented Oct 5, 2023

error: while setting up the build environment: getting attributes of path '/etc/hosts': Permission denied #41651

error: while setting up the build environment: getting attributes of path '/etc/hosts': Permission denied #41651

Comments

magnetophon commented Jun 7, 2018

Technical details

ryantm commented Jun 9, 2018

magnetophon commented Jun 9, 2018

magnetophon commented Jul 5, 2018

ryantm commented Jul 5, 2018

magnetophon commented Jul 9, 2018

ryantm commented Jul 9, 2018

magnetophon commented Jul 9, 2018 • edited

ryantm commented Jul 9, 2018 • edited

magnetophon commented Jul 10, 2018

magnetophon commented Jul 13, 2018

magnetophon commented Jul 17, 2018 • edited

ryantm commented Jul 18, 2018

magnetophon commented Jul 18, 2018

ryantm commented Jul 19, 2018

ryantm commented Jul 19, 2018

magnetophon commented Jul 19, 2018

magnetophon commented Aug 17, 2018

magnetophon commented Aug 17, 2018

magnetophon commented Aug 17, 2018

magnetophon commented Aug 18, 2018

chrissound commented Dec 18, 2019 • edited

jonringer commented Oct 5, 2023

magnetophon commented Jul 9, 2018 •

edited

ryantm commented Jul 9, 2018 •

edited

magnetophon commented Jul 17, 2018 •

edited

chrissound commented Dec 18, 2019 •

edited