Bug#774924: apt: Jessie version cannot find upgrade path (but Wheezy version can)

[Niels Thykier <niels@thykier.net>]

Package: apt
Version: 1.0.9.5
Severity: serious

Hi,

Based on the latest reports from jenkins.debian.net, it seems that
Jessie's version of APT cannot fully complete the dist-upgrade while
Wheezy's version can.

Compare [1] with [2].  The difference is that in [2] we upgrade dpkg
and APT alone prior to upgrading, while in [1] we start the upgrade
with the current version of APT (i.e. the one from Wheezy).
  In the "dpkg + APT first" run[2], APT ends up concluding that
"login" should be removed and aborts as it refuses the uninstall an
essential package. In the regular run[1], the "login" package is
(eventually) upgraded without any issues.

Please note that there are more upgrade issues for reference at [3].
The general story is that upgrading "APT + dpkg first" fails, while not
doing so works.

For the sole case where the "original" upgrade test also fails, it is
caused by the removal of sudo.  I am not entirely sure if this is
caused by a broken solution from APT or just the jenkins setup that
needs changing.  Anyway, that would be [4].

~Niels

[1] https://jenkins.debian.net/view/chroot-installation/view/upgrade%20wheezy2jessie/job/chroot-installation_wheezy_install_xfce_upgrade_to_jessie/515/consoleFull

[2] https://jenkins.debian.net/view/chroot-installation/view/Problems/job/chroot-installation_wheezy_install_xfce_upgrade_to_jessie_aptdpkg_first/5/consoleFull

[3] https://jenkins.debian.net/view/chroot-installation/view/Problems/

[4] https://jenkins.debian.net/view/chroot-installation/view/Problems/job/chroot-installation_wheezy_install_gnome_upgrade_to_jessie/519/console