dpkg -P removes /opt

Asked by 7 months ago

Hello All,
My deb file installs to /opt/blah/blah, when I purge the package with dpkg -P blah everything is removed - even /opt (if mine is the only package with files in /opt) - How can I avoid removing the /opt folder during a purge?

I have tried checking if /opt exist in the postrm and adding it if it doesn't but no joy...It seems that the folder is deleted after the postrm script is run. Currently I am adding a hidden file in /opt with postinst - this stops opt from being removed but feels hackey - there should be a better way.

Thank you,

2 answers

cagove from Salt Lake City, United States of America Oct 23, 2012 (Edited Oct 23, 2012)

Found out this is normal debian behavior – debian wants software installed in the /usr folder not in /opt.

NN comments

Helmut Grohne [ Editor ] Oct 24, 2012 (Edited Oct 24, 2012)

So the base-files package creates /opt during installation, but it does not “own” the directory. Once removed by a user or some package, it is gone. See /usr/share/doc/base-files/README for the reasoning.

Thanks to #debian-mentors for pointing me in the right direction.

NN comments

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Hello All,
My deb file installs to /opt/blah/blah, when I purge the package with dpkg -P blah everything is removed - even /opt (if mine is the only package with files in /opt) - How can I avoid removing the /opt folder during a purge?

Thank you,

2 answers

cagove from Salt Lake City, United States of America Oct 23, 2012 (Edited Oct 23, 2012)

Helmut Grohne [ Editor ] Oct 24, 2012 (Edited Oct 24, 2012)

Your answer

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dpkg -P removes /opt

Hello All,My deb file installs to /opt/blah/blah, when I purge the package with dpkg -P blah everything is removed - even /opt (if mine is the only package with files in /opt) - How can I avoid removing the /opt folder during a purge?

Thank you,

2 answers

cagove from Salt Lake City, United States of America Oct 23, 2012 (Edited Oct 23, 2012)

Helmut Grohne [ Editor ] Oct 24, 2012 (Edited Oct 24, 2012)

Your answer

Hello All,
My deb file installs to /opt/blah/blah, when I purge the package with dpkg -P blah everything is removed - even /opt (if mine is the only package with files in /opt) - How can I avoid removing the /opt folder during a purge?