Focal verification This verification is quite long, given the amount of tests involved. TL;DR All tests from (a) to (j) passed as required. focal verification succeeded. Details below. 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 with: ii base-files 11ubuntu5.1 amd64 Debian base system miscellaneous files ii ubuntu-server 1.450.1 amd64 The Ubuntu Server system With proposed enabled, an apt install base-files pulls in motd-news-config and upgrades ubuntu-server: $ 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 The following NEW packages will be installed: motd-news-config The following packages will be upgraded: base-files ubuntu-server (...) And motd-news remains enabled: ubuntu@focal-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. ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ apt-cache policy base-files ubuntu-server motd-news-config 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 (...) ubuntu-server: Installed: 1.450.2 Candidate: 1.450.2 Version table: *** 1.450.2 500 500 http://br.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-proposed/main amd64 Packages 100 /var/lib/dpkg/status (...) motd-news-config: Installed: 11ubuntu5.2 Candidate: 11ubuntu5.2 Version table: *** 11ubuntu5.2 500 500 http://br.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-proposed/main amd64 Packages 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 First, change /e/d/motd-news to disable the service: ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ sudo sed -i 's,^ENABLED=.*,ENABLED=0,' /etc/default/motd-news ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ sudo /etc/update-motd.d/50-motd-news --force ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ Confirm installed packages: ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -l base-files ubuntu-server motd-news-config | grep ^i dpkg-query: no packages found matching motd-news-config ii base-files 11ubuntu5.1 amd64 Debian base system miscellaneous files ii ubuntu-server 1.450.1 amd64 The Ubuntu Server system Install base-files, which upgrades ubuntu-server, base-files, and installs the new motd-news-config package: ubuntu@focal-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 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 15 not upgraded. And confirm motd-news remains disabled (which was the modification done): ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ sudo /etc/update-motd.d/50-motd-news --force ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ 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 from: - unmodified config: ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -s base-files | grep /etc/default/motd-news ; md5sum /etc/default/motd-news /etc/default/motd-news c08a329a603b640095da5ffe4e73491c c08a329a603b640095da5ffe4e73491c /etc/default/motd-news - ubuntu-server removed: ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -l base-files ubuntu-server motd-news-config | grep ^i dpkg-query: no packages found matching ubuntu-server dpkg-query: no packages found matching motd-news-config ii base-files 11ubuntu5.1 amd64 Debian base system miscellaneous files apt install base-files upgrades just base-files, and /e/d/motd-news is removed, resulting in a disabled motd-news: $ sudo apt install base-files ... The following packages will be upgraded: base-files 1 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 15 not upgraded. ... ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ ls -la /etc/default/motd-news ls: cannot access '/etc/default/motd-news': No such file or directory ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ sudo /etc/update-motd.d/50-motd-news --force ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ 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@focal-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -l base-files ubuntu-server motd-news-config | grep ^i dpkg-query: no packages found matching ubuntu-server dpkg-query: no packages found matching motd-news-config ii base-files 11ubuntu5.1 amd64 Debian base system miscellaneous files ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ sudo sed -i 's,^ENABLED=.*,ENABLED=0,' /etc/default/motd-news ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ sudo /etc/update-motd.d/50-motd-news --force ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ apt install base-files upgrades just base-files, and leaves a backup config file around. motd-news remains disabled since there is no config file: $ sudo apt install base-files ... The following packages will be upgraded: base-files 1 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 15 not upgraded. ... ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ ls -la /etc/default/motd-news* -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 682 Aug 25 18:42 /etc/default/motd-news.dpkg-bak ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ sudo /etc/update-motd.d/50-motd-news --force ubuntu@focal-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@focal-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -l base-files ubuntu-server motd-news-config | grep ^i ii base-files 11ubuntu5.2 amd64 Debian base system miscellaneous files ii motd-news-config 11ubuntu5.2 all Configuration for motd-news shipped in base-files ii ubuntu-server 1.450.2 amd64 The Ubuntu Server system ubuntu@focal-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 15 not upgraded. After this operation, 96.3 kB disk space will be freed. Do you want to continue? [Y/n] f) upgrading just ubuntu-server should pull motd-news-config in, and force-upgrade base-files Starting point: ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -l base-files ubuntu-server motd-news-config | grep ^i dpkg-query: no packages found matching motd-news-config ii base-files 11ubuntu5.1 amd64 Debian base system miscellaneous files ii ubuntu-server 1.450.1 amd64 The Ubuntu Server system ubuntu@focal-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 15 not upgraded. Need to get 68.0 kB of archives. After this operation, 45.1 kB of additional disk space will be used. Do you want to continue? [Y/n] 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 for both cases: ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -l base-files ubuntu-server motd-news-config | grep ^i ii base-files 11ubuntu5.2 amd64 Debian base system miscellaneous files ii motd-news-config 11ubuntu5.2 all Configuration for motd-news shipped in base-files ii ubuntu-server 1.450.2 amd64 The Ubuntu Server system ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ ls -la /etc/default/motd-news* -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 682 Aug 7 20:02 /etc/default/motd-news Remove: ubuntu@focal-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 15 not upgraded. After this operation, 96.3 kB disk space will be freed. Do you want to continue? [Y/n] (Reading database ... 31277 files and directories currently installed.) Removing ubuntu-server (1.450.2) ... Removing motd-news-config (11ubuntu5.2) ... ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ ls -la /etc/default/motd-news* -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 682 Aug 7 20:02 /etc/default/motd-news Purge: ubuntu@focal-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 15 not upgraded. After this operation, 96.3 kB disk space will be freed. Do you want to continue? [Y/n] (Reading database ... 31277 files and directories currently installed.) Removing ubuntu-server (1.450.2) ... Removing motd-news-config (11ubuntu5.2) ... (Reading database ... 31271 files and directories currently installed.) Purging configuration files for motd-news-config (11ubuntu5.2) ... ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ ls -la /etc/default/motd-news* ls: cannot access '/etc/default/motd-news*': No such file or directory 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@focal-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -l base-files ubuntu-server motd-news-config | grep ^i dpkg-query: no packages found matching motd-news-config ii base-files 11ubuntu5.1 amd64 Debian base system miscellaneous files ii ubuntu-server 1.450.1 amd64 The Ubuntu Server system ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ sudo rm /etc/default/motd-news ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ ls -la /etc/default/motd-news* ls: cannot access '/etc/default/motd-news*': No such file or directory ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ Install base-files: ubuntu@focal-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 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 15 not upgraded. (...) /e/d/motd-news is created with ENABLED=0 and a note stating why: ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ head /etc/default/motd-news -n 7 # 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@focal-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -l base-files ubuntu-server motd-news-config | grep ^i dpkg-query: no packages found matching ubuntu-server dpkg-query: no packages found matching motd-news-config ii base-files 11ubuntu5.1 amd64 Debian base system miscellaneous files ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ sudo rm /etc/default/motd-news ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ ls -la /etc/default/motd-news* ls: cannot access '/etc/default/motd-news*': No such file or directory Install base-files, just base-files is upgraded, and no /e/d/motd-news file is created: ubuntu@focal-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 15 not upgraded. ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ ls -la /etc/default/motd-news* -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Aug 25 18:54 /etc/default/motd-news.wasremoved As noted in the SRU bug for this test case, a ".wasremoved" zero-sized file is left around, but motd-news remains disabled. 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) Starting point, with focal-proposed disabled (since groovy already has these changes proposed here): $ dpkg -l base-files ubuntu-server motd-news-config | grep ^i dpkg-query: no packages found matching ubuntu-server dpkg-query: no packages found matching motd-news-config ii base-files 11ubuntu5.1 amd64 Debian base system miscellaneous files ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -s base-files | grep /etc/default/motd-news ; md5sum /etc/default/motd-news /etc/default/motd-news c08a329a603b640095da5ffe4e73491c c08a329a603b640095da5ffe4e73491c /etc/default/motd-news ubuntu@focal-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. $ sudo do-release-upgrade -d ... State at the end: ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ dpkg -l base-files ubuntu-server motd-news-config | grep ^i dpkg-query: no packages found matching motd-news-config ii base-files 11ubuntu12 amd64 Debian base system miscellaneous files ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ apt-cache policy base-files base-files: Installed: 11ubuntu12 Candidate: 11ubuntu12 Version table: *** 11ubuntu12 500 500 http://br.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu groovy/main amd64 Packages 100 /var/lib/dpkg/status motd-news disabled (also tested after a reboot): ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ sudo /etc/update-motd.d/50-motd-news --force ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ echo $? 0 ubuntu@focal-motd-news-split:~$ ls -la /etc/default/motd-news* ls: cannot access '/etc/default/motd-news*': No such file or directory