[plug] Debian intricacies, was Re: mail ReplyTo

[Christian]

Nick Bannon wrote:
> The advantage - though I'm not sure if it's actually required in this
> particular example - is that other things might be depending on the
> package that you're about to remove. That could leave you in a broken
> state, _even if_ you're about the replace that with something else, and
> apt won't let that happen.
> eg cron depends on having _some_ sort of local mail system (otherwise
> where is it going to send its output?). Hence removing exim might remove
> cron, which you probably didn't want...
> This was the sort of thing dselect was actually good for - change all your
> selections in one step _then_ start the whole package installing/removing
> process. I prefer doing it with apt, though. ::-)
> I can't remember the last time I've had to use --force on a Debian package
> - definitely not in stable, and even when I _am_ dealing with broken,
> unstable packages, there's usually a way to make it work for you rather
> than trampling over it.

As I said before, using --force is something I've only had to do in
Debian on very rare occasions, however, in this circumstance I'm not
sure if there is any better alternative.  As you say, instructing apt to
remove the exim package could possibly have unforeseen consequences and,
if it is not removed then it will obviously conflict with Postfix.  I
still think the instructions I gave are the best solution (at least the
best that I've seen or can think of).

Regards,

Christian.