Do dpkg-ftp or dpkg-mountable modify /var/lib/dpkg/available directly ? If so then that is why this problem (older dpkg versions not understanding epochs) has such serious consequences. If you tried to dpkg --merge-available or dpkg --update-available with a Packages file that the currently-installed dpkg wasn't able to parse it would refuse to do it, and leave you with a working dpkg.
If a dselect method script just copies the file instead then dpkg doesn't get a chance to do this check. Perhaps someone decided that the 0.0000001 second saved by not having to parse the file is worth the extra hassle for the users of having their dpkg broken, or that they didn't understand the --merge-available or --update-available functions so clearly they should just bypass them. Perhaps dpkg should encrypt /var/lib/dpkg/* to stop random packages from messing with it ? Ian. -- TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THIS MAILING LIST: e-mail the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] . Trouble? e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] .