How to exclude some packages during apt-get upgrade?

[asmar]

Hello guys,

I am trying to downgrade PHP from the dotdeb packages to the stable one (4.3.10). I managed to do the downgrade ok but now wherever I am trying to do an apt-get upgrade I am getting the following:

The following packages will be REMOVED:
libapache-mod-php4 php4-ldap php4-mcal php4-mhash php4-odbc php4-pear vhcs
vhcs-daemon vhcs-gui vhcs-gui-filemanager vhcs-gui-pma vhcs-gui-webmail
vhcs-lang-cn vhcs-lang-es vhcs-lang-fi vhcs-lang-hu vhcs-lang-it
vhcs-lang-nl vhcs-lang-pt

It is fine to remove the following packages: libapache-mod-php4 php4-ldap php4-mcal php4-mhash php4-odbc php4-pear

but nothing else. So I wish to find how I can exclude the rest of the packages from the apt-get upgrade just once until I remove and install the proper packages.

Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks

[St. Joe]

You simply need to place those package(s) on hold. The easiest method is to install the wajig program and issue the appropriate command. Review the example below:

# apt-get install wajig
# wajig hold <package_name>

Here's the full Wajig Overview

[asmar]

Hi,

Thanks for the answer.
I add on hold the packages that I want to exclude but then I am getting the following as soon as I tried to do an apt-get -f install :

apollon:/tmp# apt-get -f install
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
Correcting dependencies... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
libapache-mod-php4 php4-ldap php4-mcal php4-mhash php4-odbc php4-pear vhcs
vhcs-daemon vhcs-gui vhcs-gui-filemanager vhcs-gui-pma vhcs-gui-webmail vhcs-lang-cn vhcs-lang-es vhcs-lang-fi vhcs-lang-hu vhcs-lang-it vhcs-lang-nl vhcs-lang-pt
The following held packages will be changed:
vhcs-daemon vhcs-gui vhcs-gui-filemanager vhcs-gui-pma vhcs-gui-webmail vhcs-lang-nl vhcs-lang-pt
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 19 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0B of archives.
After unpacking 29.1MB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] n
Abort.


It's not very clear what this program will do as it says that is going to remove all the VHCS packages which I don't want and then it also states that are on hold. Am I going to remove these packages if I press Yes ?

Thanks a lot

You simply need to place those package(s) on hold. The easiest method is to install the wajig program and issue the appropriate command. Review the example below:

# apt-get install wajig
# wajig hold <package_name>

Here's the full Wajig Overview

[Vergil83]

if that doesn't work take a look at
http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/ap....en.html#s-pin

[St. Joe]

Sounds to me like a few of the packages you downgraded have some dependencies that APT is trying to correct, but at the expense of removing a number of applications. This is a problem you can encounter when mixing APT source repos. There's really nothing here for you to "correct".

[Cryptofreak]

I think if you open up aptitude and do a search for the packages you should be able to put a hold on the package to keep it from doing anything. This option will be available from the Menu at the top of the page under Package. Just highlight the packagae you want and then select Hold and it should keep it from being removed.