[Clarification request/Documentation wrong/or Bug] Re-installation of a template does not work

[Wikinaut]

Qubes OS version (e.g., R3.2):

R3.2

https://www.qubes-os.org/doc/reinstall-template/ explains the command

`$ sudo qubes-dom0-update --action=reinstall

This fails with

ERROR: yum version installed in VM sys-firewall does not support --downloadonly option
ERROR_ only 'install' and 'upgrade' actions are supported (reinstall root)

Please fix either the underlying problem or the text on https://www.qubes-os.org/doc/reinstall-template/ .

[andrewdavidwong]

On which TemplateVM is your sys-firewall based?

[andrewdavidwong]

On which TemplateVM is your sys-firewall based?

[Wikinaut]

debian-8 (I changed that some days ago)

[Wikinaut]

debian-8 (I changed that some days ago)

[andrewdavidwong]

That's probably why you're getting that message. The commands differ between yum/dnf and apt-get.

yum/dnf:

dnf reinstall <package>

apt-get:

apt-get install --reinstall <package>

Change your sys-firewall template to Fedora and try again.

[andrewdavidwong]

That's probably why you're getting that message. The commands differ between yum/dnf and apt-get.

yum/dnf:

dnf reinstall <package>

apt-get:

apt-get install --reinstall <package>

Change your sys-firewall template to Fedora and try again.

[marmarek]

The actual reason is that yum version shipped in Debian-8 is too old to support everything needed for action reinstall (as error message mentions: the missing feature is --downloadonly option). This is required to download package in sys-firewall (but not install it there), then transfer to dom0 for actual installation.

…

-- Best Regards, Marek Marczykowski-Górecki Invisible Things Lab A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text. Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?

[marmarek]

The actual reason is that yum version shipped in Debian-8 is too old to support everything needed for action reinstall (as error message mentions: the missing feature is --downloadonly option). This is required to download package in sys-firewall (but not install it there), then transfer to dom0 for actual installation.

…

-- Best Regards, Marek Marczykowski-Górecki Invisible Things Lab A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text. Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?

[Wikinaut]

Thank you for your swift answers. (I also already supported the project with a donation, every user who can should do so.)

[Wikinaut]

Thank you for your swift answers. (I also already supported the project with a donation, every user who can should do so.)

[andrewdavidwong]

The actual reason is that yum version shipped in Debian-8 is too old to support everything needed for action reinstall [...]

Thanks for the correction, Marek. (I didn't even know yum was in debian-8!)

So, @Wikinaut, it appears the answer is: Either use a Fedora template or a newer Debian template for your sys-firewall.

[andrewdavidwong]

The actual reason is that yum version shipped in Debian-8 is too old to support everything needed for action reinstall [...]

Thanks for the correction, Marek. (I didn't even know yum was in debian-8!)

So, @Wikinaut, it appears the answer is: Either use a Fedora template or a newer Debian template for your sys-firewall.