walkingthecow has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Whenever I try to build anything in CPAN I get the following output:
cpan[2]> install YAML::XS
Running install for module 'YAML::XS'
'YAML' not installed, falling back to Data::Dumper and Storable to rea
+d prefs '/usr/share/cpan/prefs'
Running make for I/IN/INGY/YAML-LibYAML-0.33.tar.gz
Fetching with LWP:
  ftp://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/CPAN/authors/id/I/IN/INGY/YAML-LibYAML-0.33
+.tar.gz
Fetching with LWP:
  ftp://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/CPAN/authors/id/I/IN/INGY/CHECKSUMS
Checksum for /usr/share/cpan/sources/authors/id/I/IN/INGY/YAML-LibYAML
+-0.33.tar.gz ok
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/Changes
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/inc/
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/lib/
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/LibYAML/
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/Makefile.PL
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/MANIFEST
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/META.yml
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/README
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/alias.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/api.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/blessed.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/boolean.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/bug-pvf.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/bug-stack.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/changes.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/code.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/data/
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/dump.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/empty.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/error.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/file.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/glob.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/leak.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/load.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/null.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/numbers.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/pl_sv_undef.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/private.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/quote.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/ref-scalar.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/regexp.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/string_nulls.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/tags.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/TestYAML.pm
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/TestYAMLTests.pm
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/utf8.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/yaml_tests.yaml
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/t/data/basic.t
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/LibYAML/api.c
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/LibYAML/config.h
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/LibYAML/dumper.c
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/LibYAML/emitter.c
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/LibYAML/lib/
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/LibYAML/LibYAML.xs
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/LibYAML/loader.c
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/LibYAML/Makefile
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/LibYAML/Makefile.PL
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/LibYAML/parser.c
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/LibYAML/perl_libyaml.c
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/LibYAML/perl_libyaml.h
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/LibYAML/ppport.h
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/LibYAML/ppport_sort.h
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/LibYAML/reader.c
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/LibYAML/scanner.c
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/LibYAML/test.pl
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/LibYAML/writer.c
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/LibYAML/yaml.h
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/LibYAML/yaml_private.h
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/LibYAML/lib/YAML/
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/LibYAML/lib/YAML/XS/
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/LibYAML/lib/YAML/XS/LibYAML.pm
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/lib/YAML/
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/lib/YAML/LibYAML.pm
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/lib/YAML/XS.pm
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/inc/Module/
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/inc/Spiffy.pm
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/inc/Test/
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/inc/Test/Base/
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/inc/Test/Base.pm
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/inc/Test/Builder/
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/inc/Test/Builder.pm
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/inc/Test/More.pm
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/inc/Test/Builder/Module.pm
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/inc/Test/Base/Filter.pm
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/inc/Module/Install/
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/inc/Module/Install.pm
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/inc/Module/Install/Base.pm
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/inc/Module/Install/Can.pm
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/inc/Module/Install/Fetch.pm
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/inc/Module/Install/Include.pm
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/inc/Module/Install/Makefile.pm
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/inc/Module/Install/Metadata.pm
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/inc/Module/Install/TestBase.pm
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/inc/Module/Install/Win32.pm
YAML-LibYAML-0.33/inc/Module/Install/WriteAll.pm
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.

  CPAN.pm: Going to build I/IN/INGY/YAML-LibYAML-0.33.tar.gz

Warning: No success on command[/usr/bin/perl Makefile.PL INSTALLDIRS=s
+ite]
Warning (usually harmless): 'YAML' not installed, will not store persi
+stent state
  INGY/YAML-LibYAML-0.33.tar.gz
  /usr/bin/perl Makefile.PL INSTALLDIRS=site -- NOT OK
Running make test
  Make had some problems, won't test
Running make install
  Make had some problems, won't install
Could not read '/usr/share/cpan/build/YAML-LibYAML-0.33-3OEDN6/META.ym
+l'. Falling back to other methods to determine prerequisites
Failed during this command:
 INGY/YAML-LibYAML-0.33.tar.gz                : writemakefile NO '/usr
+/bin/perl Makefile.PL INSTALLDIRS=site' returned status -1

[download]
And these are the parameters of my /etc/perl/CPAN/Config.pm file:
$CPAN::Config = {
  'applypatch' => q[/usr/bin/applypatch],
  'auto_commit' => q[0],
  'build_cache' => q[100],
  'build_dir' => q[/usr/share/cpan/build],
  'build_dir_reuse' => q[0],
  'build_requires_install_policy' => q[yes],
  'bzip2' => q[/bin/bzip2],
  'cache_metadata' => q[1],
  'check_sigs' => q[0],
  'colorize_output' => q[0],
  'commandnumber_in_prompt' => q[1],
  'connect_to_internet_ok' => q[1],
  'cpan_home' => q[/usr/share/cpan],
  'curl' => q[/usr/bin/curl],
  'ftp' => q[/usr/bin/ftp],
  'ftp_passive' => q[1],
  'ftp_proxy' => q[],
  'getcwd' => q[cwd],
  'gpg' => q[/usr/bin/gpg],
  'gzip' => q[/bin/gzip],
  'halt_on_failure' => q[0],
  'histfile' => q[/usr/share/cpan/histfile],
  'histsize' => q[100],
  'http_proxy' => q[],
  'inactivity_timeout' => q[0],
  'index_expire' => q[1],
  'inhibit_startup_message' => q[0],
  'keep_source_where' => q[/usr/share/cpan/sources],
  'load_module_verbosity' => q[v],
  'lynx' => q[/usr/bin/lynx],
  'make' => q[/usr/bin/make],
  'make_arg' => q[],
  'make_install_arg' => q[],
  'make_install_make_command' => q[/usr/bin/make],
  'makepl_arg' => q[INSTALLDIRS=site],
  'mbuild_arg' => q[],
  'mbuild_install_arg' => q[],
  'mbuild_install_build_command' => q[./Build],
  'mbuildpl_arg' => q[--installdirs site],
  'ncftpget' => q[/usr/bin/ncftpget],
  'no_proxy' => q[],
  'pager' => q[/usr/bin/less],
  'patch' => q[/usr/bin/patch],
  'perl5lib_verbosity' => q[v],
  'prefer_installer' => q[MB],
  'prefs_dir' => q[/usr/share/cpan/prefs],
  'prerequisites_policy' => q[follow],
  'scan_cache' => q[atstart],
  'shell' => q[/bin/bash],
  'show_unparsable_versions' => q[0],
  'show_upload_date' => q[0],
  'show_zero_versions' => q[0],
  'tar' => q[/bin/tar],
  'tar_verbosity' => q[v],
  'term_is_latin' => q[1],
  'term_ornaments' => q[1],
  'test_report' => q[0],
  'trust_test_report_history' => q[0],
  'unzip' => q[/usr/bin/unzip],
  'urllist' => [q[ftp://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/CPAN/]],
  'use_sqlite' => q[0],
  'wget' => q[/usr/bin/wget],
  'yaml_load_code' => q[0],
  'yaml_module' => q[YAML],
};

[download]

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: CPAN appears to be broken
by Old_Gray_Bear (Bishop) on Jun 24, 2010 at 19:14 UTC 
      CPAN.pm: Going to build I/IN/INGY/YAML-LibYAML-0.33.tar.gz

Warning: No success on command[/usr/bin/perl Makefile.PL INSTALLDIRS=s
+ite]

    [download]
    Just a wild guess, you are logged in as ROOT when you started the install? This has the hallmark of a permissions issue.

    ----
    I Go Back to Sleep, Now.

    OGB

[reply]
[d/l]
      Yes I am logged in as root. Am I not supposed to install Perl modules via CPAN as root? I have never had problems with this in the past, and I really thought modules were installed as root unless setup otherwise. I setup a different user account just for installing modules and I am still getting the same issue.
[reply]
Re: CPAN appears to be broken
by affc (Scribe) on Jun 24, 2010 at 23:31 UTC
    Warning (usually harmless): 'YAML' not installed, will not store persistent state

    Would your output be different if you had YAML installed?

[reply]
[d/l]
Re: CPAN appears to be broken
by Khen1950fx (Canon) on Jun 25, 2010 at 22:26 UTC
    With every fresh install of perl, the first thing that I do is install Bundle::CPANxxl. Do that, and YAML::LibYAML should install ok. If you don't do it, then it'll come back at you to complain about not having YAML and ftp.
[reply]
      Thanks running # cpan Bundle::CPAN fixed this problem for me!
[reply]
Re: CPAN appears to be broken
by walkingthecow (Friar) on Jun 25, 2010 at 02:33 UTC
    Installed YAML via apt-get and still getting the same output (also trying to install with user cpan and user root, neither work): 
    $ perl -MCPAN -e shell
Terminal does not support AddHistory.

cpan shell -- CPAN exploration and modules installation (v1.9402)
Enter 'h' for help.

cpan[1]> install Net::SSH:Expect
CPAN: Storable loaded ok (v2.20)
Going to read '/usr/share/cpan/Metadata'
  Database was generated on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:27:07 GMT
Running install for module 'Net::SSH::Expect'
CPAN: YAML loaded ok (v0.71)
Running make for B/BN/BNEGRAO/Net-SSH-Expect-1.09.tar.gz
CPAN: LWP::UserAgent loaded ok (v5.834)
CPAN: Time::HiRes loaded ok (v1.9719)
Fetching with LWP:
  ftp://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/CPAN/authors/id/B/BN/BNEGRAO/Net-SSH-Expect
+-1.09.tar.gz
Can't chown '/usr/share/cpan/FTPstats.yml.8436' to nobody/cpan: Operat
+ion not permitted
CPAN: Digest::SHA loaded ok (v5.47)
Fetching with LWP:
  ftp://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/CPAN/authors/id/B/BN/BNEGRAO/CHECKSUMS
CPAN: Compress::Zlib loaded ok (v2.02)
Checksum for /usr/share/cpan/sources/authors/id/B/BN/BNEGRAO/Net-SSH-E
+xpect-1.09.tar.gz ok
Scanning cache /usr/share/cpan/build for sizes
Use of uninitialized value $newdir in substitution (s///) at /usr/lib/
+perl/5.10/Cwd.pm line 330.
Use of uninitialized value $newdir in chdir at /usr/lib/perl/5.10/Cwd.
+pm line 338.
Use of chdir('') or chdir(undef) as chdir() is deprecated at /usr/lib/
+perl/5.10/Cwd.pm line 338.
Use of uninitialized value $newdir in pattern match (m//) at /usr/lib/
+perl/5.10/Cwd.pm line 353.
Use of uninitialized value $newdir in split at /usr/lib/perl/5.10/Cwd.
+pm line 359.
......................................................................
+......DONE
CPAN: Archive::Tar loaded ok (v1.52)
Net-SSH-Expect-1.09/
Net-SSH-Expect-1.09/lib/
Net-SSH-Expect-1.09/lib/Net/
Net-SSH-Expect-1.09/lib/Net/SSH/
Net-SSH-Expect-1.09/lib/Net/SSH/Expect.pod
Net-SSH-Expect-1.09/lib/Net/SSH/Expect.pm
Net-SSH-Expect-1.09/MANIFEST
Net-SSH-Expect-1.09/META.yml
Net-SSH-Expect-1.09/t/
Net-SSH-Expect-1.09/t/Net-SSH-Expect.t
Net-SSH-Expect-1.09/Changes
Net-SSH-Expect-1.09/README
Net-SSH-Expect-1.09/Makefile.PL
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
Use of uninitialized value $_[0] in join or string at /usr/share/perl/
+5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 41.
Use of uninitialized value $path in pattern match (m//) at /usr/share/
+perl/5.10/File/Spec/Unix.pm line 121.
CPAN: File::Temp loaded ok (v0.22)

  CPAN.pm: Going to build B/BN/BNEGRAO/Net-SSH-Expect-1.09.tar.gz

Warning: No success on command[/usr/bin/perl Makefile.PL INSTALLDIRS=s
+ite]
  BNEGRAO/Net-SSH-Expect-1.09.tar.gz
  /usr/bin/perl Makefile.PL INSTALLDIRS=site -- NOT OK
Running make test
  Make had some problems, won't test
Running make install
  Make had some problems, won't install
Failed during this command:
 BNEGRAO/Net-SSH-Expect-1.09.tar.gz           : writemakefile NO '/usr
+/bin/perl Makefile.PL INSTALLDIRS=site' returned status -1

    [download]
[reply]
[d/l]
      /usr/bin/perl Makefile.PL INSTALLDIRS=site -- NOT OK

      It might be useful to know just why that command is "NOT OK". Can you cd to the top level source directory of one of these modules that you're trying to build and run (as root) /usr/bin/perl Makefile.PL INSTALLDIRS=site

      What error does that produce ?

      Cheers,
      Rob
[reply]
[d/l]
        Here is the output, and I don't think it's very helpful :( 
        root@danielamaya:/usr/share/cpan/build/Net-SSH-0.09-HwGGVO# /usr/bin/p
+erl Makefile.PL INSTALLDIRS=site
Writing Makefile for Net::SSH
root@danielamaya:/usr/share/cpan/build/Net-SSH-0.09-HwGGVO#

        [download]
[reply]
[d/l]
      $ perl -MCPAN -e shell
...
Can't chown '/usr/share/cpan/FTPstats.yml.8436' to nobody/cpan: Operat
+ion not permitted

      [download]

      You need to either run cpan as root or configure cpan to use sudo.

[reply]
[d/l]

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