Bionic verification This verification is quite long, given the amount of tests involved. TL;DR All tests from (a) to (j) passed as required. bionic verification succeeded. Latest updates from bionic: base-files: *** 10.1ubuntu2.9 500 500 http://br.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-updates/main amd64 Packages and ubuntu-server: *** 1.417.4 500 500 http://br.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-updates/main amd64 Packages a) base-files installed, ubuntu-server installed, unmodified /e/d/motd-news apt install base-files - upgrades ubuntu-server - installs motd-news-config - /e/d/motd-news remains, motd-news remains enabled Starting point: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -l base-files ubuntu-server motd-news-config | grep ^ii dpkg-query: no packages found matching motd-news-config ii base-files 10.1ubuntu2.9 amd64 Debian base system miscellaneous files ii ubuntu-server 1.417.4 amd64 The Ubuntu Server system Unmodified config: $ dpkg -s base-files | grep /etc/default/motd-news; echo -n ' '; md5sum /etc/default/motd-news | awk '{print $2,$1}' /etc/default/motd-news c08a329a603b640095da5ffe4e73491c /etc/default/motd-news c08a329a603b640095da5ffe4e73491c Installing base-files pulls in motd-news-config and upgrades base-files and ubuntu-server: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ sudo apt install base-files Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done The following additional packages will be installed: motd-news-config ubuntu-server Recommended packages: grub-legacy-ec2 The following NEW packages will be installed: motd-news-config The following packages will be upgraded: base-files ubuntu-server 2 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 14 not upgraded motd-news remains enabled: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ sudo /etc/update-motd.d/50-motd-news --force * Are you ready for Kubernetes 1.19? It's nearly here! Try RC3 with sudo snap install microk8s --channel=1.19/candidate --classic https://microk8s.io/ has docs and details. config is now part of motd-news-config package: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -s motd-news-config | grep /etc/default/motd-news; echo -n ' '; md5sum /etc/default/motd-news | awk '{print $2,$1}' /etc/default/motd-news c08a329a603b640095da5ffe4e73491c /etc/default/motd-news c08a329a603b640095da5ffe4e73491c b) base-files installed, ubuntu-server installed, modified /e/d/motd-news apt install base-files - upgrades ubuntu-server - installs motd-news-config - /e/d/motd-news remains with the original modification Starting point: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -l base-files ubuntu-server motd-news-config | grep ^ii dpkg-query: no packages found matching motd-news-config ii base-files 10.1ubuntu2.9 amd64 Debian base system miscellaneous files ii ubuntu-server 1.417.4 amd64 The Ubuntu Server system Modified config: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ sudo sed -i "s,^ENABLED=.*,ENABLED=0," /etc/default/motd-news ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -s base-files | grep /etc/default/motd-news; echo -n ' '; md5sum /etc/default/motd-news | awk '{print $2,$1}' /etc/default/motd-news c08a329a603b640095da5ffe4e73491c /etc/default/motd-news e2d38a5c7454c64a967d6a2fe033558f motd-news disabled with that modification: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ sudo /etc/update-motd.d/50-motd-news --force ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ echo $? 0 Running apt install base-files also pulls in motd-news-config and upgrades ubuntu-server: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ sudo apt install base-files Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done The following additional packages will be installed: motd-news-config ubuntu-server Recommended packages: grub-legacy-ec2 The following NEW packages will be installed: motd-news-config The following packages will be upgraded: base-files ubuntu-server 2 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 14 not upgraded. Config file now belongs to motd-news-config, and is still flagged as modified: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -s motd-news-config | grep /etc/default/motd-news; echo -n ' '; md5sum /etc/default/motd-news | awk '{print $2,$1}' /etc/default/motd-news c08a329a603b640095da5ffe4e73491c /etc/default/motd-news e2d38a5c7454c64a967d6a2fe033558f And motd-news remains disabled because of the modification: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ sudo /etc/update-motd.d/50-motd-news --force ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ echo $? 0 And no other config file is in /e/d: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ ls -la /etc/default/motd-news* -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 682 Aug 25 19:26 /etc/default/motd-news c) base-files installed, ubuntu-server not installed, unmodified /e/d/motd-news apt install base-files - upgrades base-files - removes /e/d/motd-news - motd-news is disabled Starting point: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -l base-files ubuntu-server motd-news-config | grep ^ii dpkg-query: no packages found matching ubuntu-server dpkg-query: no packages found matching motd-news-config ii base-files 10.1ubuntu2.9 amd64 Debian base system miscellaneous files Unmodified config: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -s base-files | grep /etc/default/motd-news; echo -n ' '; md5sum /etc/default/motd-news | awk '{print $2,$1}' /etc/default/motd-news c08a329a603b640095da5ffe4e73491c /etc/default/motd-news c08a329a603b640095da5ffe4e73491c apt install base-files upgrades base-files and only that: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ sudo apt install base-files ... The following packages will be upgraded: base-files 1 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 14 not upgraded. Config file is gone, motd-news is disabled: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ ls -la /etc/default/motd-news* ls: cannot access '/etc/default/motd-news*': No such file or directory ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ sudo /etc/update-motd.d/50-motd-news --force ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ echo $? 0 d) base-files installed, ubuntu-server not installed, modified /e/d/motd-news apt install base-files - upgrades base-files - /e/d/motd-news gets renamed to backup - motd-news is disabled Starting point: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -l base-files ubuntu-server motd-news-config | grep ^ii dpkg-query: no packages found matching ubuntu-server dpkg-query: no packages found matching motd-news-config ii base-files 10.1ubuntu2.9 amd64 Debian base system miscellaneous files Modified config: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ sudo sed -i "s,^ENABLED=.*,ENABLED=0," /etc/default/motd-news ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -s base-files | grep /etc/default/motd-news; echo -n ' '; md5sum /etc/default/motd-news | awk '{print $2,$1}' /etc/default/motd-news c08a329a603b640095da5ffe4e73491c /etc/default/motd-news e2d38a5c7454c64a967d6a2fe033558f Due to the modification, motd-news is disabled: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ sudo /etc/update-motd.d/50-motd-news --force ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ echo $? 0 apt install base-files upgrades just base-files, and leaves a backup config around: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ sudo apt install base-files ... The following packages will be upgraded: base-files 1 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 14 not upgraded. motd-news remains disabled, since there is just the renamed config file around now: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ sudo /etc/update-motd.d/50-motd-news --force ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ echo $? 0 ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ ls -la /etc/default/motd-news* -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 682 Aug 25 19:31 /etc/default/motd-news.dpkg-bak ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ e) removing motd-news-config will also remove ubuntu-server (since it's a depends, and not a recommends) Starting point: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -l base-files ubuntu-server motd-news-config | grep ^ii ii base-files 10.1ubuntu2.10 amd64 Debian base system miscellaneous files ii motd-news-config 10.1ubuntu2.10 all Configuration for motd-news shipped in base-files ii ubuntu-server 1.417.5 amd64 The Ubuntu Server system ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ sudo apt remove motd-news-config Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done The following packages will be REMOVED: motd-news-config ubuntu-server 0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 2 to remove and 14 not upgraded. f) upgrading just ubuntu-server should pull motd-news-config in, and force-upgrade base-files Starting point: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -l base-files ubuntu-server motd-news-config | grep ^ii dpkg-query: no packages found matching motd-news-config ii base-files 10.1ubuntu2.9 amd64 Debian base system miscellaneous files ii ubuntu-server 1.417.4 amd64 The Ubuntu Server system ubuntu-server pulls in motd-news-config and also upgrades base-files: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ sudo apt install ubuntu-server Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done The following additional packages will be installed: base-files motd-news-config The following NEW packages will be installed: motd-news-config The following packages will be upgraded: base-files ubuntu-server 2 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 14 not upgraded. g) Removing motd-news-server leaves /e/d/motd-news around; purging motd-news-server removes the /e/d/motd-news config file Starting point: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -l base-files ubuntu-server motd-news-config | grep ^ii ii base-files 10.1ubuntu2.10 amd64 Debian base system miscellaneous files ii motd-news-config 10.1ubuntu2.10 all Configuration for motd-news shipped in base-files ii ubuntu-server 1.417.5 amd64 The Ubuntu Server system ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ ls -la /etc/default/motd-news* -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 682 Aug 7 20:02 /etc/default/motd-news Removing: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ sudo apt remove motd-news-config Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done The following packages will be REMOVED: motd-news-config ubuntu-server 0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 2 to remove and 14 not upgraded. (...) Removing motd-news-config (10.1ubuntu2.10) ... ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ ls -la /etc/default/motd-news* -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 682 Aug 7 20:02 /etc/default/motd-news Purging (same starting point, not shown for brevity): ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ sudo apt purge motd-news-config Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done The following packages will be REMOVED: motd-news-config* ubuntu-server* 0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 2 to remove and 14 not upgraded. (...) Purging configuration files for motd-news-config (10.1ubuntu2.10) ... ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ ls -la /etc/default/motd-news* ls: cannot access '/etc/default/motd-news*': No such file or directory ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ h) base-files installed, ubuntu-server installed, removed /e/d/motd-news - apt install base-files - upgrades base-files, upgrades ubuntu-server, installs motd-news-config - /e/d/motd-news is installed with ENABLED=0 Starting point: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -l base-files ubuntu-server motd-news-config | grep ^ii dpkg-query: no packages found matching motd-news-config ii base-files 10.1ubuntu2.9 amd64 Debian base system miscellaneous files ii ubuntu-server 1.417.4 amd64 The Ubuntu Server system ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ sudo rm /etc/default/motd-news ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ ls -la /etc/default/motd-news* ls: cannot access '/etc/default/motd-news*': No such file or directory ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ head -n 7 /etc/default/motd-news # Enable/disable the dynamic MOTD news service # This is a useful way to provide dynamic, informative # information pertinent to the users and administrators # of the local system # Changed by motd-news-config.postinst: # config file was manually removed - disable the service ENABLED=0 i) base-files installed, ubuntu-server NOT installed, removed e/d/motd-news - apt install base-files - base-files is upgraded - no /e/d/motd-news is installed, motd-news remains disabled Starting point: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -l base-files ubuntu-server motd-news-config | grep ^ii dpkg-query: no packages found matching ubuntu-server dpkg-query: no packages found matching motd-news-config ii base-files 10.1ubuntu2.9 amd64 Debian base system miscellaneous files ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ sudo rm /etc/default/motd-news ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ ls -la /etc/default/motd-news* ls: cannot access '/etc/default/motd-news*': No such file or directory ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ sudo apt install base-files Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done The following packages will be upgraded: base-files 1 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 14 not upgraded. motd-news remains disabled, but the zero-sized ".wasremoved" file remains: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ ls -la /etc/default/motd-news* -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Aug 25 19:43 /etc/default/motd-news.wasremoved ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ sudo /etc/update-motd.d/50-motd-news --force ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ echo $? 0 j) Perform a release upgrade from the previous ubuntu release to the one being tested while having ubuntu-server NOT installed (or use a desktop install). At the end, motd-news should be disabled. Verify with: $ sudo /etc/update-motd.d/50-motd-news --force $ (no output) j1) Without applying the bionic proposed update, i.e., no bionic-proposed packages installed (unlikely scenario, as the release upgrader wants the current release to be up-to-date): Starting point: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -l base-files ubuntu-server motd-news-config | grep ^ii dpkg-query: no packages found matching ubuntu-server dpkg-query: no packages found matching motd-news-config ii base-files 10.1ubuntu2.9 amd64 Debian base system miscellaneous files I did something a bit risky and added a sources.list line for focal-proposed, so the release upgrade used focal-proposed which might break for unrelated reasons. But during the confirmation step I, the details page already showed just base-files being upgraded and no motd-news-config package being installed. Status after the release upgrade finished: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ apt-cache policy base-files base-files: Installed: 11ubuntu5.2 Candidate: 11ubuntu5.2 Version table: *** 11ubuntu5.2 500 500 http://br.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-proposed/main amd64 Packages motd-news disabled: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ ls -la /etc/default/motd-news* ls: cannot access '/etc/default/motd-news*': No such file or directory ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ sudo /etc/update-motd.d/50-motd-news --force ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ echo $? 0 j2) With the bionic proposed update applied to a non-server system: Starting point: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -l base-files ubuntu-server motd-news-config | grep ^ii dpkg-query: no packages found matching motd-news-config ii base-files 10.1ubuntu2.10 amd64 Debian base system miscellaneous files motd-news is already disabled, because there is no /etc/default/motd-news config file. To make sure the focal-proposed base-files is used, I added a focal-proposed sources.list line like in the previous (j1) case, and just prior to running do-release-upgrade, removed the bionic-proposed one. The page showing what would be upgraded and installed only listed base-files and not motd-news-config, as expected. Status at the end: base-files from focal-proposed installed as expected: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ apt-cache policy base-files base-files: Installed: 11ubuntu5.2 Candidate: 11ubuntu5.2 Version table: *** 11ubuntu5.2 500 500 http://br.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-proposed/main amd64 Packages No motd-news-config installed: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -l base-files ubuntu-server motd-news-config | grep ^ii dpkg-query: no packages found matching motd-news-config ii base-files 11ubuntu5.2 amd64 Debian base system miscellaneous files motd-news disabled: ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ sudo /etc/update-motd.d/50-motd-news --force ubuntu@bionic-motd-news-split:~$ echo $? 0