Re: Bogus dependency on openssh-client for openssh-server
On Sat, Apr 14, 2018 at 03:40:14PM +0930, David Newall wrote:
> Is it truly intended that openssh-server version X only works with the same
> version openssh-client? The package dependency listed as such seems bogus.
> I go so far as to claim that there's no reason why installing the server
> requires any client to be installed. Am I wrong? This is a bug.
It's not completely perfect, but it saves on creating an openssh-common
package for the functionality shared by both (e.g. /etc/ssh/moduli,
/usr/bin/ssh-keygen, common documentation). Extra binary packages
constitute a small incremental cost for all Debian users (in terms of
added Packages file size, etc.); depending on openssh-client is a small
cost for the minority of users who need the server and specifically care
about not having the client. And it means I don't have to worry about
odd edge cases like the status of /usr/bin/scp (which needs /usr/bin/ssh
to function as a client, but is also required on a server that you want
to scp to/from).
I chose this trade-off when I split the client and server into separate
packages, and reviewing it 14 years later I'm still OK with it.
--
Colin Watson [cjwatson@debian.org]
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