[Bug 1768620] Re: removal_blacklist.cfg updates

[Francis Ginther]

** Tags added: id-5aea1f1ddc9436084bce0883

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1768620

Title:
  removal_blacklist.cfg updates

Status in ubuntu-release-upgrader package in Ubuntu:
  In Progress

Bug description:
  [Impact]
  The release-upgrader tarball includes a file, removal_blacklist.cfg, which lists packages which should never be removed. During the development of Ubuntu 18.04 this list was not updated and some packages which could be removed still exist in that file which could prevent the upgrader from calculating the upgrade. This would cause a bad experience for users as they will be stuck on the previous release of Ubuntu.

  [Test Case]
  To test the unity blacklist issue
  1) Using an up to date Ubuntu 16.04 install restore the apt-clone file in bug 1768561
  2) Ensure /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades has Prompt=lts
  3) Run 'do-release-upgrade -d'
  4) Observe a failure to calculate the upgrade i.e. "ERROR Dist-upgrade failed: 'The package 'unity' is marked for removal but it is in the removal blacklist.'"

  Using the release upgrader tarball from -proposed the release upgrade
  should be successfully calculated.

  Additionally, testing the release upgrade process of a "regular"
  system from 16.04 to 18.04 and 17.10 to 18.04 is a good idea to ensure
  that the release upgrade process works.

  [Regression Potential]
  Syntax errors in removal_blacklist.cfg may cause the release upgrader crash so keep an eye out for those although it is just line removals.

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