puppetlabs/puppet · error · Puppet::Error

More than one package with the specified name [%{search_valu

Error message

More than one package with the specified name [%{search_value}], please use the category parameter to disambiguate

What it means

Raised in `query` (lib/puppet/provider/package/portage.rb:229) when a bare package name (no category) matches more than one package across categories/overlays in the eix results. The provider refuses to guess and raises Puppet::Error telling you to disambiguate with the category parameter.

Source

Thrown at lib/puppet/provider/package/portage.rb:229

        if search
          package[:version_available] = eix_get_version_for_versions(package[:installable_versions], search)
          package[:ensure] = eix_get_version_for_versions(package[:installed_versions], search)
        elsif qatom[:slot]
          package[:version_available] = eix_get_version_for_slot(package[:slot_versions_available], qatom[:slot])
          package[:ensure] = eix_get_version_for_slot(package[:installed_slots], qatom[:slot])
        end

        package[:ensure] = package[:ensure] || :absent
        packages << package
      end

      case packages.size
      when 0
        raise Puppet::Error, _("No package found with the specified name [%{name}]") % { name: @resource[:name] }
      when 1
        @eix_result = packages[0]
      else
        raise Puppet::Error, _("More than one package with the specified name [%{search_value}], please use the category parameter to disambiguate") % { search_value: search_value }
      end
    rescue Puppet::ExecutionFailure => detail
      raise Puppet::Error, detail
    end
  end

  def latest
    query[:version_available]
  end

  private

  def eix_get_version_for_versions(versions, target)
    # [2.7.10-r1,2.7.12,3.4.3-r1,3.4.5,3.5.2] 3.5.2
    return nil if versions.nil?

    versions = versions.split(',')
    # [2.7.10-r1 2.7.12 3.4.3-r1 3.4.5 3.5.2]

View on GitHub (pinned to e227c27540)

Solutions

1. Use the fully qualified `category/name` form in the resource title: `dev-libs/openssl`.
2. Run `eix --exact <name>` to list the colliding categories and pick the right one.
3. Prune redundant overlays if the duplication is unintended.

Example fix

# before
package { 'openssl':
  ensure   => installed,
  provider => portage,
}

# after
package { 'dev-libs/openssl':
  ensure   => installed,
  provider => portage,
}

# Disambiguate up front: require a category when the bare name collides
[ "$(eix --exact --only-name "${name}" | wc -l)" -gt 1 ] && echo "use category/name form" || echo OK

When it happens

Trigger: `package { 'openssl': provider => portage }` on a system where the name exists as dev-libs/openssl and also via another overlay's category; any duplicated port name across overlays.

Common situations: Common tool names (openssl, zlib) duplicated by overlays like gentoo vs local categories; overlays that re-add system packages.

Related errors

• detail
• No package found with the specified name [%{name}]
• Could not disable #{name}: #{output}
• Could not enable #{name}: #{output}

AI-assisted analysis of puppetlabs/puppet@e227c27540 (2026-08-21). Data as JSON: /api/errors/b030707c95586ad3. Report an issue: GitHub.