Ubuntu Server: linux-4.4-latest broken; requires non-existent packages

#1

Re-doing an installation, I found I can not reproduce earlier results.

Specifically, on Ubuntu Server, after doing
unminimize
apt-get install openssh-server

and logging on via ssh, and sudo -s (to root) I find the command
apt-get install linux-4.4-latest
shows
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information… Done
Some packages could not be installed. This may mean that you have
requested an impossible situation or if you are using the unstable
distribution that some required packages have not yet been created
or been moved out of Incoming.
The following information may help to resolve the situation:

The following packages have unmet dependencies:
linux-4.4-latest : Depends: linux-image-4.4.154-87-rockchip-g1234567-g1234567 but it is not installable
Depends: linux-firmware-image-4.4.154-87-rockchip-g1234567-g1234567 but it is not installable
Depends: linux-headers-4.4.154-87-rockchip-g1234567-g1234567 but it is not installable
E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.

apt-get update && apt-get upgrade
…
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
gives no effect.

For impatient types (like me), I include a hack.

apt-get install linux-image-4.4.154-87-rockchip-00029-g8216f17 linux-firmware-image-4.4.154-87-rockchip-00029-g8216f17 linux-headers-4.4.154-87-rockchip-00029-g8216f17
The following,
apt-get install linux-4.4-latest linux-image-4.4.154-87-rockchip-g1234567-g1234567- linux-firmware-image-4.4.154-87-rockchip-g1234567-g1234567- linux-headers-4.4.154-87-rockchip-g1234567-g1234567-
did not work

How do I get apt-get to ignore some dependencies? - https://serverfault.com/questions/250224/how-do-i-get-apt-get-to-ignore-some-dependencies
I could download, and do a variation on the following (from the link).
Unpack deb: ar x golden-linux.deb (will create i.e. three files: debian-binary control.tar.gz data.tar.gz)
Unpack control archive: tar xzf control.tar.gz (will create: postinst postrm preinst prerm md5sums control)
Fix dependencies in control (use a text editor)
Repack control.tar.gz: tar --ignore-failed-read -cvzf control.tar.gz {post,pre}{inst,rm} md5sums control
Repack deb: ar rcs newpackage.deb debian-binary control.tar.gz data.tar.gz (order important! See [Note] )

[Note]: dpkg wouldn’t be able to read the metadata of a package quickly if it had to search for where the data section ended!
mkdir LINUX-4.4-LATEST

Instead, I simply did as follows.

cd LINUX-4.4-LATEST/
apt-get download linux-4.4-latest
dpkg -i --ignore-depends=linux-image-4.4.154-87-rockchip-g1234567-g1234567,linux-firmware-image-4.4.154-87-rockchip-g1234567-g1234567,linux-headers-4.4.154-87-rockchip-g1234567-g1234567 linux-4.4-latest_4.4.154-87_all.deb
Then, I fixed the incorrect dependencies,
vi /var/lib/dpkg/status
replacing
Depends: linux-image-4.4.154-87-rockchip-g1234567-g1234567, linux-firmware-image-4.4.154-87-rockchip-g1234567-g1234567, linux-headers-4.4.154-87-rockchip-g1234567-g1234567
with
Depends: linux-image-4.4.154-87-rockchip-00029-g8216f17, linux-firmware-image-4.4.154-87-rockchip-00029-g8216f17, linux-headers-4.4.154-87-rockchip-00029-g8216f17

and rebooted into the new kernel.

So, I have a kludge, but I would prefer a proper linux-4.4-latest.
How do I install the correct linux-4.4-latest (as I did before)?

#2

It’s not possible to run a mainline kernel at this time; there is another post in the forums you can follow for that.

#3

@oliphant Thanks. And it is fixed.

#4

It is the raxda package just forcing install, which as found prob not a good idea as found.
Yeah mainline 4.4 no way dunno how many patches there are but many.
There is a mainline available via Manjaro though, minimal or desktop 5.1 that lacks wifi/bt, hdmi audio and pcie.
The 5.2-rc6 is in the repo and so are the firmware drivers for wifi/bt which they have back ported from 5.2 and presuming they will also do hdmi-audio as the patch is small.
pci-e is confusing though as it seems totally off the radar and no-one seems to be pushing patches or dts to kernel or uboot?!

#5

Stephen, right on!
Thanks for your prompt attentiion.
I will give the package a try on my next, fresh installation.

#6

stuartiannaylor,
thank you for the additional information. I will keep it in mind.

#7

smlikens,
forgive me, but I found your response a bit confusing. You say that “It’s not possible” and subsequently “there is another post in the forums you can follow for that.”
Too, what kernel have I installed with my work-around?

#8

That is who I was replying as I think that was what he was saying but slightly confusing. Mainline 4.4 does not work but that is not the Radxa Latest,