641 lines
35 KiB
HTML
641 lines
35 KiB
HTML
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0//EN">
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<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
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<title>The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ - Keeping your Debian system up-to-date</title>
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<link href="index.en.html" rel="start">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html" rel="prev">
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<link href="ch-kernel.en.html" rel="next">
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<link href="index.en.html#contents" rel="contents">
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<link href="index.en.html#copyright" rel="copyright">
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<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html" rel="chapter" title="1 Definitions and overview">
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<link href="ch-getting.en.html" rel="chapter" title="2 Getting and installing Debian GNU/Linux">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html" rel="chapter" title="3 Choosing a Debian distribution">
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<link href="ch-compat.en.html" rel="chapter" title="4 Compatibility issues">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html" rel="chapter" title="5 Software available in the Debian system">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html" rel="chapter" title="6 The Debian FTP archives">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html" rel="chapter" title="7 Basics of the Debian package management system">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html" rel="chapter" title="8 The Debian package management tools">
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<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html" rel="chapter" title="9 Keeping your Debian system up-to-date">
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<link href="ch-kernel.en.html" rel="chapter" title="10 Debian and the kernel">
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<link href="ch-customizing.en.html" rel="chapter" title="11 Customizing your installation of Debian GNU/Linux">
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<link href="ch-support.en.html" rel="chapter" title="12 Getting support for Debian GNU/Linux">
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<link href="ch-contributing.en.html" rel="chapter" title="13 Contributing to the Debian Project">
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<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html" rel="chapter" title="14 Redistributing Debian GNU/Linux in a commercial product">
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<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html" rel="chapter" title="15 Changes expected in the next major release of Debian">
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<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html" rel="chapter" title="16 General information about the FAQ">
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<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-whatisfaq" rel="section" title="1.1 What is this FAQ?">
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<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-whatisdebian" rel="section" title="1.2 What is Debian GNU/Linux?">
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<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-linux" rel="section" title="1.3 OK, now I know what Debian is... what is Linux?!">
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<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-non-linux" rel="section" title="1.4 Does Debian just do GNU/Linux?">
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<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-difference" rel="section" title="1.5 What is the difference between Debian GNU/Linux and other Linux distributions? Why should I choose Debian over some other distribution?">
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<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-gnu" rel="section" title="1.6 How does the Debian project fit in or compare with the Free Software Foundation's GNU project?">
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<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-pronunciation" rel="section" title="1.7 How does one pronounce Debian and what does this word mean?">
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<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-version" rel="section" title="2.1 What is the latest version of Debian?">
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<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-updatestable" rel="section" title="2.2 Are there package upgrades in `stable'?">
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<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-boot-floppies" rel="section" title="2.3 Where/how can I get the Debian installation disks?">
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<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-cdrom" rel="section" title="2.4 How do I install the Debian from CD-ROMs?">
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<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-cdimage-symlinks" rel="section" title="2.5 Why does the official stable released CD-ROM contain symlinks for `frozen' and `unstable'? I thought this CD contains just `stable'!">
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<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-remoteinstall" rel="section" title="2.6 Can I get and install Debian directly from a remote Internet site?">
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<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-alternativebootinstaller" rel="section" title="2.7 Are there any alternative strategies for booting the system installer?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1" rel="section" title="3.1 Which Debian distribution (stable/testing/unstable) is better for me?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2" rel="section" title="3.2 But what about Knoppix, Linex, Ubuntu, and others?">
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<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-arches" rel="section" title="4.1 On what hardware architectures/systems does Debian GNU/Linux run?">
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<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-otherdistribs" rel="section" title="4.2 How compatible is Debian with other distributions of Linux?">
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<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-otherunices" rel="section" title="4.3 How source code compatible is Debian with other Unix systems?">
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<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-otherpackages" rel="section" title="4.4 Can I use Debian packages (".deb" files) on my Red Hat/Slackware/... Linux system? Can I use Red Hat packages (".rpm" files) on my Debian GNU/Linux system?">
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<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-non-debian-programs" rel="section" title="4.5 How should I install a non-Debian program?">
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<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-termcap" rel="section" title="4.6 Why can't I compile programs that require libtermcap?">
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<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-accelx" rel="section" title="4.7 Why can't I install AccelX?">
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<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-motifnls" rel="section" title="4.8 Why do my old XFree 2.1 Motif applications crash?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-apps" rel="section" title="5.1 What types of applications and development software are available for Debian GNU/Linux?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-softwareauthors" rel="section" title="5.2 Who wrote all that software?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-pkglist" rel="section" title="5.3 How can I get a current list of programs that have been packaged for Debian?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-buildenv" rel="section" title="5.4 How can I install a developer's environment to build packages?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-missing" rel="section" title="5.5 What is missing from Debian GNU/Linux?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-no-devs" rel="section" title="5.6 Why do I get "ld: cannot find -lfoo" messages when compiling programs? Why aren't there any libfoo.so files in Debian library packages?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-java" rel="section" title="5.7 (How) Does Debian support Java?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-isitdebian" rel="section" title="5.8 How can I check that I am using a Debian system, and what version is it?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-nonenglish" rel="section" title="5.9 How does Debian support non-English languages?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-pine" rel="section" title="5.10 Where is pine?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-qmail" rel="section" title="5.11 Where is qmail/ezmlm/djbdns?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-flash" rel="section" title="5.12 Where is a player for Flash (SWF)?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-googleearth" rel="section" title="5.13 Where is Google Earth?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-voip" rel="section" title="5.14 Where is VoIP software?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-nonfreewireless" rel="section" title="5.15 I have a wireless network card which doesn't work with Linux. What should I do?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-dists" rel="section" title="6.1 How many Debian distributions are there?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-codenames" rel="section" title="6.2 What are all those names like etch, lenny, etc.?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-sid" rel="section" title="6.3 What about "sid"?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-stable" rel="section" title="6.4 What does the stable directory contain?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-testing" rel="section" title="6.5 What does the testing distribution contain?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-unstable" rel="section" title="6.6 What does the unstable distribution contain?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-dirtree" rel="section" title="6.7 What are all those directories at the Debian FTP archives?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-archsections" rel="section" title="6.8 What are all those directories inside dists/stable/main?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-source" rel="section" title="6.9 Where is the source code?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-pools" rel="section" title="6.10 What's in the pool directory?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-incoming" rel="section" title="6.11 What is "incoming"?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-ownrepository" rel="section" title="6.12 How do I set up my own apt-able repository?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-package" rel="section" title="7.1 What is a Debian package?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-deb-format" rel="section" title="7.2 What is the format of a Debian binary package?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-pkgname" rel="section" title="7.3 Why are Debian package file names so long?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-controlfile" rel="section" title="7.4 What is a Debian control file?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-conffile" rel="section" title="7.5 What is a Debian conffile?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-maintscripts" rel="section" title="7.6 What is a Debian preinst, postinst, prerm, and postrm script?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-priority" rel="section" title="7.7 What is an Essential, Required, Important, Standard, Optional, or Extra package?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-virtual" rel="section" title="7.8 What is a Virtual Package?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-depends" rel="section" title="7.9 What is meant by saying that a package Depends, Recommends, Suggests, Conflicts, Replaces, Breaks or Provides another package?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-pre-depends" rel="section" title="7.10 What is meant by Pre-Depends?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-pkgstatus" rel="section" title="7.11 What is meant by unknown, install, remove, purge and hold in the package status?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-puttingonhold" rel="section" title="7.12 How do I put a package on hold?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-sourcepkgs" rel="section" title="7.13 How do I install a source package?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-sourcebuild" rel="section" title="7.14 How do I build binary packages from a source package?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-creatingdebs" rel="section" title="7.15 How do I create Debian packages myself?">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-pkgprogs" rel="section" title="8.1 What programs does Debian provide for managing its packages?">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-updaterunning" rel="section" title="8.2 Debian claims to be able to update a running program; how is this accomplished?">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-whatpackages" rel="section" title="8.3 How can I tell what packages are already installed on a Debian system?">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-listfiles" rel="section" title="8.4 How to display the files of a package installed?">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-filesearch" rel="section" title="8.5 How can I find out what package produced a particular file?">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-datapackages" rel="section" title="8.6 Why doesn't get `foo-data' removed when I uninstall `foo'? How do I make sure old unused library-packages get purged?">
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<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-howtocurrent" rel="section" title="9.1 How can I keep my Debian system current?">
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<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-upgradesingle" rel="section" title="9.2 Must I go into single user mode in order to upgrade a package?">
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<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-savedebs" rel="section" title="9.3 Do I have to keep all those .deb archive files on my disk?">
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<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-keepingalog" rel="section" title="9.4 How can I keep a log of the packages I added to the system? I'd like to know when which package upgrades and removals have occured!">
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<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-autoupdate" rel="section" title="9.5 Can I automatically update the system?">
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<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-aptproxy" rel="section" title="9.6 I have several machines how can I download the updates only one time?">
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<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-non-debian-kernel" rel="section" title="10.1 Can I install and compile a kernel without some Debian-specific tweaking?">
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<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-customkernel" rel="section" title="10.2 What tools does Debian provide to build custom kernels?">
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<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-custombootdisk" rel="section" title="10.3 How can I make a custom boot floppy?">
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<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-modules" rel="section" title="10.4 What special provisions does Debian provide to deal with modules?">
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<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-removeoldkernel" rel="section" title="10.5 Can I safely de-install an old kernel package, and if so, how?">
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<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-papersize" rel="section" title="11.1 How can I ensure that all programs use the same paper size?">
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<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-hardwareaccess" rel="section" title="11.2 How can I provide access to hardware peripherals, without compromising security?">
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<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-consolefont" rel="section" title="11.3 How do I load a console font on startup the Debian way?">
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<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-appdefaults" rel="section" title="11.4 How can I configure an X11 program's application defaults?">
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<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-booting" rel="section" title="11.5 Every distribution seems to have a different boot-up method. Tell me about Debian's.">
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<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-custombootscripts" rel="section" title="11.6 It looks as if Debian does not use rc.local to customize the boot process; what facilities are provided?">
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<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-interconffiles" rel="section" title="11.7 How does the package management system deal with packages that contain configuration files for other packages?">
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<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-divert" rel="section" title="11.8 How do I override a file installed by a package, so that a different version can be used instead?">
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<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-localpackages" rel="section" title="11.9 How can I have my locally-built package included in the list of available packages that the package management system knows about?">
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<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-diverse" rel="section" title="11.10 Some users like mawk, others like gawk; some like vim, others like elvis; some like trn, others like tin; how does Debian support diversity?">
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<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-debiandocs" rel="section" title="12.1 What other documentation exists on and for a Debian system?">
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<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-onlineresources" rel="section" title="12.2 Are there any on-line resources for discussing Debian?">
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<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-searchtools" rel="section" title="12.3 Is there a quick way to search for information on Debian GNU/Linux?">
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<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-buglogs" rel="section" title="12.4 Are there logs of known bugs?">
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<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-bugreport" rel="section" title="12.5 How do I report a bug in Debian?">
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<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-contrib" rel="section" title="13.1 How can I become a Debian software developer?">
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<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-contribresources" rel="section" title="13.2 How can I contribute resources to the Debian project?">
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<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-supportingorganizations" rel="section" title="13.3 How can I contribute financially to the Debian project?">
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<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-sellcds" rel="section" title="14.1 Can I make and sell Debian CDs?">
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<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-packagednonfree" rel="section" title="14.2 Can Debian be packaged with non-free software?">
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<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-childistro" rel="section" title="14.3 I am making a special Linux distribution for a "vertical market". Can I use Debian GNU/Linux for the guts of a Linux system and add my own applications on top of it?">
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<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-commercialdebs" rel="section" title="14.4 Can I put my commercial program in a Debian "package" so that it installs effortlessly on any Debian system?">
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<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-i18n" rel="section" title="15.1 Extended support for non-English users">
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<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-dependencybasedboot" rel="section" title="15.2 Faster booting: Dependency based boot sequence">
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<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-di" rel="section" title="15.3 Improvements in the Debian Installer">
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<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-morearches" rel="section" title="15.4 More architectures">
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<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-morekernels" rel="section" title="15.5 More kernels">
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<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-authors" rel="section" title="16.1 Authors">
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<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-feedback" rel="section" title="16.2 Feedback">
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<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-latest" rel="section" title="16.3 Availability">
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<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-docformat" rel="section" title="16.4 Document format">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.1" rel="subsection" title="3.1.1 You asked me to install stable, but in stable so and so hardware is not detected/working. What should I do?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.2" rel="subsection" title="3.1.2 Will there be different versions of packages in different distributions?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.3" rel="subsection" title="3.1.3 The stable distributions really contains outdated packages. Just look at Kde, Gnome, Xorg or even the kernel. They are very old. Why is it so?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.4" rel="subsection" title="3.1.4 If I were to decide to change to another distribution, Can I do that?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.5" rel="subsection" title="3.1.5 Could you tell me whether to install testing or unstable?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.6" rel="subsection" title="3.1.6 You are talking about testing being broken. What do you mean by that?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.7" rel="subsection" title="3.1.7 Why is it that testing could be broken for months? Wont the fixes introduced in unstable flow directly down into testing?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.8" rel="subsection" title="3.1.8 From an administrator's point of view, Which distribution requires more attention?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.9" rel="subsection" title="3.1.9 What happens when a new release is made?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.10" rel="subsection" title="3.1.10 I have a working Desktop/cluster with Debian installed. How do I know which distribution I am running?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.11" rel="subsection" title="3.1.11 I am currently tracking stable. Can I change to testing or unstable? If so, How?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.12" rel="subsection" title="3.1.12 I am currently tracking testing (wheezy). What will happen when a release is made? Will I still be tracking testing or will my machine be running the new stable distribution?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.13" rel="subsection" title="3.1.13 I am still confused. What did you say I should install?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2.1" rel="subsection" title="3.2.1 I know that Knoppix/Linex/Ubuntu/... is Debian-based. So after installing it on the hard disk, can I use 'apt' package tools on it?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2.2" rel="subsection" title="3.2.2 I installed Knoppix/Linex/Ubuntu/... on my hard disk. Now I have a problem. What should I do?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2.3" rel="subsection" title="3.2.3 I'm using Knoppix/Linex/Ubuntu/... and now I want to use Debian. How do I migrate?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-oldcodenames" rel="subsection" title="6.2.1 Which other codenames have been used in the past?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-sourceforcodenames" rel="subsection" title="6.2.2 Where do these codenames come from?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-frozen" rel="subsection" title="6.5.1 What about "testing"? How is it `frozen'?">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg" rel="subsection" title="8.1.1 dpkg">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-apt-get" rel="subsection" title="8.1.2 APT">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-aptitude" rel="subsection" title="8.1.3 aptitude">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-synaptic" rel="subsection" title="8.1.4 synaptic">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-tasksel" rel="subsection" title="8.1.5 tasksel">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg-extra" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6 Other package management tools">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dselect" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6.1 dselect">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg-deb" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6.2 dpkg-deb">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg-split" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6.3 dpkg-split">
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<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-aptitude-upgrade" rel="subsection" title="9.1.1 aptitude">
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<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-apt" rel="subsection" title="9.1.2 apt-get, dselect and apt-cdrom">
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<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-update_aptitude" rel="subsection" title="9.1.3 aptitude">
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<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-mirror" rel="subsection" title="9.1.4 mirror">
|
|
<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-dpkg-mountable" rel="subsection" title="9.1.5 dpkg-mountable">
|
|
<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.1" rel="subsection" title="12.2.1 Mailing lists">
|
|
<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-mailinglistconduct" rel="subsection" title="12.2.1.1 What is the code of conduct for the mailing lists?">
|
|
<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.2" rel="subsection" title="12.2.2 Web forums">
|
|
<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.3" rel="subsection" title="12.2.3 Wiki">
|
|
<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.4" rel="subsection" title="12.2.4 Maintainers">
|
|
<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.5" rel="subsection" title="12.2.5 Usenet newsgroups">
|
|
<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-SPI" rel="subsection" title="13.3.1 Software in the Public Interest">
|
|
<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-FSF" rel="subsection" title="13.3.2 Free Software Foundation">
|
|
|
|
</head>
|
|
|
|
<body>
|
|
|
|
<p><a name="ch-uptodate"></a></p>
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
[ <a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html">previous</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="index.en.html#contents">Contents</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-basic_defs.en.html">1</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-getting.en.html">2</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-choosing.en.html">3</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-compat.en.html">4</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-software.en.html">5</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html">6</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html">7</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html">8</a> ]
|
|
[ 9 ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-kernel.en.html">10</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-customizing.en.html">11</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-support.en.html">12</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-contributing.en.html">13</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-redistrib.en.html">14</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-nexttime.en.html">15</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html">16</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-kernel.en.html">next</a> ]
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<h1>
|
|
The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ
|
|
<br>Chapter 9 - Keeping your Debian system up-to-date
|
|
</h1>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
A Debian goal is to provide a consistent upgrade path and a secure upgrade
|
|
process. We always do our best to make upgrading to new releases a smooth
|
|
procedure. In case there's some important note to add to the upgrade process,
|
|
the packages will alert the user, and often provide a solution to a possible
|
|
problem.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
You should also read the Release Notes document that describes the details of
|
|
specific upgrades. It is available on the Debian website at <code><a
|
|
href="http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/releasenotes">http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/releasenotes</a></code>
|
|
and is also shipped on the Debian CDs, DVDs and Blu-Ray discs
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<h2><a name="s-howtocurrent"></a>9.1 How can I keep my Debian system current?</h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
One could simply execute an anonymous ftp call to a Debian archive, then peruse
|
|
the directories until one finds the desired file, and then fetch it, and
|
|
finally install it using <samp>dpkg</samp>. Note that <samp>dpkg</samp> will
|
|
install upgrade files in place, even on a running system. Sometimes, a revised
|
|
package will require the installation of a newly revised version of another
|
|
package, in which case the installation will fail until/unless the other
|
|
package is installed.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Many people find this approach much too time-consuming, since Debian evolves so
|
|
quickly -- typically, a dozen or more new packages are uploaded every week.
|
|
This number is larger just before a new major release. To deal with this
|
|
avalanche, many people prefer to use a more automated method. Several
|
|
different packages are available for this purpose:
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<h3><a name="s-aptitude-upgrade"></a>9.1.1 aptitude</h3>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
APT is an advanced interface to the Debian packaging system. It features
|
|
complete installation ordering, multiple source capability and several other
|
|
unique features, see the User's Guide in
|
|
<samp>/usr/share/doc/apt-doc/guide.html/index.html</samp> (you will have to
|
|
install the <samp>apt-doc</samp> package).
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<code>aptitude</code> is the recommended package manager for Debian GNU/Linux
|
|
systems. It is a text-based interface to APT using the curses library, and can
|
|
be used to perform management tasks in a fast and easy way.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Before you can use <code>aptitude</code>, you'll have to edit the
|
|
<samp>/etc/apt/sources.list</samp> file to set it up. If you wish to upgrade
|
|
to the latest stable version of Debian, you'll probably want to use a source
|
|
like this one:
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian stable main contrib non-free
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
You can replace ftp.us.debian.org with the name of a faster Debian mirror near
|
|
you. See the mirror list at <code><a
|
|
href="http://www.debian.org/mirror/list">http://www.debian.org/mirror/list</a></code>
|
|
for more information.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
More details on this can be found in the <code>sources.list(8)</code> manual
|
|
page.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
To update your system, run
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
aptitude update
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
followed by
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
aptitude dist-upgrade
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Answer any questions that might come up, and your system will be upgraded. See
|
|
also <a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-aptitude">aptitude, Section 8.1.3</a>.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<h3><a name="s-apt"></a>9.1.2 apt-get, dselect and apt-cdrom</h3>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<code>apt-get</code> is an APT-based command-line tool for handling packages,
|
|
and the APT dselect method is an interface to APT through <code>dselect</code>.
|
|
Both of these provide a simple, safe way to install and upgrade packages.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
To use <code>apt-get</code>, install the <code>apt</code> package, and edit the
|
|
<samp>/etc/apt/sources.list</samp> file to set it up, just as for <a
|
|
href="#s-aptitude-upgrade">aptitude, Section 9.1.1</a>.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Then run
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
apt-get update
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
followed by
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
apt-get dist-upgrade
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Answer any questions that might come up, and your system will be upgraded. See
|
|
also the <code>apt-get(8)</code> manual page, as well as <a
|
|
href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-apt-get">APT, Section 8.1.2</a>.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
To use APT with <code>dselect</code>, choose the APT access method in dselect's
|
|
method selection screen (option 0) and then specify the sources that should be
|
|
used. The configuration file is <code>/etc/apt/sources.list</code>. See also
|
|
<a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dselect">dselect, Section 8.1.6.1</a>.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If you want to use CDs to install packages, you can use <code>apt-cdrom</code>.
|
|
For details, please see the Release Notes, section "Setting up for an
|
|
upgrade from a local mirror".
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Please note that when you get and install the packages, you'll still have them
|
|
kept in your /var directory hierarchy. To keep your partition from
|
|
overflowing, remember to delete extra files using <samp>apt-get clean</samp>
|
|
and <samp>apt-get autoclean</samp>, or to move them someplace else (hint: use
|
|
<code>apt-move</code>).
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<h3><a name="s-update_aptitude"></a>9.1.3 aptitude</h3>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<code>aptitude</code> is a text-based interface to the Debian package system.
|
|
It allows the user to view the list of packages and to perform package
|
|
management tasks such as installing, upgrading, and removing packages (see <a
|
|
href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-aptitude">aptitude, Section 8.1.3</a>). Actions
|
|
may be performed from a visual interface or from the command-line.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
In command line, the actions are similar to that of APT, so to upgrade your
|
|
system run
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
aptitude update
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
followed by
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
aptitude dist-upgrade
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Note that <code>aptitude</code> is not the recommended tool for doing upgrades
|
|
from one Debian GNU/Linux release to another. For upgrades between releases
|
|
you should read the <code><a
|
|
href="http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/releasenotes">Release
|
|
Notes</a></code>. This document describes in detail the recommended steps for
|
|
upgrades from previous releases as well as known issues you should consider
|
|
before upgrading.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
For details, see the manual page <code>aptitude(8)</code>, and the file
|
|
<code>/usr/share/aptitude/README</code>
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<h3><a name="s-mirror"></a>9.1.4 mirror</h3>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This Perl script, and its (optional) manager program called
|
|
<code>mirror-master</code>, can be used to fetch user-specified parts of a
|
|
directory tree from a specified host <em>via</em> anonymous FTP.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<code>mirror</code> is particularly useful for downloading large volumes of
|
|
software. After the first time files have been downloaded from a site, a file
|
|
called <samp>.mirrorinfo</samp> is stored on the local host. Changes to the
|
|
remote file system are tracked automatically by <code>mirror</code>, which
|
|
compares this file to a similar file on the remote system and downloads only
|
|
changed files.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The <code>mirror</code> program is generally useful for updating local copies
|
|
of remote directory trees. The files fetched need not be Debian files. (Since
|
|
<code>mirror</code> is a Perl script, it can also run on non-Unix systems.)
|
|
Though the <code>mirror</code> program provides mechanisms for excluding files
|
|
names of which match user-specified strings, this program is most useful when
|
|
the objective is to download whole directory trees, rather than selected
|
|
packages.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<h3><a name="s-dpkg-mountable"></a>9.1.5 dpkg-mountable</h3>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
dpkg-mountable adds an access method called `mountable' to dselect's list,
|
|
which allows you to install from any file system specified in /etc/fstab. For
|
|
example, the archive could be a normal hard disk partition or an NFS server,
|
|
which it will automatically mount and umount for you if necessary.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
It also has some extra features not found in the standard dselect methods, such
|
|
as provision for a local file tree (either parallel to the main distribution or
|
|
totally separate), and only getting packages which are required, rather than
|
|
the time-consuming recursive directory scan, as well as logging of all dpkg
|
|
actions in the install method.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<h2><a name="s-upgradesingle"></a>9.2 Must I go into single user mode in order to upgrade a package?</h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
No. Packages can be upgraded in place, even in running systems. Debian has a
|
|
<samp>start-stop-daemon</samp> program that is invoked to stop, then restart
|
|
running process if necessary during a package upgrade.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<h2><a name="s-savedebs"></a>9.3 Do I have to keep all those .deb archive files on my disk?</h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
No. If you have downloaded the files to your disk then after you have
|
|
installed the packages, you can remove them from your system, e.g. by running
|
|
<samp>aptitude clean</samp>.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<h2><a name="s-keepingalog"></a>9.4 How can I keep a log of the packages I added to the system? I'd like to know when which package upgrades and removals have occured!</h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Passing the <samp>--log</samp>-option to <code>dpkg</code> makes
|
|
<code>dpkg</code> log status change updates and actions. It logs both the
|
|
<code>dpkg</code>-invokation (e.g.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
2005-12-30 18:10:33 install hello 1.3.18 2.1.1-4
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
) and the results (e.g.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
2005-12-30 18:10:35 status installed hello 2.1.1-4
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
) If you'd like to log all your <code>dpkg</code> invokations (even those done
|
|
using frontends like <code>aptitude</code>), you could add
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
log /var/log/dpkg.log
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
to your <code>/etc/dpkg/dpkg.cfg</code>. Be sure the created logfile gets
|
|
rotated periodically. If you're using <code>logrotate</code>, this can be
|
|
achieved by creating a file <code>/etc/logrotate.d/dpkg</code> with contents
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<pre>
|
|
/var/log/dpkg {
|
|
missingok
|
|
notifempty
|
|
}
|
|
</pre>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
More details on <code>dpkg</code> logging can be found in the
|
|
<code>dpkg(1)</code> manual page.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<code>aptitude</code> logs the package installations, removals, and upgrades
|
|
that it intends to perform to <code>/var/log/aptitude</code>. Note that the
|
|
<em>results</em> of those actions are not recorded in this file!
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Another way to record your actions is to run your package management session
|
|
within the <code>script(1)</code> program.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<h2><a name="s-autoupdate"></a>9.5 Can I automatically update the system?</h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Yes. You can use <code>cron-apt</code>, this tool updates the system at
|
|
regular interval by using a cron job. By default it just updates the package
|
|
list and download new packages without installing.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Note: Automatic upgrade of packages is <strong>NOT</strong> recommended in
|
|
<em>testing</em> or <em>unstable</em> systems as this might bring unexpected
|
|
behaviour and remove packages without notice.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<h2><a name="s-aptproxy"></a>9.6 I have several machines how can I download the updates only one time?</h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
If you have more than one Debian machine on your network, it is useful to use
|
|
<code>apt-proxy</code> to keep all of your Debian systems up-to-date.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<code>apt-proxy</code> reduces the bandwidth requirements of Debian mirrors by
|
|
restricting the frequency of Packages, Releases and Sources file updates from
|
|
the back end and only doing a single fetch for any file, independently of the
|
|
actual request it from the proxy. <code>apt-proxy</code> automatically builds
|
|
a Debian HTTP mirror based on requests which pass through the proxy.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
For more details, see the apt-proxy homepage at <code><a
|
|
href="http://apt-proxy.sourceforge.net/">http://apt-proxy.sourceforge.net/</a></code>
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Of course, you can get the same benefit if you are already using a standard
|
|
caching proxy and all your systems are configured to use it.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
[ <a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html">previous</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="index.en.html#contents">Contents</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-basic_defs.en.html">1</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-getting.en.html">2</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-choosing.en.html">3</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-compat.en.html">4</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-software.en.html">5</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html">6</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html">7</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html">8</a> ]
|
|
[ 9 ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-kernel.en.html">10</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-customizing.en.html">11</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-support.en.html">12</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-contributing.en.html">13</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-redistrib.en.html">14</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-nexttime.en.html">15</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html">16</a> ]
|
|
[ <a href="ch-kernel.en.html">next</a> ]
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<address>
|
|
version 5.0, 27 August 2011<br>
|
|
<br>
|
|
Authors are listed at <a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-authors">Debian FAQ Authors</a><br>
|
|
<br>
|
|
</address>
|
|
<hr>
|
|
|
|
</body>
|
|
|
|
</html>
|
|
|