[nmglug] Debian and XFree86 4.3

[Gary Sandine]

We talked about this a bit at the meeting last night.  Here's one way to
get XFree86 4.3 (from unstable) in a testing Debian system.

Make sure this line is in /etc/apt/sources.list:

deb ftp://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable main contrib

(Or use your favorite mirror.)

Create a file /etc/apt/preferences like this:

Package: *
Pin: release a=testing
Pin-Priority: 800
 
Package: *
Pin: release a=unstable
Pin-Priority: 700

This will make testing get used by default, but unstable packages will
also be available.

Update your system's knowledge of available packages:

# apt-get update; dselect update

Maybe this will work now:

# apt-get -t unstable install x-window-system

Odds are better that this will work:

# apt-get -t unstable install xserver-xfree86

(Either install will upgrade/add necessary supporting packages, using
unstable if needed.)

I'm sorry that the last (important) installation step is a guess -- I
don't have a testing box available in which to try it at the moment. 
Worst possible scenario is to "-t unstable install" all desired XFree86
packages.  Some (e.g. xserver-xfree86) will also cause upgrade of other
core XFree86 packages, but some might be left at an older version....


Google for "apt pinning" and find more info about this technique, e.g.

http://jaqque.sbih.org/kplug/apt-pinning.html


See also apt_preferences(5):

$ man 5 apt_preferences