[oclug] Debian updating (Was: Good Point)

[Jonathan Earle]

Welp,

I wanted to thank everyone on the list who helped me get my box up.  Brad,
Patrice, Tom, Michael and others who offered tips and advice - I thank you
very much for your time!

The box is now up and running (fingers crossed).  I had to invoke various
combinations of apt-get with update|-f
install|install|upgrade|dselect-upgrade options, but finally, on Saturday
night, it clawed itself to a sane state.  First thing I had to do after
apt-get -f install (which fixed a few things on initial invocation), was to
install/upgrade apt (which also installed gcc and g++), then upgrade debconf
and debhelper.  Once I had the package management stuff installed (forgot
apt-utils, so the next run of apt-get dselect-upgrade complained that it
couldn't preconfigure the packages), the system stopped insisting on
removing most of itself.  Then it was a matter of running apt-get update,
apt-get dselect-upgrade and apt-get -f install, all in sequence for about
three runs, since it would start to download and install, then fail at some
point or another.

So, the long and short of it is - about 150megs (dialup _really_ sucks),
lots of apt-geting and much cursing later, I've a more or less functioning
system.  There are about three issues outstanding, which are config related
and for which I'll post separately.  I will say that I'm impresed that the
system was repairable, however, I'm not impressed at the hoops that had to
be jumped through to get there.  If it was this difficult for me (and I'm
not new to Linux), imagine how disastrous it would have been for a novice.
The dynamic nature of apt is quite nice if you know what you are doing (many
of you referred to neat tricks to install packages from various releases),
but overall I find it hides too much, assumes too much and due to (often
stupid) package dependancies, can potentially break too much.  The Debian
package management system is certainly not for the faint of heart.

Anyway, once again, thank you all for your kind help!

Cheers!
Jon

> -----Original Message-----
> From: bbarnett at l8r.net [mailto:bbarnett at l8r.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2001 7:34 AM
> To: oclug at lists.oclug.on.ca
> Subject: Re: [oclug] Debian updating (Was: Good Point)
> 
> 
> 
> On 27-Mar-2001 Jon Earle wrote:
> > So, I'm basically screwed to the point of having to reinstall?
> > 
> > Jon
> > 
> 
> Dear God!
> 
> Ok, you've scared me to the point of an instant response ;)  
> 
> Ok, stop the dist-upgrade.  Remove the helix-code lines from 
> apt.  Make sure
> you have a good sources.list (see attached).  There are 
> reasons some of those
> mirrors are commented out (especially the helixcode ones, 
> BAH!).  It might be
> wise to just use my sources.list file for now.
> 
> Do an apt-get update.  Then, do an apt-get -u upgrade.. this 
> will show you what
> is being upgraded.  Should be tons of stuff.  After its all 
> upgraded, then see
> what is held back.. you've mentioned communicator.
> 
> Do apt-get install <held back package name>.  In this case, 
> apt-get install
> communicator.  Apt will now show you what is needed to 
> correct the problem, and
> overcome the held status.  Sometimes, extra packages will 
> need to be installed.
>  Other times, things will need to be removed because of conflicts.