Fix E: Could not open file /var/lib/apt/lists/mirror.rackspace.com

Fix the Failure to Fetch Error Looking Like E: Could not open file /var/lib/apt/lists/mirror.rackspace.com after running apt-get upgrade. This peculiar error can thrown after fix of ShellShock bug and a bug related to Xen Virtualization. In case of Infrastructure Managed Rackspace Account or device which is only maintained by you or for development, you need to fix the issue yourself. Moreover, this is basically a help guide for anyone.

Why Fix E: Could not open file /var/lib/apt/lists/mirror.rackspace.com Shows Up?

Peculiarly it happened only to one 01 GB PVHVM device for us. With the same method of update, upgrade; this error never popped up on SSH screen for us. It is possibly related to two things :

1. python is not properly installed or not upgraded but nova-agent and backspace-cloud-monitoring tool depends on it.
2. signature verification related error
3. Ownership of /var/lib/apt has been changed
4. ServiceNet data connection related issue ( previous update or upgrade related )

It is unlikely that you have done some sin. Fix is easy. We deliberately gave the article’s title E: Could not open file /var/lib/apt/lists/mirror.rackspace.com, so that you can fix faster. Actually the patch will work for all.

Fix E: Could not open file /var/lib/apt/lists/mirror.rackspace.com

Nothing to fear. We have provided 3 ways. Whatever solves, you must read the full guide. There are must to do steps are written at the end.

If Python materials are not installed, you’ll get instruction on the SSH output. Essentially you have to run this command :

and manually accept the update. You should skip this step if there is no such instruction is showing up on SSH screen. Run this one first :

Now, try to run apt-get upgrade :

You should be able to upgrade smoothly, again run apt-get update -y and apt-get upgrade, finally type reboot to restart. After the device reboots up, again do SSH and run the commands to make sure that the things are fine.

If the above method fails (it is unlikely), change directory to cd /var/lib/apt and run ls -al command :

Output should be like this :

With proper syntax highlighting, keyrings, lists, mirrors and periodic should get color because of permission. We have to rebuild the cache :

Other way is to plain copy the directories manually from FTP of a device with exact config ( RAM, Flavor, Version of Ubuntu etc.) All login should be as root.

Still, if error are throwing, you have to do these steps. We gave you this key 176A5C84ED67C9ED. You can try with this key 16126D3A3E5C1192 or ask Rackspace. This is almost the last way :

The ‘i simulate initial login, option runs the shell specified by the password database entry of the target user as a login shell. This means that login-specific resource files such as .profile or .login will be read by the shell.

We have not written the above paragraph, it is from sudo’s manual page! Now, another problem will start. You will get :

It is throwing due to Kernel related issue. You need to upgrade to new kernel :

For 1 GB, you’ll not get any option to choose from. Your Kernel will get upgraded. Normally you should get :

After the second run. For 2 GB upwards, you can get options, you should choose vendor specific or local (it actually depends on which flavor) and go ahead. Even after these, you can not solve; you should take a file level backup and spin a new device. It is likely to face problem in future with faulty update stuffs.