Help needed on Debian Package management

[skao003]

Hi

I am new to Debian, I got quite few questions about Debian packagement system.

Before I begin my Debian is 3.1r1, and I installed from the DVD set.

1. Is it a good idea to mix stable testing and unstable in the sources.list. That is what I did, but when I tried to do a update on my system aptitude deleted most of my system component, that made my system unusable, I need to do a reinstall, luckly I have not got any data in it yet. Have I done something wrong here ?

2. If I removed some site from my sources.list (i.e. remove the unstable brunch from my sources.list) do I need to clean the cache (i.e. do something like apitidue autoclean) as well as doing an aptitude update, so aptitude can function properly?

3. If I install a package from unstable brunch, when that package is move to the stable brunch in the future is the security update will be install automatically as long as I have the secuirty.debian.org in my sources list?

Thank for your help
Stephen

[craigevil]

1. It's not generally a good idea to mix all three releases. I would suggest using the Etch netinstall disk.

2. If you change your sources.list you need to reload it either using aptitude, apt-get update or reload in Synaptic.

Personally I find aptitude to be a pain to use, Synaptic is much simpler.

If you want to try using multiple releases take a look at Apt-Pinning for Beginners.

[gg234]

this is very easy how to for package management

Read Here

[brokndodge]

like craigevil said... mixing debian distros almost always leads to disaster. pick one release and stick with it... if you are running sarge and you find that you need newer packages then pin apt to etch. personally i stick with etch as i believe it to be more stable than anything else available except sarge, but has most of the modern packages available to other distros.