AWS SCT installation on Ubuntu is Failing

Question

When trying to install AWS SCT on Ubuntu, it is failing with below Exception.
Tried with latest and older version, not sure whats the issue?

**OS - Ubuntu 24.04 LTS**

```
sudo dpkg -i aws-schema-conversion-tool-1.0.674.deb
```

Please guide.

```
(Reading database ... 101988 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack aws-schema-conversion-tool-1.0.674.deb ...
Removing shortcut
xdg-desktop-menu: No writable system menu directory found.
dpkg: warning: old aws-schema-conversion-tool package pre-removal script subprocess returned error exit status 3
dpkg: trying script from the new package instead ...
dpkg: ... it looks like that went OK
Unpacking aws-schema-conversion-tool (1.0.674-1) over (1.0.674-1) ...
Setting up aws-schema-conversion-tool (1.0.674-1) ...
Adding shortcut to the menu
xdg-desktop-menu: No writable system menu directory found.
dpkg: error processing package aws-schema-conversion-tool (--install):
installed aws-schema-conversion-tool package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 3
Errors were encountered while processing:
 aws-schema-conversion-tool
```

Oleksii Bebych · Answer

What is the CPU architecture on your Ubuntu machine?

```
AWS SCT is supported only on 64-bit operating systems.
```

https://docs.aws.amazon.com/SchemaConversionTool/latest/userguide/CHAP_Installing.html

Didier_Durand · Answer

Hi,

It seems that this failure occurs in a subsequent install of SCT: it says `aws-schema-conversion-tool (1.0.674-1) over (1.0.674-1) ...`

```
dpkg: warning: old aws-schema-conversion-tool package pre-removal script subprocess returned error exit status 3
dpkg: trying script from the new package instead ...
dpkg: ... it looks like that went OK
Unpacking aws-schema-conversion-tool (1.0.674-1) over (1.0.674-1) ...
Setting up aws-schema-conversion-tool (1.0.674-1) ...
```

Please, give us the error messages that you obtain on the very install on fresh Ubuntu install.

That will help this debugging

Best,

Didier

Aaron Rose · Answer

### Greeting

Hi Deepak,

Thank you for bringing this to the community! It sounds like you've done a lot of troubleshooting already, and I can see how frustrating this situation might be. Let’s address the installation failure for AWS Schema Conversion Tool (AWS SCT) on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and walk through a step-by-step resolution. You've already uncovered some key details, so we’ll build on that. 😊

---

### Clarifying the Issue

You're encountering an installation failure when trying to install AWS SCT (`aws-schema-conversion-tool-1.0.674.deb`) on your Ubuntu 24.04 LTS environment. Specifically:

1. **Dependency Issues**: Initial failures due to missing dependencies (`libasound2` and `xdg-utils`), which you've partially resolved by installing `xdg-utils` and `libasound2t64`.  
2. **Shortcut Creation Error**: During the installation, the script fails with `xdg-desktop-menu: No writable system menu directory found`.  
3. **Reinstallation Conflict**: Logs show SCT trying to overwrite an already installed version (`1.0.674-1`), potentially leaving behind leftover configurations.

You're likely running this on a Linux server or development environment to test migrations or learn about AWS tools. These issues are likely tied to Ubuntu’s desktop environment setup and dependency mismatches. Let's resolve this systematically!

---

### Why This Matters

The AWS Schema Conversion Tool (AWS SCT) is critical for database migrations, automating schema conversion and generating assessment reports. Resolving this installation issue ensures you can explore its full capabilities for learning or testing AWS migrations. Additionally, overcoming these obstacles enhances your skills in troubleshooting and Linux-based application setup.

---

### Key Terms

- **AWS SCT (Schema Conversion Tool)**: A tool for converting database schemas from one engine to another, often used with AWS RDS or Aurora.  
- **`dpkg`**: Debian package manager used to install `.deb` files on Ubuntu.  
- **`xdg-desktop-menu`**: A utility for creating shortcuts in desktop environments.

---

### The Solution (Our Recipe)

#### Steps at a Glance:
1. Verify system prerequisites for AWS SCT.  
2. Remove previous SCT installations and clean up leftover files.  
3. Install missing dependencies (`libasound2` and `xdg-utils`).  
4. Reinstall AWS SCT.  
5. Bypass shortcut errors if needed.  
6. Run AWS SCT without shortcuts if necessary.  
7. Check system logs for detailed troubleshooting (optional).

---

#### Step-by-Step Guide:
1. **Verify System Prerequisites for AWS SCT**  
   Ensure your Ubuntu system meets the following requirements:  
   - **64-bit architecture**: Confirmed via `lscpu`.  
   - **Desktop environment**: Install a GUI if running on a minimal server environment:  
     ```bash
     sudo apt-get update
     sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop
     ```

---

2. **Remove Previous SCT Installations and Clean Up Leftover Files**  
   Purge any partially installed SCT packages to prevent conflicts:  
   ```bash
   sudo dpkg --purge aws-schema-conversion-tool
   sudo apt-get autoremove --purge
   ```

---

3. **Install Missing Dependencies (`libasound2` and `xdg-utils`)**  
   Install required dependencies for AWS SCT:  
   ```bash
   sudo apt-get update
   sudo apt-get install libasound2 xdg-utils
   ```  
   If `libasound2` is unavailable, install an alternative package explicitly:  
   ```bash
   sudo apt-get install libasound2t64
   ```

---

4. **Reinstall AWS SCT**  
   Download the `.deb` file from the [AWS SCT download page](https://aws.amazon.com/dms/schema-conversion-tool/) and install it using `dpkg`:  
   ```bash
   sudo dpkg -i aws-schema-conversion-tool-1.0.674.deb
   ```

---

5. **Bypass Shortcut Errors if Needed**  
   If the shortcut creation step (`xdg-desktop-menu`) still fails, modify the installation script:  
   - Extract the `.deb` file:  
     ```bash
     dpkg-deb -R aws-schema-conversion-tool-1.0.674.deb extracted
     ```  
   - Navigate to the `DEBIAN` folder and edit the `postinst` script to comment out `xdg-desktop-menu` commands.  
   - Repack and install the `.deb` file:  
     ```bash
     dpkg-deb -b extracted aws-schema-conversion-tool-fixed.deb
     sudo dpkg -i aws-schema-conversion-tool-fixed.deb
     ```

---

6. **Run AWS SCT Without Shortcuts If Necessary**  
   If shortcuts are not created, you can run SCT directly from its installation directory:  
   ```bash
   /opt/aws-schema-conversion-tool/AWSSchemaConversionTool
   ```

---

7. **Check System Logs for Detailed Troubleshooting (Optional)**  
   If the installation still fails after these steps, check system logs for additional details. Use the following commands to locate error messages:
   - Check the `dpkg` log for package installation issues:
     ```bash
     sudo less /var/log/dpkg.log
     ```
   - Look at the system log for broader context, including permission-related errors:
     ```bash
     sudo less /var/log/syslog
     ```

---

### Closing Thoughts

Deepak, resolving this issue should allow you to explore AWS SCT effectively. Remember, challenges like these are common when setting up complex tools, and troubleshooting them builds valuable skills. If you face further issues, feel free to share the logs for more detailed guidance.

Helpful documentation for your journey:  
- [AWS Schema Conversion Tool Documentation](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/SchemaConversionTool/latest/userguide/CHAP_Installing.html)  
- [AWS SCT Prerequisites](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/SchemaConversionTool/latest/userguide/CHAP_Prerequisites.html)

---

### Farewell

I hope this helps you get AWS SCT up and running! Feel free to reach out if you encounter any additional roadblocks. Wishing you success in your AWS migration learning or testing! 🚀😊

---

Cheers,

Aaron 😊

Sandeep · Answer

Hii

The error message indicates that the installation is failing due to issues with the shortcut creation process.

Here are some potential solutions to try:

Check for permissions:

Ensure that the user running the installation has sufficient permissions to write to the system menu directory. You can try running the installation with sudo.
Check if the directory /usr/share/applications exists and if you have write permissions to it.

Try a different directory:

If you don't have write permissions to the system menu directory, you can try creating a shortcut in a different location, such as your home directory.

Install a desktop environment:

If you're not using a desktop environment, installing one like GNOME or KDE might resolve the issue.

Manually create the shortcut:

As a last resort, you can manually create the shortcut by following the instructions in the AWS documentation for your specific desktop environment.

AWS SCT installation on Ubuntu is Failing

Greeting

Clarifying the Issue

Why This Matters

Key Terms

The Solution (Our Recipe)

Steps at a Glance:

Step-by-Step Guide:

Closing Thoughts

Farewell

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