Re: APT::Default-Release doesn't seem to affect upgrades

[Ross Boylan <RossBoylan@stanfordalumni.org>]

On Wed, Dec 03, 2003 at 02:14:17AM +0000, Carlos Sousa wrote:
> 
> Please keep your postings to the list. Thanks.
Sure.
> 
> On Tue, 2 Dec 2003 16:51:01 -0800 Ross Boylan wrote:
> > On Mon, Dec 01, 2003 at 12:53:21PM +0000, Carlos Sousa wrote:
> > > 
> > > As extra precaution, Ross can disable apt-get from getting packages from
> > > unstable unless explicitly told to by creating /etc/apt/preferences
> > > with the lines:
> > > 
> > >    Package: *
> > >    Pin: release a=unstable
> > >    Pin-Priority: 25
> > > 
> > > 25 may be replaced by any other number below 100.
> > > 
> > Oddly, I tried that, and it didn't completely work.  Here's my
> > preferences file:
> > 
> > Explanation: Try to prevent unstable from creeping in
> > Package: *
> > Pin: release a=unstable
> > Pin-Priority: 50
> > 
> > When I do apt-get -s dist-upgrade it still pulls in lots of unstables.
> 
> Works fine here. What is that "Explanation:" line? Are you sure it's
> supported syntax?
Yes, I discovered it while reading the man page when # didn't work.
And I noticed different behavior with it than #, so it seems the file
was processed.


> You can do 'apt-cache policy | less' and check that the priorities
> assigned to the various sources are the ones you think you've specified.
> I once had a syntax error in the preferences file and apt completely
> disregarded the file. Possibly your case?
Don't think so.  apt-cache policy shows one unstable entry, priority
50.

Maybe there is an upgrade that depends on an uninstalled package that
is only in unstable.  And then the presence of that package pulls in
others?

Some results:
apt-get upgrade does nothing
apt-get -t unstable upgrade pulls in lots
apt-get dist-upgrade wants to upgrade
  gaim gedit ghex gnome-session gnomeicu grip libdate-calc-perl libfnlib0 libgnomedb-dev
  libgnomedb0 libgtk2.0-0 libhtml-format-perl libmail-mbox-messageparser-perl libofx0c102
  libqt2 libxft2 libxine1 pan
and install quite a few new packages.
apt-get -t unstable dist-upgrade is massive