Update gdebi from ubuntu remix to allow installation of i386 packages

[Nicola Ferralis]

The current version of Gdebi in the Dell-mini (0.3.8) repos does not allow the installation of i386 packages. To overcome the limitation the --force-architecture flag need to be enabled (but the package won't appear in Synaptics). Alternatively, the package can be repackaged with the lpia architecture. Neither of those methods are good.

However the new version of gdebi in the ubuntu-remix version of the dell-mini (0.3.8netbook1) fixes this, allowing both i386 and lpia packages. This version should be ported to the regular repository of ubuntu for the dell mini.

http://dell-mini.archive.canonical.com/dists/hardy-netbook-remix/main/binary-lpia/gdebi_0.3.8netbook1_all.deb

[Jaime Carpenter (j.carpenter)]

So would this update have allowed me to install the amazonmp3.deb package? I had to modify the deb so that the architecture was lpia before I could install it. I was getting an error about the "i386" architecture. It worked fine after I modified the deb.

[Nicola Ferralis (feranick)]

Yes, it would have.

[Nicola Ferralis (feranick)]

These two packages are confirmed to work and to successfully allow the installation of both i386 and lpia packages.

http://dell-mini.archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/dists/hardy-netbook-remix/main/binary-lpia/gdebi-core_0.3.8netbook1_all.deb

http://dell-mini.archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/dists/hardy-netbook-remix/main/binary-lpia/gdebi_0.3.8netbook1_all.deb

[Nicola Ferralis (feranick)]

The i386 packages installed with these version of Gdebi, however, do not appear on Synaptic.

[Fabián Rodríguez (magicfab)]

Furthermore gdebi in Minis (or any other specific harwdare) should just silently force or ignore architectures silently, but also provide a warning about it. Installing i386 on lpia most probably means non-supported software is being installed, which should be clear to the user.

Pushing this upstream would also make a lot of sense and prevent maintenance of yet another mini-specific package.

[Fabián Rodríguez (magicfab)]

@Jamie the "recommended" way would have been to use dpkg -i package.deb --force-architecture

Such packages not showing up in Synaptic is bug #274242 - this confirms the need for a warning which should also include information on how to uninstall the package from command line and warn it won't be uninstallable from Synaptic, unless such bug is fixed first.

[yakker.yak (yakker-yak)]

For a temporary workaround to get Gdebi working with i386 packages, see the HOWTO here:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=982260

[Nicola Ferralis (feranick)]

The workaround still does not allow to see the installed packages in Synaptic. Use with caution.

[Brian Chidester (brianchidester)]

Build QH20080913-2
Environment Dell Mini 9 BIOS A03

I can reproduce this is my build. Marking as Confirmed.

[Neil Wallace (rowinggolfer)]

this bug is confirmed for the i386 skype package which works beautifully once the "wrong architecture i386" problem is overcome.

I reconfigured a package as per this howto
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=962835

but a more elegant solution would indeed be an altered gdebi.

incidentally - dell mini-9 standard install of "dellbuntu 8.04"

[Nicola Ferralis (feranick)]

Today's update on the gebi installer now allows for installation of i386 packages, so the bug should be closed.

The installed package however is not tracked with the package manager, so it cannot be uninstalled.

[Nicola Ferralis (feranick)]

Filed bug for the current inability of apt and Synaptic to recognize manually installed i386 packages:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/dell-mini/+bug/315719

[Nicola Ferralis (feranick)]

Closing bug, since gdebi can now install i386 packages.