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Where does dpkg keep its record of available packages?
If the Packages-file argument is missing or named « – » then it will be read from standard input (since dpkg 1.17.7). dpkg keeps its record of available packages in /usr/local/var/lib/dpkg/available . A simpler one-shot command to retrieve and update the available file is dselect update.
Where does the name dpkg come from in Debian?
History. The name dpkg was originally the short for “Debian package”, but the meaning of that phrase has evolved significantly, as dpkg the software is orthogonal to the deb package format as well as the Debian Policy Manual which defines how Debian packages behave in Debian.
How to reconfigure a unconfigured package in dpkg?
If -a or –pending is given instead of package, all unpacked but unconfigured packages are configured. To reconfigure a package which has already been configured, try the dpkg-reconfigure (8) command instead.
Do you need a manual to install dpkg?
This manual is intended for users wishing to understand dpkg ‘s command line options and package states in more detail than that provided by dpkg –help . It should not be used by package maintainers wishing to understand how dpkg will install their packages.
Is there a back end to dpkg query?
If any such action is encountered dpkg just runs dpkg-deb or dpkg-query with the parameters given to it, but no specific options are currently passed to them, to use any such option the back-ends need to be called directly. dpkg maintains some usable information about available packages.
What does the OK flag mean in dpkg?
A package that is also in a not-installed state, and with an ok flag will be forgotten in the next database store. Package flags ok A package marked ok is in a known state, but might need further processing. reinstreq A package marked reinstreq is broken and requires reinstallation.
The Packages-file distributed with Debian are named Packages. dpkg keeps its record of available packages in /var/lib/dpkg/available. A simpler command to retrieve and update the available file is dselect update.
Where is the source file in dpkg-source?
If no output directory is specified, the source package is extracted into a directory named source – version under the current working directory. dpkg-source will read the names of the other file (s) making up the source package from the control file; they are assumed to be in the same directory as the .dsc .
How is dpkg controlled by the command line?
dpkg itself is controlled entirely via command line parameters, which consist of exactly one action and zero or more options. The action parameter tells dpkg what to do and options control the behavior of the action in some way.
How to set package selections in Linux dpkg?
Set package selections using file read from stdin. This file should be in the format ‘package state’, where state is one of install, hold, deinstall or purge. Blank lines and comment lines beginning with ‘#’ are also permitted. Set the requested state of every non-essential package to deinstall.