Debian

Table of Contents

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1. Upgrading to a new release

1.1. Recording the session

It is strongly recommended that you use the /usr/bin/script program to record a transcript of the upgrade session. Then if a problem occurs, you will have a log of what happened, and if needed, can provide exact information in a bug report. To start the recording, type: 

script -t 2>~/upgrade-bookwormstep.time -a ~/upgrade-bookwormstep.script

or similar. If you have to rerun the typescript (e.g. if you have to reboot the system) use different step values to indicate which step of the upgrade you are logging. Do not put the typescript file in a temporary directory such as /tmp or /var/tmp (files in those directories may be deleted during the upgrade or during any restart).

The typescript will also allow you to review information that has scrolled off-screen. If you are at the system’s console, just switch to VT2 (using Alt+F2) and, after logging in, use less -R ~root/upgrade-bookworm.script to view the file.

After you have completed the upgrade, you can stop script by typing exit at the prompt.

apt will also log the changed package states in /var/log/apt/history.log and the terminal output in /var/log/apt/term.log. dpkg will, in addition, log all package state changes in /var/log/dpkg.log. If you use aptitude, it will also log state changes in /var/log/aptitude.

If you have used the -t switch for script you can use the scriptreplay program to replay the whole session: 

scriptreplay ~/upgrade-bookwormstep.time ~/upgrade-bookwormstep.script

2. Backports

3. New format for configuring APT sources

This is a new format supported by apt itself since version 1.1. Previous versions ignore such files with a notice message as described earlier. It is intended to make this format gradually the default format, deprecating the previously described one-line-style format, as it is easier to create, extend and modify for humans and machines alike especially if a lot of sources and/or options are involved.

Not mentioned yet in the handbook as of Debian 12 (bookworm)

4. Package management

4.2. Packaging system

4.2.1. dpkg database

The /var/lib/dpkg/info/ directory contains the packages configuration scripts while the /var/lib/dpkg/status file contains info about packages description, dependencies, conffiles etc

5. Specific guides

Shell commands user guide: https://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/debian-reference/

6. Related nodes

7. References