On 2010-12-04 23:07:31 -0500, shawn wilson wrote: > so, i go to install openssh-server on a machine that i intend to be a web > development environment and it wants to install libx11-6, x11-common, > libx11-data and some other stuff. i went to track down what was depending on > x libraries, but i decided it really doesn't matter - why do i need x > libraries to run an ssh server?
You certainly don't need X to have a ssh server. I only looked at it it briefly, but I'm guessing it tried to install the package "xauth", which is a "recommends" of openssh-server. The new default for aptitude is to say "yes" to recommends. There is a way to configure your machine so that it says "no" by default to recommends. That has been discussed recently on this list. > i've spent two hours googling (and even bing) on how to keep x windows off > of debian. i've found tons of stuff about x windows problems which is ironic > since my problem is keeping a minimalistic system which doesn't include x. i > know one of the options gentoo's ports offers is not installing x (or used > to offer). I can see that you would have trouble find that information in a web search. I think that getting a system with X should be as simple as not allowing it to be installed. I think the problem you are running into is that the package system is pulling in recommends automatically. > i've found some options in dpkg, but nothing in apt-get. i don't see anyway > to pass dpkg's --ignore-depends with apt-get. i'm thinking i'm looking for > something in /etc/apt/apt.conf or apt-config but i can't come up with > anything. You can ignore a recommends at the time of installing by doing: aptitude install openssh-server -R I don't use apt-get, but when I search inside the man page... man apt-get ...I see the option "--no-install-recommends". So that would translate into: apt-get install openssh-server --no-install-recommends If you want to set an option so that aptitude says "no" by default to recommends, you can try this tutorial: http://linux.koolsolutions.com/2009/01/07/howto-tell-apt-get-not-to-install-recommends-packages-in-debian-linux/ > is it possible to have a functioning debian install without x windows? if > so, why isn't this documented maybe in the debian faq or something? Yes, many computers do not use X, especially server computers. I think one reason it is not documented is because many people setting up CLI-only computers, or server computers, are already experienced with wrangling their package management software. Hope this helps, Phil -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/20101205055557.ga18...@kasploosh.net