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Sometimes it's important to keep current versions of already installed packages when upgrading Ubuntu release, let's say, from 12.04 to 14.04.

I don't emphasize if it's server or desktop assuming this procedure should be same.

Standard release upgrade steps are:

  1. sudo apt-get update
  2. sudo do-release-upgrade

But this will upgrade packages as well. Is there a way to keep versions of already installed packages?

UPDATE 1:

  • I will perform release upgrades remotely, so I will a need command line solution. It's possible to check versions using dpkg, apt-cache policy (and maybe with aptitude, haven't tried yet).

  • I won't have any packages in remote computer's repository. I will just need to specify what versions I need and it will download that required packages.

I feel like I will need to write a custom script to solve this issue, but it doesn't seem the best way - packages will be upgrading along with a release upgrade and then I will downgrade them. It'd be nice if I were able to install/keep required version during a release upgrade process.

Askar
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  • Have you looked at the Synaptic Package Manager? Will that not do what you require? – graham Mar 03 '15 at 09:00
  • Hi. I will update my post later today. I'm looking for command line solution. – Askar Mar 03 '15 at 09:28
  • Do you try to keep the packages (eg. the deb-files) or are trying to keep the binaries installed and have them available to run them side-by-side with the new version? – MadMike Mar 03 '15 at 09:36
  • @MadMike I have updated my post. – Askar Mar 03 '15 at 11:01
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    You can mark packages to hold, Similar question [here](http://askubuntu.com/questions/18654/how-to-prevent-updating-of-a-specific-package) I don't know how well the upgrade will go if you hold a key package. – squareborg Mar 03 '15 at 11:09

1 Answers1

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you would be best downloading the packages and saving them to a USB or CD/DVD Rom for install at a later date.

Mark Giblin
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