fix testcase framework to test correctly for virtual packages

[apt.git] / doc / apt_preferences.5.xml

diff --git a/doc/apt_preferences.5.xml b/doc/apt_preferences.5.xml
index 12b03196a80c0247c9e7fe0689dec00d519310df..abcf567445f603ff84ea4350594049df16014320 100644 (file)
--- a/doc/apt_preferences.5.xml
+++ b/doc/apt_preferences.5.xml
@@ -14,12 +14,13 @@
    &apt-email;
    &apt-product;
    <!-- The last update date -->
    &apt-email;
    &apt-product;
    <!-- The last update date -->

-   <date>29 February 2004</date>
+   <date>16 February 2010</date>

  </refentryinfo>
 
  <refmeta>
    <refentrytitle>apt_preferences</refentrytitle>
    <manvolnum>5</manvolnum>
  </refentryinfo>
 
  <refmeta>
    <refentrytitle>apt_preferences</refentrytitle>
    <manvolnum>5</manvolnum>

+   <refmiscinfo class="manual">APT</refmiscinfo>

  </refmeta>
 
  <!-- Man page title -->
  </refmeta>
 
  <!-- Man page title -->


@@ -31,7 +32,8 @@
 <refsect1>
 <title>Description</title>
 <para>The APT preferences file <filename>/etc/apt/preferences</filename>
 <refsect1>
 <title>Description</title>
 <para>The APT preferences file <filename>/etc/apt/preferences</filename>

-can be used to control which versions of packages will be selected
+and the fragment files in the <filename>/etc/apt/preferences.d/</filename>
+folder can be used to control which versions of packages will be selected

 for installation.</para>
 
 <para>Several versions of a package may be available for installation when
 for installation.</para>
 
 <para>Several versions of a package may be available for installation when


@@ -51,6 +53,24 @@ earliest in the &sources-list; file.
 The APT preferences file does not affect the choice of instance, only
 the choice of version.</para>
 
 The APT preferences file does not affect the choice of instance, only
 the choice of version.</para>
 

+<para>Preferences are a strong power in the hands of a system administrator
+but they can become also their biggest nightmare if used without care!
+APT will not questioning the preferences so wrong settings will therefore
+lead to uninstallable packages or wrong decisions while upgrading packages.
+Even more problems will arise if multiply distribution releases are mixed
+without a good understanding of the following paragraphs.
+Packages included in a specific release aren't tested in and
+therefore doesn't always work as expected in older or newer releases or
+together with other packages from different releases.
+You have been warned.</para>
+
+<para>Note that the files in the <filename>/etc/apt/preferences.d</filename>
+directory are parsed in alphanumeric ascending order and need to obey the
+following naming convention: The files have no or "<literal>pref</literal>"
+as filename extension and which only contain alphanumeric,  hyphen (-),
+underscore (_) and period (.) characters - otherwise they will be silently
+ignored.</para>
+

 <refsect2><title>APT's Default Priority Assignments</title>
 
 <para>If there is no preferences file or if there is no entry in the file
 <refsect2><title>APT's Default Priority Assignments</title>
 
 <para>If there is no preferences file or if there is no entry in the file


@@ -60,6 +80,9 @@ belongs.  It is possible to single out a distribution, "the target release",
 which receives a higher priority than other distributions do by default.
 The target release can be set on the <command>apt-get</command> command
 line or in the APT configuration file <filename>/etc/apt/apt.conf</filename>.
 which receives a higher priority than other distributions do by default.
 The target release can be set on the <command>apt-get</command> command
 line or in the APT configuration file <filename>/etc/apt/apt.conf</filename>.

+Note that this has precedence over any general priority you set in the
+<filename>/etc/apt/preferences</filename> file described later, but not
+over specifically pinned packages.

 For example,
 
 <programlisting>
 For example,
 
 <programlisting>


@@ -74,6 +97,12 @@ APT::Default-Release "stable";
 algorithm to set the priorities of the versions of a package.  Assign:
 
 <variablelist>
 algorithm to set the priorities of the versions of a package.  Assign:
 
 <variablelist>

+<varlistentry>
+<term>priority 1</term>
+<listitem><simpara>to the versions coming from archives which in their <filename>Release</filename>
+files are marked as "NotAutomatic: yes" like the debian experimental archive.</simpara></listitem>
+</varlistentry>
+

 <varlistentry>
 <term>priority 100</term>
 <listitem><simpara>to the version that is already installed (if any).</simpara></listitem>
 <varlistentry>
 <term>priority 100</term>
 <listitem><simpara>to the version that is already installed (if any).</simpara></listitem>


@@ -93,7 +122,9 @@ algorithm to set the priorities of the versions of a package.  Assign:
 
 <para>If the target release has not been specified then APT simply assigns
 priority 100 to all installed package versions and priority 500 to all
 
 <para>If the target release has not been specified then APT simply assigns
 priority 100 to all installed package versions and priority 500 to all

-uninstalled package versions.</para>
+uninstalled package versions, expect versions coming from archives which
+in their <filename>Release</filename> files are marked as "NotAutomatic: yes" -
+these versions get the priority 1.</para>

 
 <para>APT then applies the following rules, listed in order of precedence,
 to determine which version of a package to install.
 
 <para>APT then applies the following rules, listed in order of precedence,
 to determine which version of a package to install.


@@ -143,10 +174,11 @@ separated by blank lines.  Records can have one of two forms, a specific form
 and a general form.
 <itemizedlist>
 <listitem>
 and a general form.
 <itemizedlist>
 <listitem>

-<simpara>The specific form assigns a priority (a "Pin-Priority") to a
-specified package and specified version or version range.  For example,
+<simpara>The specific form assigns a priority (a "Pin-Priority") to one or more
+specified packages and specified version or version range.  For example,

 the following record assigns a high priority to all versions of
 the following record assigns a high priority to all versions of

-the <filename>perl</filename> package whose version number begins with "<literal>5.8</literal>".</simpara>
+the <filename>perl</filename> package whose version number begins with "<literal>5.8</literal>".
+Multiple packages can be separated by spaces.</simpara>

 
 <programlisting>
 Package: perl
 
 <programlisting>
 Package: perl


@@ -171,8 +203,15 @@ Pin: origin ""
 Pin-Priority: 999
 </programlisting>
 
 Pin-Priority: 999
 </programlisting>
 

-<simpara>A note of caution: the keyword used here is "<literal>origin</literal>".
-This should not be confused with the Origin of a distribution as
+<simpara>A note of caution: the keyword used here is "<literal>origin</literal>"
+which can be used to match a hostname. The following record will assign a high priority
+to all versions available from the server identified by the hostname "ftp.de.debian.org"</simpara>
+<programlisting>
+Package: *
+Pin: origin "ftp.de.debian.org"
+Pin-Priority: 999
+</programlisting>
+<simpara>This should <emphasis>not</emphasis> be confused with the Origin of a distribution as

 specified in a <filename>Release</filename> file.  What follows the "Origin:" tag
 in a <filename>Release</filename> file is not an Internet address
 but an author or vendor name, such as "Debian" or "Ximian".</simpara>
 specified in a <filename>Release</filename> file.  What follows the "Origin:" tag
 in a <filename>Release</filename> file is not an Internet address
 but an author or vendor name, such as "Debian" or "Ximian".</simpara>


@@ -183,7 +222,16 @@ belonging to any distribution whose Archive name is "<literal>unstable</literal>
 <programlisting>
 Package: *
 Pin: release a=unstable
 <programlisting>
 Package: *
 Pin: release a=unstable

-Pin-Priority: 500
+Pin-Priority: 50
+</programlisting>
+
+<simpara>The following record assigns a high priority to all package versions
+belonging to any distribution whose Codename is "<literal>&testing-codename;</literal>".</simpara>
+
+<programlisting>
+Package: *
+Pin: release n=&testing-codename;
+Pin-Priority: 900

 </programlisting>
 
 <simpara>The following record assigns a high priority to all package versions
 </programlisting>
 
 <simpara>The following record assigns a high priority to all package versions


@@ -315,7 +363,7 @@ APT priorities:
 <para>The <filename>Release</filename> file is normally found in the directory
 <filename>.../dists/<replaceable>dist-name</replaceable></filename>:
 for example, <filename>.../dists/stable/Release</filename>,
 <para>The <filename>Release</filename> file is normally found in the directory
 <filename>.../dists/<replaceable>dist-name</replaceable></filename>:
 for example, <filename>.../dists/stable/Release</filename>,

-or <filename>.../dists/woody/Release</filename>.
+or <filename>.../dists/&stable-codename;/Release</filename>.

 It consists of a single multi-line record which applies to <emphasis>all</emphasis> of
 the packages in the directory tree below its parent.  Unlike the
 <filename>Packages</filename> file, nearly all of the lines in a <filename>Release</filename>
 It consists of a single multi-line record which applies to <emphasis>all</emphasis> of
 the packages in the directory tree below its parent.  Unlike the
 <filename>Packages</filename> file, nearly all of the lines in a <filename>Release</filename>


@@ -323,10 +371,11 @@ file are relevant for setting APT priorities:
 
 <variablelist>
 <varlistentry>
 
 <variablelist>
 <varlistentry>

-<term>the <literal>Archive:</literal> line</term>
+<term>the <literal>Archive:</literal> or <literal>Suite:</literal> line</term>

 <listitem><simpara>names the archive to which all the packages
 in the directory tree belong.  For example, the line
 <listitem><simpara>names the archive to which all the packages
 in the directory tree belong.  For example, the line

-"Archive: stable"
+"Archive: stable" or
+"Suite: stable"

 specifies that all of the packages in the directory
 tree below the parent of the <filename>Release</filename> file are in a
 <literal>stable</literal> archive.  Specifying this value in the APT preferences file
 specifies that all of the packages in the directory
 tree below the parent of the <filename>Release</filename> file are in a
 <literal>stable</literal> archive.  Specifying this value in the APT preferences file


@@ -338,6 +387,22 @@ Pin: release a=stable
 </listitem>
 </varlistentry>
 
 </listitem>
 </varlistentry>
 

+<varlistentry>
+<term>the <literal>Codename:</literal> line</term>
+<listitem><simpara>names the codename to which all the packages
+in the directory tree belong.  For example, the line
+"Codename: &testing-codename;"
+specifies that all of the packages in the directory
+tree below the parent of the <filename>Release</filename> file belong to a version named
+<literal>&testing-codename;</literal>.  Specifying this value in the APT preferences file
+would require the line:
+</simpara>
+<programlisting>
+Pin: release n=&testing-codename;
+</programlisting>
+</listitem>
+</varlistentry>
+

 <varlistentry>
 <term>the <literal>Version:</literal> line</term>
 <listitem><simpara>names the release version.  For example, the
 <varlistentry>
 <term>the <literal>Version:</literal> line</term>
 <listitem><simpara>names the release version.  For example, the


@@ -419,10 +484,6 @@ distribution.</para>
 <para>Each record in the APT preferences file can optionally begin with
 one or more lines beginning with the word <literal>Explanation:</literal>.
 This provides a place for comments.</para>
 <para>Each record in the APT preferences file can optionally begin with
 one or more lines beginning with the word <literal>Explanation:</literal>.
 This provides a place for comments.</para>

-
-<para>The <literal>Pin-Priority:</literal> line in each APT preferences record is
-optional.  If omitted, APT assigs a priority of 1 less than the last value
-specified on a line beginning with <literal>Pin-Priority: release ...</literal>.</para>

 </refsect2>
 </refsect1>
 
 </refsect2>
 </refsect1>
 


@@ -518,10 +579,74 @@ version.
 apt-get install <replaceable>package</replaceable>/unstable
 </programlisting>
 </para>
 apt-get install <replaceable>package</replaceable>/unstable
 </programlisting>
 </para>

+</refsect2>
+
+
+<refsect2>
+<title>Tracking the evolution of a codename release</title>
+
+<para>The following APT preferences file will cause APT to assign a
+priority higher than the default (500) to all package versions belonging
+to a specified codename of a distribution and a prohibitively low priority to
+package versions belonging to other <literal>Debian</literal> distributions,
+codenames and archives.
+Note that with this APT preference APT will follow the migration of a release
+from the archive <literal>testing</literal> to <literal>stable</literal> and
+later <literal>oldstable</literal>. If you want to follow for example the progress
+in <literal>testing</literal> notwithstanding the codename changes you should use
+the example configurations above.
+
+<programlisting>
+Explanation: Uninstall or do not install any Debian-originated package versions
+Explanation: other than those in the distribution codenamed with &testing-codename; or sid
+Package: *
+Pin: release n=&testing-codename;
+Pin-Priority: 900
+
+Explanation: Debian unstable is always codenamed with sid
+Package: *
+Pin: release n=sid
+Pin-Priority: 800
+
+Package: *
+Pin: release o=Debian
+Pin-Priority: -10
+</programlisting>
+</para>

 
 

+<para>With a suitable &sources-list; file and the above preferences file,
+any of the following commands will cause APT to upgrade to the
+latest version(s) in the release codenamed with <literal>&testing-codename;</literal>.
+
+<programlisting>
+apt-get install <replaceable>package-name</replaceable>
+apt-get upgrade
+apt-get dist-upgrade
+</programlisting>
+</para>
+
+<para>The following command will cause APT to upgrade the specified
+package to the latest version from the <literal>sid</literal> distribution.
+Thereafter, <command>apt-get upgrade</command> will upgrade
+the package to the most recent <literal>&testing-codename;</literal> version if that is
+more recent than the installed version, otherwise, to the most recent
+<literal>sid</literal> version if that is more recent than the installed
+version.
+
+<programlisting>
+apt-get install <replaceable>package</replaceable>/sid
+</programlisting>
+</para>

 </refsect2>
 </refsect1>
 
 </refsect2>
 </refsect1>
 

+<refsect1>
+<title>Files</title>
+  <variablelist>
+    &file-preferences;
+  </variablelist>
+</refsect1>
+

 <refsect1>
 <title>See Also</title>
 <para>&apt-get; &apt-cache; &apt-conf; &sources-list;
 <refsect1>
 <title>See Also</title>
 <para>&apt-get; &apt-cache; &apt-conf; &sources-list;


@@ -531,4 +656,3 @@ apt-get install <replaceable>package</replaceable>/unstable
  &manbugs;
 
 </refentry>
  &manbugs;
 
 </refentry>

-