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There are three ways of holding back packages, with dpkg, aptitude or with dselect.

Using dpkg

Put a package on hold

echo “package hold” | dpkg --set-selections

Example

echo “apache2 hold” | dpkg --set-selections

Remove the hold

echo “package install” | dpkg --set-selections

Example

echo “apache2 install” | dpkg --set-selections

Knowing the status of your packages

dpkg --set-selections

Using aptitude

With aptitude, you can hold a package using

#aptitude hold package_name

Example

#aptitude hold apache2

and remove the hold with

aptitude unhold package_name

Example

#aptitude unhold apache2

Using dselect

With dselect, you just have to enter the [S]elect screen, find the package you wish to hold in its present state, and press the `=’ key (or `H’). The changes will go live immediately after you exit the [S]elect screen.

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