Documentation

dpkg_selections

Manage Debian package selections (hold/unhold packages).

Description

This module manages dpkg selections for Debian packages. It allows you to set packages to be held, unheld, installed, deinstalled, or purged. This is useful for preventing automatic package updates, locking package versions, or managing package states during system configuration.

Attributes

check_mode:
  support: full

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Values	Description
executable	string		Path of the binary to use. [default: `"dpkg"`]
name	array		Name or list of names of packages.
selection	string	install hold deinstall purge unhold	The selection state to set. Valid values: `install`, `hold`, `deinstall`, `purge`. Using `unhold` is equivalent to `install`. [default: `"install"`]

Example

- name: Hold nginx package to prevent updates
  dpkg_selections:
    name: nginx
    selection: hold

- name: Hold multiple packages
  dpkg_selections:
    name:
      - nginx
      - docker-ce
      - kernel-package
    selection: hold

- name: Unhold a package to allow updates
  dpkg_selections:
    name: nginx
    selection: install

- name: Query current package selections
  dpkg_selections:
    name: nginx
  register: nginx_status

- name: Mark package for removal
  dpkg_selections:
    name: old-package
    selection: deinstall