2.2.11.
Holding back packages from an upgrade
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There are two mechanisms for holding back packages from an upgrade, through
dpkg, or, beginning with Woody, through APT.
With dpkg, first export the list of package selections:
dpkg --get-selections \* > selections.txt
Then edit the resulting file selections.txt, changing
the line containing the package you wish to hold, e.g. libc6,
from this:
libc6 install
to this:
libc6 hold
Save the file, and reload it into dpkg database with:
dpkg --set-selections < selections.txt
Or, if you know the package name to hold, simply run:
echo libc6 hold | dpkg --set-selections
This procedure holds packages at the install process of each package file.
The same effect can be obtained through dselect. Simply enter the
[S]elect screen, find the package you wish to hold in its present state, and
press the `=' key (or `H'). The changes will take effect immediately after you
exit the [S]elect screen.
The APT system in the Woody distribution has a new alternative mechanism for
holding packages during the archive retrieval process using
Pin-Priority. See the manual page
apt_preferences(5), along with http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/apt-howto/
or the apt-howto package.
