dpkg --auto-deconfigure does not deconfigure dependencies
Affects | Status | Importance | Assigned to | Milestone | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
dpkg (Ubuntu) |
Triaged
|
Low
|
Unassigned |
Bug Description
Binary package hint: dpkg
When attempting to uninstall openssh-client, I came across a dependency problem: openssh-server depends on openssh-client. I need to remove it so I figured I would use the -B (--auto-
There is no difference between the output of `dpkg -r openssh-client` and `dpkg -Br openssh-client` (or `dpkg --auto-deconfigure -r openssh-client`).
Here is the output of dpkg:
dpkg: dependency problems prevent removal of openssh-client:
openssh-server depends on openssh-client (= 1:4.7p1-
dpkg: error processing openssh-client (--remove):
dependency problems - not removing
Errors were encountered while processing:
openssh-client
I am able to remove both packages with the following command: `dpkg -r openssh-server openssh-client`
I have the same results on Ubuntu Desktop 8.04 and Ubuntu Server 8.04 on separate machines.
Ubuntu 8.04.3 LTS (server)
Ubuntu 8.04.1 (desktop)
dpkg version: 1.14.16.6ubuntu4 (both)
From the dpkg manual:
When a package is removed, there is a possibility that
another installed package depended on the removed pack-
age. Specifying this option will cause automatic decon-
figuration of the package which depended on the removed
package.
This is true but it's not clear that -B has been meant for this case. It's used when there are Breaks involved, when a package is temporarily dropped because it's replaced.