yes, thanks. that did the trick nicely. i did an: apt-cache show openssh-server | grep Depends | sed -e 's/,/\n' which of course didn't show the 'Recommends' so i totally missed looking for that.
though, i don't think i'll forget this one again any time soon :) On Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 12:55 AM, Phil Requirements <simultane...@comcast.net > wrote: > On 2010-12-04 23:07:31 -0500, shawn wilson wrote: > > so, i go to install openssh-server on a machine that i intend to be a web > > development environment and it wants to install libx11-6, x11-common, > > libx11-data and some other stuff. i went to track down what was depending > on > > x libraries, but i decided it really doesn't matter - why do i need x > > libraries to run an ssh server? > > You certainly don't need X to have a ssh server. I only looked at it > it briefly, but I'm guessing it tried to install the package "xauth", > which is a "recommends" of openssh-server. > > The new default for aptitude is to say "yes" to recommends. There is a > way to configure your machine so that it says "no" by default to > recommends. That has been discussed recently on this list. > > > i've spent two hours googling (and even bing) on how to keep x windows > off > > of debian. i've found tons of stuff about x windows problems which is > ironic > > since my problem is keeping a minimalistic system which doesn't include > x. i > > know one of the options gentoo's ports offers is not installing x (or > used > > to offer). > > I can see that you would have trouble find that information in a web > search. I think that getting a system with X should be as simple as > not allowing it to be installed. I think the problem you are running > into is that the package system is pulling in recommends > automatically. > > > i've found some options in dpkg, but nothing in apt-get. i don't see > anyway > > to pass dpkg's --ignore-depends with apt-get. i'm thinking i'm looking > for > > something in /etc/apt/apt.conf or apt-config but i can't come up with > > anything. > > You can ignore a recommends at the time of installing by doing: > > aptitude install openssh-server -R > > I don't use apt-get, but when I search inside the man page... > > man apt-get > > ...I see the option "--no-install-recommends". So that would translate > into: > > apt-get install openssh-server --no-install-recommends > > If you want to set an option so that aptitude says "no" by default > to recommends, you can try this tutorial: > > > http://linux.koolsolutions.com/2009/01/07/howto-tell-apt-get-not-to-install-recommends-packages-in-debian-linux/ > > > is it possible to have a functioning debian install without x windows? if > > so, why isn't this documented maybe in the debian faq or something? > > Yes, many computers do not use X, especially server computers. > > I think one reason it is not documented is because many people setting > up CLI-only computers, or server computers, are already experienced > with wrangling their package management software. > > Hope this helps, > > Phil > > > -- > To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org > with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact > listmas...@lists.debian.org > Archive: http://lists.debian.org/20101205055557.ga18...@kasploosh.net > >
