What is APT-Pinnig and how to ajust pin-priority?

[Ralle]

Hi,
I have problems to get the actual version of IceWeasel.
Not with apt-get dist-udate,
not with apt-get dist-upgrade.
apt-show-versions -a iceweasel
shows me always

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    iceweasel 8.0-3~bpo60+1 install ok installed
    No stable version
    iceweasel 5.0-6            testing           debian.linuxmint.com
    iceweasel 10.0.1-1~bpo60+1 squeeze-backports mozilla.debian.net
    iceweasel/squeeze-backports upgradeable from 8.0-3~bpo60+1 to 10.0.1-1~bpo60+1

A member of the german linusmintuser-community recommended to ajust the pin-priority: 101
How can I do that?

Bests Ralle

[Brian49]

Iceweasel 10 is in the Debian Unstable repository, so you can easily install it by temporarily enabling that repository.

Pin-priority is adjusted by editing the file /etc/apt/preferences as root. But unless there is something wrong, you shouldn't need to do that if you have the relevant repository enabled. Most repositories are by default assigned a relatively high pin-priority of 500 in that file.

APT-pinning is most easily done via Lock Version on the Package menu in Synaptic, although it can also be done by assigning a package a low priority in the above file.

[Ralle]

Hi,

Iceweasel 10 is in the Debian Unstable repository, so you can easily install it by temporarily enabling that repository.

Thanks for help.
One more question please: How can I temporarily enabling the correct repository?
I have to modify the sources.lst right?

Bests
Ralle

[DrHu]

Apt pinning and howto..
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PinningHowto

• The next file involved is:
  /etc/apt/preferences
  The 'preferences' file is where the actual pinning takes place. To pin a package, set its Pin-Priority to higher number. Here's an example:

https://help.ubuntu.com/8.04/serverguide/C/apt-get.html
apt help..
It is also likely that whichever package manager you use can enable pinning in some manner, selecting specific repositories or enabling particular software packages to stick at one version (that is pinning)
--since the package managers are in general only a front end to apt package management


Just add the repository you want to use into /etc/apt/sources.list file, then

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sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install package name
--or use the gui package manager of your choice

When finished with that install, and assuming that it installs correctly: remove the temporary
/etc/apt/sources.list change, and then

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sudo apt-get update
--to resync the repository data (with your changes, now removed) 

[Ralle]

Hi DrHu,

thanks for your encouragement
but I don't understand this all.
So I think I have two possibilities
first to wait until Mint starts to bring new updates for LMDE.
Second is to download IceWeasel separately and install it over
the existing version.

Bests
Ralle

[craigevil]

Either add the debian unstable repo or uncomment it if it is already in your sources.list.

apt-get update
apt-get install iceweasel

That should install iceweasel from sid. No need to mess with pinning unless you want to leave the unstable repo uncommented.

Instead of using the unstable repo you could also just add the mozilla.debian.net repo, which is maintained by the same Debian dev that maintains the 'official' iceweasel.

# Apt-Pinning for Beginners - http://jaqque.sbih.org/kplug/apt-pinning.html


$ apt-cache policy iceweasel
iceweasel:
Installed: 10.0.2-1
Candidate: 10.0.2-1

[Brian49]

To enable the Unstable repository, add this line to the sources.list file:

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deb http://ftp.debian.org/debian/ unstable main contrib non-free

To disable it, add the hash symbol (#) at the start of the line. Of course you can just delete the line, but you might want to use that repository again some time.

[Ralle]

Hi Brian49,
I did what you recommended.
Set your code into the sources.lst.
Then sudo apt-get update,
next sudo apt-get dist-upgrade,
all questions with Y/N I answered with 'Y',
then I turned my notebook completly (not only restart)
off and and then on again.
Now I'm running on my old Pentium III notebook
with kernel 3.2.0.1-amd64 and Gnome 3.2.
It's running fast and stable without any errors.
Thanks a lot for help.

Bests
Ralle

PS: My IceWeasel is actual too now