Arch Linux

Gerenuk81

Member

Registered: 2007-09-15

Posts: 14

No update of critical packages

It reoccured to me that I updated some package, which in turn updated some critical system package and thus broke the system.
Lately I updated texlive which installed readline-6.0 (without updating bash) and broke the system. Or unwanted kernel and module update issues also often leave me with troubles booting the system.

My questions are:
1. Can I exclude the critical packages from being updated automatically?
2. Which are the critical packages that I need to at least boot the system with network? (kernel, readline,...)
3. If I can't boot the system, what is the easiest way to boot a linux and fix the version problems (i.e. get network, download packages, install)

Allan

Pacman

From: Brisbane, AU

Registered: 2007-06-09

Posts: 11,398

Website

Re: No update of critical packages

1) man pacman.conf
2) I can boot a system with only initscripts, kernel26, grub and all their deps.  Up to you really because that is many packages and will be a big pain to maintain...
3) Arch install CD.  Mount your partitions to /mnt and "pacman -r /mnt -Syu"

The easier solution is only to "pacman -S <pkg>" and never "pacman -Sy <pkg>".  If you have to do a "-Sy" you should do a "-Syu" or you may run into trouble...

---

PGP Key: F99FFE0FEAE999BD

tomk

Forum Fellow

From: Ireland

Registered: 2004-07-21

Posts: 9,839

Re: No update of critical packages

1. man pacman.conf
2. I don't have time to answer that, but it's not hard to work out
3. Use a rescue CD/USB - the Arch one will do fine, or there are plenty of others to choose from.

Gerenuk81

Member

Registered: 2007-09-15

Posts: 14

Re: No update of critical packages

2. I don't have time to answer that, but it's not hard to work out

At least a starting point or a procedure how to find out which packages that concerns would be helpful.