Thanks for this bug report. The problem can be reproduced by running the following in a fresh Focal LXD container:
apt update apt install mariadb-server apt remove mariadb-server apt install mysql-server At this point mysql is in a very broken state. Its systemd units looks masked: # systemctl status mysql Unit mysql.service could not be found. and this is why trying to remove it with: apt remove mysql-server-8.0 fails, as the uninstall process tried to `systemctl stop` the service. This is the error this bug report is about, but it's worse. If at this point we purge mariadb: apt purge mariadb-server-10.3 it will also delete the mysql user, which at this point should be "owned" by mysql - and possibly other things. It seems that a Conflicts relationship between the two packages is not strong enough. Maybe Breaks could avoid this? ** Changed in: mysql-8.0 (Ubuntu) Status: New => Triaged ** Tags added: server-next -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1889328 Title: package mysql-server-8.0 8.0.21-0ubuntu0.20.04.3 failed to install/upgrade: installed mysql-server-8.0 package pre-removal script subprocess returned error exit status 1 To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/mysql-8.0/+bug/1889328/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs