dpkg

• Repack installed packages
• Force purging packages
• ‘hold’-Status
  • Set ‘hold’ status
  • Remove ‘hold’ status

Repack installed packages

Repack deb files from currently installed packages including their current, modified config files:

dpkg -l | grep ^ii | awk '{print $2}' | xargs dpkg-repack

Force purging packages

This will purge all config files of packages in status ‘rc’ (remove,configured):

dpkg -l | grep ^rc | awk '{print $2}' | xargs dpkg -P

‘hold’-Status

Set ‘hold’ status

To set a packages on ‘hold’ means it will not be upgraded any more until you fire an explicit command to install this package:

echo "exim4 hold" | dpkg --set-selections

To install/upgrade the on ‘hold’ package, do:

apt-get install ecim4

Remove ‘hold’ status

echo "exim4 install" | dpkg --set-selections