dpkg pinning fails using dpkg --set-selections

[wirechief]

I am unable to place mesa-utils on hold status so it doesnt get updated with apt-get dist-upgrade using the following.
wirechief@wirechief-laptop:~$ sudo echo mesa-utils hold | dpkg --set-selections
dpkg: operation requires read/write access to dpkg status area

the first try it seemed to work but then it would just give the above, the first try it asked for my password.
[sudo] password for wirechief:

but subsequent packages would only have the dpkg: operation requires read/write access to dpkg status area
message.
I worked around this by actually going root, then it processed all my dpkg --set-selections without error.
root@wirechief-laptop:/home/wirechief# echo libglu1-mesa hold | dpkg --set-selections

I don't think it should work this way, you should just be able to use sudo echo mesa-utils hold | dpkg --set-selections

Linux wirechief-laptop 2.6.28-11-generic #41-Ubuntu SMP Wed Apr 8 04:39:23 UTC 2009 x86_64 GNU/Linux
ii apt 0.7.20.2ubuntu5 Advanced front-end for dpkg
ii dpkg 1.14.24ubuntu1 Debia

[Vin Shankar (v-shankar)]

The problem is that the sudo is applying to the echo command but not to the dpkg. As the command that requires elevation is dpkg --set-selections, you should be able set the flag with either of the following commands:

sudo sh -c "echo libglul-mesa hold | dpkg --set-selections"

or:
echo libglul-mesa hold | sudo dpkg --set-selections

[wirechief (wirechief)]

Interesting..
Thank you for adding to my knowledge of how to control my packages
between holding and install
(one bug falls to the floor with all four feet in the air)

On Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 6:12 PM, Vin Shankar
<email address hidden> wrote:
> The problem is that the sudo is applying to the echo command but not to
> the dpkg.  As the command that requires elevation is dpkg --set-
> selections, you should be able set the flag with either of the following
> commands:
>
> sudo sh -c "echo libglul-mesa hold | dpkg --set-selections"
>
> or:
> echo libglul-mesa hold | sudo dpkg --set-selections
>
> --
> dpkg pinning fails using dpkg --set-selections
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/360157
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>

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[Monkey (monkey-libre)]

I´ve closed this bug. Please if You have any problem about this issue reopen it.

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