Dev1 Galaxy Forum / Purging exim breaks MATE install

Re: Purging exim breaks MATE install

dummy@example.com (golinux) — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 14:35:57 +0000

Re: Purging exim breaks MATE install

dummy@example.com (fsmithred) — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 11:21:40 +0000

You're running into the metapackage problem. When you install a metapackage like task-mate-desktop, it pulls in everything you might need for a complete dekstop environement, and when you try to remove a piece of that DE, it breaks the metapackage, which wants to remove ALL of its deps. There are a couple of ways around this, but they both involve starting out with a small installation and adding pieces instead of starting big and removing pieces. When you get to the tasksel window in the installer, un-check the destkop environment box. (maybe un-check everything except standard system utilities.

Then start installing what you want. You could install the mate metapackage, and that would be tied to fewer dependencies than the task- package. Or better yet, install mate-core, see what that brings in, and then start adding other pieces that you need. This way takes a little more work to find what you want, but it makes it a lot easier if you want to remove something.

These might help:

apt-cache rdepends exim4
aptitude why exim4

Re: Purging exim breaks MATE install

dummy@example.com (alluredbit) — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 19:43:59 +0000

I am trying Dovecot which is part of webmin / usermin (exim is not). Its not like exim is in my way, but I just cant seems to get rid of it without breaking something. For me openbox was great for years, but now I am thinking of a slim desktop which does have the KDE or Gnome dependent file managers, text editors and other nice utilities the bare openbox/usermin combo do not readily have.

This is, however, not an issue with Devuan anyhow, I assume its the same on any other distro as well.

Re: Purging exim breaks MATE install

dummy@example.com (Geoff 42) — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 19:05:51 +0000

I recall that when I installed Postfix, that it removed Exim. So it may be that installing your preferred MTA may sort out any dependencies better than removing Exim.

Geoff

Re: Purging exim breaks MATE install

dummy@example.com (golinux) — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 18:05:26 +0000

I don't think a "bare install" would include any desktop.

Re: Purging exim breaks MATE install

dummy@example.com (alluredbit) — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 16:57:06 +0000

I did that, installing a bare system utils-only then purged exim and tasksel MATE.
Different issue this time: the menu item 'root terminal' ( /usr/bin/x-terminal-emulator) is not taking the root password. Luckily there is an xterm emualtor that works, so I am able to run sudo.

When I run 'sudo apt-get remove --purge exim*' the package list contains mate-desktop stuff.. so it seems MATE has a lot of dependencies requiring exim.

Exim is not currently part of webmin, and I am experimenting with that and usermin so I would prefer a different mta. I might have to leave exim in place, or try a different DE. btw, webmin did a fantastic job to support Devuan.

Re: Purging exim breaks MATE install

dummy@example.com (golinux) — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 15:27:48 +0000

Maybe it would be a better idea to start with a minimal install and build a DE piece by piece rather than trying to gut a full-blown default install.

Purging exim breaks MATE install

dummy@example.com (alluredbit) — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 15:14:11 +0000

I just did a default install of 1.0 on vbox with MATE, and then I removed all utility software, alsa and pulseaudio, saned, etc.. I used apt-get remove --purge, clean, autoremove

When I purged exim I got some error about 'wildcard services are not going to work until next reboot' .. After reboot I am still able to log in, but only to run level 3.. if I startx the GUI it looks some gardien green-blue and no desktop..

This is just a kick-the tires install, as on Devuan I never installed any of the desktop before, and curious what works and what breaks. If you ask i can try and duplicate this later.. I purge exim all the time from the server installs and no issues.