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Re: What is Synaptic trying to tell me?

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On 01/18/2018 06:59 PM, David Wright wrote:
> On Thu 18 Jan 2018 at 15:13:12 (-0600), Richard Owlett wrote:
>> I've been exploring the idea of downloading several packages.
>> When I select "apply" it routinely says "1 package will be held back
>> and not upgraded" in the lower half of a screen titled "Summary (as
>> superuser)".
>>
>> In both the upper and lower half of that screen I can discover what
>> packages will be downloaded I can click appropriately and be
>> informed that a list of packages will be downloaded. They are always
>> what I wanted/expected. So far, so good ;/
>>
>> Today I got curious.
>> In the lower half of the screen I clicked the button labeled "Show
>> Details". It listed *ONLY* the expected/intended files.
>>
>> In the upper half of the screen I observed that clicking on the ">"
>> labeled "To be installed" I observed the same files as listed in
>> response to "Show Details".
>>
>> *HOWEVER* when clicking on the ">" labeled "Unchanged" it listed
>> "linux-image-686-pae". Why? Less than 2 weeks ago I chose to install
>> the i386 flavor of current point release of Stretch. I was using
>> "Expert Install" and IIRC that was the default.
>>
>> For years I've gotten the "1 package will be held back and not
>> upgraded" message. That response is obviously release independent.
>> Previous installs have been from purchased DVD sets.
>>
>> This is the *FIRST* time I have attempted to investigate what is
>> being held back.
>>
>> Please educate me ;/
> 
> Packages are normally held back when upgrading them would involve
> removing a package or installing a new one, and that is forbidden
> by the upgrade method you're using.
> 
> So, for example, apt-get dist-upgrade was recently needed to upgrade
> linux-image against Meltdown because a new package was being
> installed. (Substitute "apt-get dist-upgrade" accordingly.)

I don't understand the point you were trying convey saying
*(Substitute "apt-get dist-upgrade" accordingly.)* when having just said 
"for example, apt-get dist-upgrade was recently needed".

I've just done:
   apt-get update
   apt-get dist-upgrade
which I believe is what you intended.

> 
> BTW when installing a kernel image (and related packages), you should
> select the least specific generic package (like linux-image-686-pae)
> rather than the versioned one. Because the new kernel was a new
> package (-4 → -5), it wouldn't be seen as an upgrade except as a
> dependency of the generic package.
> 

I habitually use "expert install" for historical (hysterical ;) reasons.
I've been in the habit of accepting the suggested kernel.
But I've yet to find a reference listing the kernels offered and their 
features.
Part of my reasoning for using "expert install" almost from the first is 
that it makes me aware of what happens behind the scene.

Thank you.



> Cheers,
> David.
> 
> 

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Thread

What is Synaptic trying to tell me? Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2018-01-18 22:20 +0100
  Re: What is Synaptic trying to tell me? David Wright <deblis@lionunicorn.co.uk> - 2018-01-19 02:00 +0100
    Re: What is Synaptic trying to tell me? Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2018-01-20 14:20 +0100
      Re: What is Synaptic trying to tell me? David Wright <deblis@lionunicorn.co.uk> - 2018-01-20 17:10 +0100
  Re: What is Synaptic trying to tell me? songbird <songbird@anthive.com> - 2018-01-19 05:40 +0100
    Re: What is Synaptic trying to tell me? Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2018-01-20 14:20 +0100
      Re: What is Synaptic trying to tell me? Curt <curty@free.fr> - 2018-01-20 15:20 +0100
        Re: What is Synaptic trying to tell me? Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2018-01-20 17:10 +0100

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