distributions: UBUNTU vs DEBIAN

[Antony Gelberg]

Daniel Carrera wrote:
> Antony Gelberg wrote:
> 
>> What does the line look like if you search for the package in 
>> interactive aptitude?
> 
> 
> I'm probably doing something wrong. I can't find it (a search only turns 
> up 'edubuntu-desktop').
> 
>> NB You don't need sudo for aptitude search.
> 
> 
> I know. It's a bit of an impulse (I'm used to apt-get).
> 
>> I believe the upgrade release notes specify that this package should 
>> be installed before upgrading.
> 
> 
> Not that I can see. https://wiki.ubuntu.com/BreezyReleaseNotes doesn't 
> seem to mention that package.

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/BreezyUpgrade

> 
>>> I'm interested to know why my Ubuntu things that 'ubuntu-desktop' is 
>>> both installed and un-installed.
>>
>>
>> What does dpkg -l ubuntu-desktop report?
> 
> 
> $ sudo dpkg -l ubuntu-desktop
> Desired=Unknown/Install/Remove/Purge/Hold
> |Status=Not/Installed/Config-files/Unpacked/Failed-config/Half-installed
> |/ Err?=(none)/Hold/Reinst-required/X=both-problems (Status,Err: 
> uppercase=bad)
> ||/ Name            Version         Description
> +++-===============-===============-============================================== 
> 
> pn  ubuntu-desktop  <none>          (no description available)
> 
> 
> Not sure what "pn" means.

The p is Desired=Purge.  The n is Status=Not installed.  man dpkg 
explains.  You should get into the habit of typing man <command> if you 
aren't sure what any command does.  In this case there is a section 
headed "INFORMATION ABOUT PACKAGES".