CLI apt file version locking- how can it be done?
 

I have a several headless debian servers without X.


I would like to use a webmin module that is not in the standard repositories. apt-get install webmin webmin-core, no problem.
Update webmin inside webmin, again no problem. Get module, no problem. apt-get update && apt-get upgrade -- big problem! apt doesnt find webmin (because of the upgrade within webmin)- apt borks. It has problems with any upgrade, so: rm -r /etc/webmin && apt-get --purge remove webmin-- voila everything works again. Then reinstall re-update, re-install module. What a pain.


I would like to find a way to lock the package version so apt will not try to update webmin. I'll update webmin through webmin.

I couldn't find anything in:
man apt_preferences
man apt.conf
man apt-get
man aptititude

There IS an easy way through synaptic-- but nothing I can find from the command line.

Any way some old debian hacker could enlighten me?

Thanks

dan

Search for "pinning" a package ;)

Did you try apt-get remove -f webmin

When Etch becomes stable there will be no more webmin on Debian due to general bugginess and the lack of desire on the part of webmin developers to fix it. Might be time to start searching for an alternative.

aptitude hold package_name

Thanks ping.

No problem. There's other ways to do it without aptitude, but I like handling it with aptitude since it's a clean and easy way to do it.