Is it possible to install testing (or unstable) packages on stable?
and if so, how??? is it possible to do it via apt-get or do i have to do it from source?

thanks in advance
Marta

You can install them from testing IF your libc and other libraries are at the same stage (which will probably never be the case). You have to either backport the packages (including it's dependencies) or run your system at testing.

thanks,

however when if I backport a package with its dependencies, what happens if it depends on libc6 2.3.2.ds1-10(unstable) and I have the stable version libc6 2.2.5-11.5. Can i install the unstable libc6 along side with the stable? they are bound to conflict right?


otherwise, how can I run my sys at testing then?


Marta

I don't know how to backport a package with dependencies, and wouldn't try. To upgrade to testing all you need to do is edit your /etc/apt/sources.list file. In each line change the word stable to testing, or either duplicate the lines and comment out (by placing a # in front of them) the stable lines. And make sure that you do this for the security section in that file, also. Then save the file and run

# apt-get update

# apt-get dist-upgrade

And you will then have your system set to Sarge (testing). In my experience, everything I've gotten from Sarge is as stable as the Woody stuff. However, please follow Markus advice, as he is somewhat of a Debian expert.

Yes, it is possible - if there is a particular package revision you want to install, use debian.org's package search page (it's bookmarked in Mozilla) and search it under the "any" development status. You can download the .deb and use dpkg -i to install it. If it breaks for a dependancy you can also repeat the process to resolve the dependancy...

A quick caveat installer: it can be a long-winded process. It really is a lot easier to do a dist-upgrade to testing or unstable.

When I last installed, I did a minimal install, edited my /etc/apt/sources.list to include only the unstable tree, then dselect'ed my way to a functioning system. I have far less dependancy problems than when I installed stable then converted to unstable.

thanks everyone, i just realised the easiest way was to upgrade to testing... and thats what I did!

tried the backport stuff aswell, b4 upgrading to testing, and that was also fine

thanks again
marta