<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="no"?>
-<!DOCTYPE refentry PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.2//EN"
- "http://www.oasis-open.org/docbook/xml/4.2/docbookx.dtd" [
+<!DOCTYPE refentry PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.5//EN"
+ "http://www.oasis-open.org/docbook/xml/4.5/docbookx.dtd" [
<!ENTITY % aptent SYSTEM "apt.ent">
%aptent;
&apt-email;
&apt-product;
<!-- The last update date -->
- <date>08 November 2008</date>
+ <date>2012-06-09T00:00:00Z</date>
</refentryinfo>
<refmeta>
commands below must be present.</para>
<variablelist>
- <varlistentry><term>update</term>
+ <varlistentry><term><option>update</option></term>
<listitem><para><literal>update</literal> is used to resynchronize the package index files from
their sources. The indexes of available packages are fetched from the
location(s) specified in <filename>/etc/apt/sources.list</filename>.
of the package files cannot be known in advance.</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
- <varlistentry><term>upgrade</term>
+ <varlistentry><term><option>upgrade</option></term>
<listitem><para><literal>upgrade</literal> is used to install the newest versions of all packages
currently installed on the system from the sources enumerated in
<filename>/etc/apt/sources.list</filename>. Packages currently installed with
available.</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
- <varlistentry><term>dselect-upgrade</term>
- <listitem><para><literal>dselect-upgrade</literal>
- is used in conjunction with the traditional Debian packaging
- front-end, &dselect;. <literal>dselect-upgrade</literal>
- follows the changes made by &dselect; to the <literal>Status</literal>
- field of available packages, and performs the actions necessary to realize
- that state (for instance, the removal of old and the installation of new
- packages).</para></listitem>
- </varlistentry>
-
- <varlistentry><term>dist-upgrade</term>
+ <varlistentry><term><option>dist-upgrade</option></term>
<listitem><para><literal>dist-upgrade</literal> in addition to performing the function of
<literal>upgrade</literal>, also intelligently handles changing dependencies
with new versions of packages; <command>apt-get</command> has a "smart" conflict
resolution system, and it will attempt to upgrade the most important
packages at the expense of less important ones if necessary.
- So, <literal>dist-upgrade</literal> command may remove some packages.
+ The <literal>dist-upgrade</literal> command may therefore remove some packages.
The <filename>/etc/apt/sources.list</filename> file contains a list of locations
from which to retrieve desired package files.
See also &apt-preferences; for a mechanism for
overriding the general settings for individual packages.</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
- <varlistentry><term>install</term>
+ <varlistentry><term><option>dselect-upgrade</option></term>
+ <listitem><para><literal>dselect-upgrade</literal>
+ is used in conjunction with the traditional Debian packaging
+ front-end, &dselect;. <literal>dselect-upgrade</literal>
+ follows the changes made by &dselect; to the <literal>Status</literal>
+ field of available packages, and performs the actions necessary to realize
+ that state (for instance, the removal of old and the installation of new
+ packages).</para></listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+
+ <varlistentry><term><option>install</option></term>
<listitem>
<para><literal>install</literal> is followed by one or more
packages desired for installation or upgrading.
Each package is a package name, not a fully qualified
- filename (for instance, in a Debian GNU/Linux system,
- libc6 would be the argument provided, not
- <literal>libc6_1.9.6-2.deb</literal>). All packages required
+ filename (for instance, in a Debian system,
+ <package>apt-utils</package> would be the argument provided, not
+ <filename>apt-utils_&apt-product-version;_amd64.deb</filename>). All packages required
by the package(s) specified for installation will also
be retrieved and installed.
The <filename>/etc/apt/sources.list</filename> file is
with a '^' or '$' character, or create a more specific regular expression.</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
- <varlistentry><term>remove</term>
+ <varlistentry><term><option>remove</option></term>
<listitem><para><literal>remove</literal> is identical to <literal>install</literal> except that packages are
- removed instead of installed. Note the removing a package leaves its
- configuration files in system. If a plus sign is appended to the package
+ removed instead of installed. Note that removing a package leaves its
+ configuration files on the system. If a plus sign is appended to the package
name (with no intervening space), the identified package will be
installed instead of removed.</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
- <varlistentry><term>purge</term>
+ <varlistentry><term><option>purge</option></term>
<listitem><para><literal>purge</literal> is identical to <literal>remove</literal> except that packages are
removed and purged (any configuration files are deleted too).</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
- <varlistentry><term>source</term>
+ <varlistentry><term><option>source</option></term>
<listitem><para><literal>source</literal> causes <command>apt-get</command> to fetch source packages. APT
will examine the available packages to decide which source package to
fetch. It will then find and download into the current directory the
<literal>pkg/release</literal> syntax, if possible.</para>
<para>Source packages are tracked separately
- from binary packages via <literal>deb-src</literal> type lines
+ from binary packages via <literal>deb-src</literal> lines
in the &sources-list; file. This means that you will need to add such a line
- for each repository you want to get sources from. If you don't do this
- you will properly get another (newer, older or none) source version than
- the one you have installed or could install.</para>
+ for each repository you want to get sources from; otherwise you will probably
+ get either the wrong (too old/too new) source versions or none at all.</para>
<para>If the <option>--compile</option> option is specified
then the package will be compiled to a binary .deb using
used for the package files. This enables exact matching of the source
package name and version, implicitly enabling the
<literal>APT::Get::Only-Source</literal> option.</para>
-
- <para>Note that source packages are not tracked like binary packages, they
- exist only in the current directory and are similar to downloading source
- tar balls.</para></listitem>
+
+ <para>Note that source packages are not installed and tracked in the
+ <command>dpkg</command> database like binary packages; they are simply downloaded
+ to the current directory, like source tarballs.</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
- <varlistentry><term>build-dep</term>
+ <varlistentry><term><option>build-dep</option></term>
<listitem><para><literal>build-dep</literal> causes apt-get to install/remove packages in an
attempt to satisfy the build dependencies for a source package. By default the dependencies are
satisfied to build the package natively. If desired a host-architecture can be specified
with the <option>--host-architecture</option> option instead.</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
- <varlistentry><term>check</term>
+ <varlistentry><term><option>check</option></term>
<listitem><para><literal>check</literal> is a diagnostic tool; it updates the package cache and checks
for broken dependencies.</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
- <varlistentry><term>download</term>
+ <varlistentry><term><option>download</option></term>
<listitem><para><literal>download</literal> will download the given
binary package into the current directory.
</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
- <varlistentry><term>clean</term>
+ <varlistentry><term><option>clean</option></term>
<listitem><para><literal>clean</literal> clears out the local repository of retrieved package
files. It removes everything but the lock file from
<filename>&cachedir;/archives/</filename> and
from time to time to free up disk space.</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
- <varlistentry><term>autoclean</term>
+ <varlistentry><term><option>autoclean</option></term>
<listitem><para>Like <literal>clean</literal>, <literal>autoclean</literal> clears out the local
repository of retrieved package files. The difference is that it only
removes package files that can no longer be downloaded, and are largely
erased if it is set to off.</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
- <varlistentry><term>autoremove</term>
+ <varlistentry><term><option>autoremove</option></term>
<listitem><para><literal>autoremove</literal> is used to remove packages that were automatically
installed to satisfy dependencies for other packages and are now no longer needed.</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
- <varlistentry><term>changelog</term>
+ <varlistentry><term><option>changelog</option></term>
<listitem><para><literal>changelog</literal> downloads a package changelog and displays
it through <command>sensible-pager</command>. The server name and base
directory is defined in the <literal>APT::Changelogs::Server</literal>
- variable (e. g. <ulink>http://packages.debian.org/changelogs</ulink> for
- Debian or <ulink>http://changelogs.ubuntu.com/changelogs</ulink> for
+ variable (e.g. <ulink url="http://packages.debian.org/changelogs">packages.debian.org/changelogs</ulink> for
+ Debian or <ulink url="http://changelogs.ubuntu.com/changelogs">changelogs.ubuntu.com/changelogs</ulink> for
Ubuntu).
By default it displays the changelog for the version that is
installed. However, you can specify the same options as for
<varlistentry><term><option>-m</option></term><term><option>--ignore-missing</option></term>
<term><option>--fix-missing</option></term>
- <listitem><para>Ignore missing packages; If packages cannot be retrieved or fail the
+ <listitem><para>Ignore missing packages; if packages cannot be retrieved or fail the
integrity check after retrieval (corrupted package files), hold back
those packages and handle the result. Use of this option together with
<option>-f</option> may produce an error in some situations. If a package is
<listitem><para>Quiet; produces output suitable for logging, omitting progress indicators.
More q's will produce more quiet up to a maximum of 2. You can also use
<option>-q=#</option> to set the quiet level, overriding the configuration file.
- Note that quiet level 2 implies <option>-y</option>, you should never use -qq
+ Note that quiet level 2 implies <option>-y</option>; you should never use -qq
without a no-action modifier such as -d, --print-uris or -s as APT may
- decided to do something you did not expect.
+ decide to do something you did not expect.
Configuration Item: <literal>quiet</literal>.</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
actually change the system.
Configuration Item: <literal>APT::Get::Simulate</literal>.</para>
- <para>Simulation run as user will deactivate locking (<literal>Debug::NoLocking</literal>)
- automatic. Also a notice will be displayed indicating that this is only a simulation,
- if the option <literal>APT::Get::Show-User-Simulation-Note</literal> is set (Default: true).
- Neither NoLocking nor the notice will be triggered if run as root (root should know what
- he is doing without further warnings by <literal>apt-get</literal>).</para>
+ <para>Simulated runs performed as a user will automatically deactivate locking
+ (<literal>Debug::NoLocking</literal>), and if the option
+ <literal>APT::Get::Show-User-Simulation-Note</literal> is set
+ (as it is by default) a notice will also be displayed indicating that
+ this is only a simulation. Runs performed as root do not trigger either
+ NoLocking or the notice - superusers should know what they are doing
+ without further warnings from <literal>apt-get</literal>.</para>
- <para>Simulate prints out
- a series of lines each one representing a dpkg operation, Configure (Conf),
- Remove (Remv), Unpack (Inst). Square brackets indicate broken packages
- and empty set of square brackets meaning breaks that are of no consequence
- (rare).</para></listitem>
+ <para>Simulated runs print out a series of lines, each representing a <command>dpkg</command>
+ operation: configure (<literal>Conf</literal>), remove (<literal>Remv</literal>)
+ or unpack (<literal>Inst</literal>). Square brackets indicate broken packages, and
+ empty square brackets indicate breaks that are of no consequence (rare).</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry><term><option>-y</option></term><term><option>--yes</option></term>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry><term><option>-u</option></term><term><option>--show-upgraded</option></term>
- <listitem><para>Show upgraded packages; Print out a list of all packages that are to be
+ <listitem><para>Show upgraded packages; print out a list of all packages that are to be
upgraded.
Configuration Item: <literal>APT::Get::Show-Upgraded</literal>.</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry><term><option>--ignore-hold</option></term>
- <listitem><para>Ignore package Holds; This causes <command>apt-get</command> to ignore a hold
+ <listitem><para>Ignore package holds; this causes <command>apt-get</command> to ignore a hold
placed on a package. This may be useful in conjunction with
<literal>dist-upgrade</literal> to override a large number of undesired holds.
Configuration Item: <literal>APT::Ignore-Hold</literal>.</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry><term><option>--no-upgrade</option></term>
- <listitem><para>Do not upgrade packages; When used in conjunction with <literal>install</literal>,
+ <listitem><para>Do not upgrade packages; when used in conjunction with <literal>install</literal>,
<literal>no-upgrade</literal> will prevent packages on the command line
from being upgraded if they are already installed.
Configuration Item: <literal>APT::Get::Upgrade</literal>.</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry><term><option>--only-upgrade</option></term>
- <listitem><para>Do not install new packages; When used in conjunction with <literal>install</literal>,
- <literal>only-upgrade</literal> will prevent packages on the command line
- from being upgraded if they are not already installed.
+ <listitem><para>Do not install new packages; when used in conjunction
+ with <literal>install</literal>, <literal>only-upgrade</literal> will
+ install upgrades for already installed packages only and ignore requests
+ to install new packages.
Configuration Item: <literal>APT::Get::Only-Upgrade</literal>.</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry><term><option>--force-yes</option></term>
- <listitem><para>Force yes; This is a dangerous option that will cause apt to continue
+ <listitem><para>Force yes; this is a dangerous option that will cause apt to continue
without prompting if it is doing something potentially harmful. It
should not be used except in very special situations. Using
<literal>force-yes</literal> can potentially destroy your system!
<varlistentry><term><option>--print-uris</option></term>
<listitem><para>Instead of fetching the files to install their URIs are printed. Each
URI will have the path, the destination file name, the size and the expected
- md5 hash. Note that the file name to write to will not always match
+ MD5 hash. Note that the file name to write to will not always match
the file name on the remote site! This also works with the
<literal>source</literal> and <literal>update</literal> commands. When used with the
<literal>update</literal> command the MD5 and size are not included, and it is
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry><term><option>--reinstall</option></term>
- <listitem><para>Re-Install packages that are already installed and at the newest version.
+ <listitem><para>Re-install packages that are already installed and at the newest version.
Configuration Item: <literal>APT::Get::ReInstall</literal>.</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry><term><option>--list-cleanup</option></term>
- <listitem><para>This option defaults to on, use <literal>--no-list-cleanup</literal> to turn it
- off. When on <command>apt-get</command> will automatically manage the contents of
- <filename>&statedir;/lists</filename> to ensure that obsolete files are erased.
- The only reason to turn it off is if you frequently change your source
- list.
+ <listitem><para>This option is on by default; use <literal>--no-list-cleanup</literal> to turn
+ it off. When it is on, <command>apt-get</command> will automatically manage the contents
+ of <filename>&statedir;/lists</filename> to ensure that obsolete files are erased.
+ The only reason to turn it off is if you frequently change your sources list.
Configuration Item: <literal>APT::Get::List-Cleanup</literal>.</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry><term><option>-t</option></term>
<term><option>--target-release</option></term>
<term><option>--default-release</option></term>
- <listitem><para>This option controls the default input to the policy engine, it creates
+ <listitem><para>This option controls the default input to the policy engine; it creates
a default pin at priority 990 using the specified release string.
This overrides the general settings in <filename>/etc/apt/preferences</filename>.
Specifically pinned packages are not affected by the value
<varlistentry><term><option>--trivial-only</option></term>
<listitem><para>
Only perform operations that are 'trivial'. Logically this can be considered
- related to <option>--assume-yes</option>, where <option>--assume-yes</option> will answer
+ related to <option>--assume-yes</option>; where <option>--assume-yes</option> will answer
yes to any prompt, <option>--trivial-only</option> will answer no.
Configuration Item: <literal>APT::Get::Trivial-Only</literal>.</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry><term><option>--auto-remove</option></term>
<listitem><para>If the command is either <literal>install</literal> or <literal>remove</literal>,
- then this option acts like running <literal>autoremove</literal> command, removing the unused
+ then this option acts like running the <literal>autoremove</literal> command, removing unused
dependency packages. Configuration Item: <literal>APT::Get::AutomaticRemove</literal>.
</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
<refsect1><title>Diagnostics</title>
<para><command>apt-get</command> returns zero on normal operation, decimal 100 on error.</para>
</refsect1>
- <refsect1>
- <title>ORIGINAL AUTHORS</title>
- <para>&apt-author.jgunthorpe;</para>
- </refsect1>
- <refsect1>
- <title>CURRENT AUTHORS</title>
- <para>
- &apt-author.team;
- </para>
- &apt-qapage;
- </refsect1>
&manbugs;
</refentry>
projects / apt.git / blobdiff