[Pkg-sysvinit-devel] Suggest new: "update-rc.d <package> disable" that survives apt-get dist-upgrade in addition to "remove"

[Peter Valdemar Mørch]

On the debian-user list, I asked the question:

"How do I configure a service to *NEVER EVER START* automatically? So
this choice survives a "apt-get dist-upgrade"?" (which re-recreates any
links removed in the past)
http://lists.debian.org/debian-user/2005/11/msg00630.html

The answer I liked best was to leave an active (K?) link after running
"update-rc.d name remove". Then it won't be overwritten by later
"defaults" or "start|stop", and it allows me to still run:
# /etc/init.d/program start
manually.

Do you know of a more elegant way to accomplish this?

Otherwise, may I suggest that (at least the man page of) update-rc.d be
enhanced to handle this? I suggest creating

# update-rc.d name disable

To have the exact same effect as:

# update-rc.d name -f remove
# update-rc.d name stop 99 6 .

Is that a safe way to do it? If that idea is acceptable to you, I don't
mind patching
./debian/sysv-rc/man8/update-rc.d.8
./debian/sysv-rc/sbin/update-rc.d
to do this. (My French, Japanese and Spanish aren't up to the job, I'm
affraid).

At the very least I suggest describing in the man page how to
*permanently* disable a service from starting. Whether that be the
("disable" described above) ("remove" + "stop 99 6 .") or a better
solution if you know one!

Otherwise, please let me know if such a contribution would be considered
for inclusion if I made it. Because then I will create the patch! (Maybe
I'll figure out how to use dpatch along the way too!) :-D

Peter
-- 
Peter Valdemar Mørch
http://www.morch.com