Prevent apt-get from holding back a certain package - how?

[Solbu]

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Hi.
In our organization we have just started experimenting with creating a
meta-package that will install a few utilities which are not installed
by default. This works great and our custom repo works just fine.

However each time we update the meta-package with new dependencies, as we
discover new tools we want deployed on our servers, apt-get upgrade is
holding back the package, resulting in having to manually install it
each time. For this single meta-package we really do want it upgraded
with new dependencies each time there is an upgrade.

Is there a way to prevent apt-get from holding back a certain package?

- --
Solbu - http://www.solbu.net
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[Richard Kettlewell]

Solbu <so...@solbu.net.ugyldig> writes:

> Hi.
> In our organization we have just started experimenting with creating a
> meta-package that will install a few utilities which are not installed
> by default. This works great and our custom repo works just fine.
>
> However each time we update the meta-package with new dependencies, as we
> discover new tools we want deployed on our servers, apt-get upgrade is
> holding back the package, resulting in having to manually install it
> each time. For this single meta-package we really do want it upgraded
> with new dependencies each time there is an upgrade.
>
> Is there a way to prevent apt-get from holding back a certain package?

Try apt-get dist-upgrade.

--
http://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/

[Kees Theunissen]

Have a look at the apt-get(8) manpage:

upgrade
upgrade is used to install the newest versions of all
packages currently installed on the system from the
sources enumerated in /etc/apt/sources.list. Packages
currently installed with new versions available are
retrieved and upgraded; under no circumstances are
currently installed packages removed, or packages not
already installed retrieved and installed. New versions
of currently installed packages that cannot be upgraded
without changing the install status of another package
will be left at their current version. An update must
be performed first so that apt-get knows that new
versions of packages are available.


Be aware that "apt-get dist-upgrade" might remove already installed
packages if your meta-package introduces dependency conflicts on
some host(s), or if you already have such conflicts for whatever
reason.


Regards,

Kees.

--
Kees Theunissen

[Solbu]

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Kees Theunissen sent the following transmission through subspace:

> Have a look at the apt-get(8) manpage:

> under no circumstances are
> currently installed packages removed, or packages not
> already installed retrieved and installed.

Aha. That explains a few things. :-)=

> Be aware that "apt-get dist-upgrade" might remove already installed
> packages if your meta-package introduces dependency conflicts on
> some host(s), or if you already have such conflicts for whatever
> reason.

As long as it ask me first, which I think it does.

Thank you for the explanation. :-)=

- --
Solbu - http://www.solbu.net

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