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Per this question I've now got wonky preseed values for my gitolite installations such that gitolite fails to install. I need to clear my debconf database of a few keys, but I see no way to accomplish this. Neither did this fellow, as near as I can tell.

Is it possible to clear the debconf database of a few values?

1 Answer 1

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echo PURGE | debconf-communicate packagename

This will remove ALL the config for this package, so if you want to save some, get them first with debconf-get-selections, then replace the ones you wanted to keep.

You can find all possible actions in the Debian packaging manual. Instead of purging all question of a particular package you can try

echo RESET question | debconf-communicate packagename

or

echo UNREGISTER question | debconf-communicate packagename
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  • This doesn't work, I get debconf: DbDriver "passwords" warning: could not open /var/cache/debconf/passwords.dat: Permission denied 0 debconf: DbDriver "config": could not write /var/cache/debconf/config.dat-new: Permission denied Feb 16, 2023 at 21:38
  • @JesseBarnum You need to do it as root!
    – markshep
    Feb 17, 2023 at 12:45
  • That is with sudo Feb 17, 2023 at 22:12

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