What does sudo dpkg --configure -a do?

Question

linux

I wanted to install Zoom, the terminal issued:

E: Работа dpkg была прервана, вы должны вручную запустить «sudo dpkg --configure -a» для устранения проблемы.

As I understand it, this is due to the fact that one of the previous updates ended incorrectly and all dependencies were not configured? Or what does this command mean?

The command hung for a long time in this form:

Настраивается пакет linux-image-5.4.0-77-generic (5.4.0-77.86) …
Обрабатываются триггеры для linux-image-5.4.0-77-generic (5.4.0-77.86) …
/etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms:
 * dkms: running auto installation service for kernel 5.4.0-77-generic
   ...done.
/etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools:
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-5.4.0-77-generic
/etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub:
Sourcing file `/etc/default/grub'
Sourcing file `/etc/default/grub.d/50_linuxmint.cfg'
Sourcing file `/etc/default/grub.d/init-select.cfg'
Генерируется файл настройки grub …
Найден образ linux: /boot/vmlinuz-5.4.0-77-generic
Найден образ initrd: /boot/initrd.img-5.4.0-77-generic
Найден образ linux: /boot/vmlinuz-5.4.0-74-generic
Найден образ initrd: /boot/initrd.img-5.4.0-74-generic
Найден образ linux: /boot/vmlinuz-5.4.0-58-generic
Найден образ initrd: /boot/initrd.img-5.4.0-58-generic

Answer 1

man dpkg:

--configure package...|-a|--pending
Reconfigure an unpacked package. If -a or --pending is given instead of package, all unpacked but unconfigured packages are configured.
Configuring consists of the following steps:
1. Unpack the conffiles, and at the same time back up the old conffiles, so that they can be restored if something goes wrong.
2. Run postinst script, if provided by the package.

Most likely, the installation/upgrade process was interrupted last time, leaving unconfigured packages. This command should complete the process: install the configs and run the post-installation scripts (where they are).
Not in all cases "dpkg --configure -a" helps, but it usually does not make it worse, you can try.

Answer 2

The --configure switch means that configuration needs to be done.
The -a switch is for all packages.
And at this stage, he always does not write anything for a long time. (About the latter, I may be wrong, but when it comes to my Linux image, he thinks for a couple of minutes)
Just wait until the end.

Answer 3

This command configures those packages that were unpacked during installation but were not configured for some reason. This usually happens when the user connects the Vasyan repositories or the official repositories are lying again.

The command hung for a long time in this form:

Do Ctrl+C and run again.

Answer 4

read on the site where the package was downloaded from,
he does not see any system variables, (asks him to configure to live)
, he does not know what to do with the package / package files, so he gives an error.
Either the package is not supported by your system,
or it is written in fucking / as is))