Re: How to back up from "sid" to "testing"?

[Christian Convey <conveycj@npt.nuwc.navy.mil>]

Thanks, that's a great tip.

What happens if some of those packages aren't available at all under 
"testing"?  Would the entire procedure fall on its face?

Rob Bochan wrote:
> On Friday 19 November 2004 12:56 pm, Kirk Strauser wrote:
>
>
> > > What's the most reasonable way to *downgrade* a system from sid to
> > > testing?  Do I need to suck it up and do a reinstall?
> >
> > That's pretty much it.  :-/
>
>
> If you do end up going that route, here's something you can do to at least 
> make it simple. On the machine in question, execute the following command:
> dpkg --get-selections > packages.dpkg
> Save the output file (packages.dpkg) to a floppy or remote location for future 
> use. This file is a list of your installed packages, which should make your 
> task simpler if you go the reinstall route. Once you've got the new base 
> install and apt sources set up, don't run any other package installation 
> programs yet. You can then pull up the packages.dpkg file and run the 
> command:
> dpkg --set-selections < packages.dpkg
> This will tell the system which packages to install/uninstall en mass. Once 
> that's done, run:
> dselect install
> That will install your selections automagically, asking you the necessary 
> config questions. You should then have a clone of your previous packages, but 
> from whichever branch you prefer. 

--
Christian Convey
Computer Scientist,
Naval Undersea Warfare Center
Newport, RI