Better way to track dom0 updates

[andrewdavidwong]

Problem

If a bug is fixed by patching the Qubes installer, that fix is not always available to existing Qubes installations, even if they are fully updated. This can happen when the fix entails changing the list of packages that are installed by the Qubes installer, e.g., by adding a new package to that list. (Re)installing Qubes will result in having the new package (and, therefore, the fix), but merely updating an existing installation will not. Existing installations remain broken despite being fully updated.

Proposed Solution

Create a meta-package that tracks the list of packages installed by the Qubes installer, and enable the update system to use this meta-package so that existing installations, once updated, will have the same packages as fresh installations.

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This problem and the proposed solution were identified and presented by @jpouellet:

• https://groups.google.com/d/msg/qubes-users/2-IeWlS9Rdg/gGU6b3ztAQAJ
• https://groups.google.com/d/msg/qubes-users/dCctVsf15dE/HNWNV5h3CgAJ
• #2550 (comment)

[jpouellet]

The same (long since fixed!) un-muting bug has come up at least 6 times that I'm aware of:

• #2550
• #2117
• #2291
• #2321
• https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/qubes-users/53TYf5GYkqY/ZU8i5v6JAwAJ
• https://groups.google.com/d/topic/qubes-users/2-IeWlS9Rdg/discussion

Attempted discussion about general fix:

• https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/qubes-users/dCctVsf15dE/discussion

[jpouellet]

The same (long since fixed!) un-muting bug has come up at least 6 times that I'm aware of:

• #2550
• #2117
• #2291
• #2321
• https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/qubes-users/53TYf5GYkqY/ZU8i5v6JAwAJ
• https://groups.google.com/d/topic/qubes-users/2-IeWlS9Rdg/discussion

Attempted discussion about general fix:

• https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/qubes-users/dCctVsf15dE/discussion

[jpouellet]

Also, I think the title should be something like "Better way to track dom0 updates". The proposed meta-package(s) is not necessarily the best (or even a correct) solution, just the first thing that came to mind.

[jpouellet]

Also, I think the title should be something like "Better way to track dom0 updates". The proposed meta-package(s) is not necessarily the best (or even a correct) solution, just the first thing that came to mind.

[andrewdavidwong]

@jpouellet: Updated the title. Thanks!

[andrewdavidwong]

@jpouellet: Updated the title. Thanks!

[jpouellet]

It's possible that whatever solution ends up being identified in #2572 might also solve this issue.

[jpouellet]

It's possible that whatever solution ends up being identified in #2572 might also solve this issue.