If you did not autoremove most/all Whonix packages, then no need.
I didn’t autoremove anything for now.
But what surprises me when I type the command line sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade in the Gateway I receive that warning :
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
libcdio13 libdirectfb-1.2-9 libgles1-mesa libiso9660-8 libvcdinfo0 libvlccore8
linux-headers-4.9.0-6-amd64 linux-headers-4.9.0-6-common linux-image-4.9.0-6-amd64
Use 'sudo apt autoremove' to remove them.
All these problems let me suppose my system is very sick. But why ? I have never ever touched the Gateway and it seems also that some packages are not necessary anymore.
If you want to test…
sudo whonix_repository --enable --repository testers
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
-
No error message during the upgrade, went smoothly.
-
Rebooting.
-
Unfortunately if I launch the “whonixcheck” again I get the same error as mentioned earlier
1 Like
Also whonixcheck was upgraded.
Check /usr/lib/whonixcheck/check_packages.bsh
https://github.com/Whonix/whonixcheck/blob/master/usr/lib/whonixcheck/check_packages.bsh#L23
It should check for non-qubes-whonix-workstation-kde now.
Output of
dpkg -l non-qubes-whonix-workstation
?
1 Like
My /usr/lib/whonixcheck/check_packages.bsh
#!/bin/bash
## Copyright (C) 2012 - 2018 ENCRYPTED SUPPORT LP <adrelanos@riseup.net>
## See the file COPYING for copying conditions.
check_meta_packages() {
local meta_package_not_installed meta_package_wanted meta_package_wanted_list
meta_package_wanted="unknown"
if [ "$qubes_detected" = "true" ]; then
meta_package_wanted_list="<code>qubes-whonix-gateway</code> or <code>qubes-whonix-workstation</code>"
if [ "$vm_lower_case_short" = "gateway" ]; then
meta_package_wanted="qubes-whonix-gateway"
elif [ "$vm_lower_case_short" = "workstation" ]; then
meta_package_wanted="qubes-whonix-workstation"
fi
else
meta_package_wanted_list="<code>non-qubes-whonix-gateway-kde</code> or <code>non-qubes-whonix-workstation-kde</code>"
if [ "$vm_lower_case_short" = "gateway" ]; then
meta_package_wanted="non-qubes-whonix-gateway-kde"
elif [ "$vm_lower_case_short" = "workstation" ]; then
meta_package_wanted="non-qubes-whonix-workstation-kde"
fi
fi
if [ "$meta_package_wanted" = "unknown" ]; then
meta_package_not_installed="unknown"
else
if dpkg-query --show "$meta_package_wanted" &> /dev/null ; then
meta_package_not_installed="none"
else
meta_package_not_installed="$meta_package_wanted"
fi
fi
local if_you_know_what_you_are_doing_msg see_also_link
if_you_know_what_you_are_doing_msg="$(if_you_know_what_you_are_doing_funct "$FUNCNAME")"
see_also_link="<a href=https://www.whonix.org/wiki/Whonix_Debian_Packages>https://www.whonix.org/wiki/Whonix_Debian_Packages</a>"
if [ "$meta_package_not_installed" = "none" ]; then
local MSG="<p>Whonix Meta Packages Test Result: $meta_package_not_installed missing. (See also: $see_also_link)</p>"
if [ "$verbose" -ge "1" ]; then
$output_x ${output_opts[@]} --messagex --typex "info" --message "$MSG"
$output_cli ${output_opts[@]} --messagecli --typecli "info" --message "$MSG"
fi
return 0
elif [ "$meta_package_not_installed" = "unknown" ]; then
local MSG="<p>Whonix Meta Packages Test Result: Neither Whonix-Gateway nor Whonix-Workstation detected.
Therefore unchecked, if either the $meta_package_wanted_list meta packages is installed.
<br />See also: $see_also_link
<br />$if_you_know_what_you_are_doing_msg</p>"
else
local MSG="<p>Whonix Meta Packages Test Result: $VM detected, but the meta package <code>$meta_package_not_installed</code> is not installed.
Did you accidentally uninstall it?
<br />See also: $see_also_link
<br />$if_you_know_what_you_are_doing_msg</p>"
fi
$output_x ${output_opts[@]} --messagex --typex "warning" --message "$MSG"
$output_cli ${output_opts[@]} --messagecli --typecli "warning" --message "$MSG"
}
check_unwanted_packages() {
local unwanted_package unwanted_packages_list unwanted_packages_counter dpkg_query_result first
unwanted_packages_counter="0"
for unwanted_package in $whonixcheck_unwanted_package ; do
dpkg_query_result="$(dpkg-query --show --showformat='${Status}\n' "$unwanted_package" 2>/dev/null)" || true
## dpkg_query_result example:
## when installed : install ok installed
## when not fully installed : install ok unpacked
## when removed : deinstall ok config-files
## when purged, no stdout
read -r first _ <<< "$dpkg_query_result"
if [ "install" = "$first" ]; then
unwanted_packages_counter="$(( $unwanted_packages_counter + 1 ))"
unwanted_packages_list+="$unwanted_package "
fi
done
if [ "$unwanted_packages_counter" = "0" ]; then
local MSG="<p>Whonix Unwanted Packages Test Result: None found.</p>"
if [ "$verbose" -ge "1" ]; then
$output_x ${output_opts[@]} --messagex --typex "info" --message "$MSG"
$output_cli ${output_opts[@]} --messagecli --typecli "info" --message "$MSG"
fi
return 0
fi
local if_you_know_what_you_are_doing_msg see_also_link
if_you_know_what_you_are_doing_msg="$(if_you_know_what_you_are_doing_funct "$FUNCNAME")"
see_also_link="<a href=https://www.whonix.org/wiki/Whonix_Debian_Packages>https://www.whonix.org/wiki/Whonix_Debian_Packages</a>"
local packages_help_msg
packages_help_msg="<br></br>1. Open a terminal. ($persistent_changes_start_menu_instructions_first_part Terminal)
<br></br>2. Purge. <blockquote><code>sudo apt-get purge $unwanted_packages_list</code></blockquote>"
if [ "$qubes_detected" = "true" ]; then
if [ "$qubes_vm_persistence" = "full" ]; then
## Running in either StandaloneVM or TemplateVM.
## Above existing packages_help_msg is fine.
true
else
## TemplateBasedVM
packages_help_msg="<br></br>1. Open a terminal. ($persistent_changes_start_menu_instructions_first_part Terminal)
<br></br>2. Purge. <blockquote><code>sudo apt-get purge $unwanted_packages_list</code></blockquote>
3. Shutdown your TemplateVM. (dom0 -> Qubes VM Manager -> right click '<code>$qubes_base_template</code>' -> Shutdown VM)
<br></br>4. Shutdown and restart this TemplateBased <code>$qubes_vm_type</code>. (dom0 -> Qubes VM Manager -> right click '<code>$qubes_name_of_vm</code>' -> Shutdown VM)"
fi
fi
local MSG="<p>Whonix Unwanted Packages Test Result: $unwanted_packages_counter unwanted package(s) installed. \
It is recommended that you remove them from $update_where.
$packages_help_msg
<br />See also: $see_also_link
<br />$if_you_know_what_you_are_doing_msg</p>"
$output_x ${output_opts[@]} --messagex --typex "warning" --message "$MSG"
$output_cli ${output_opts[@]} --messagecli --typecli "warning" --message "$MSG"
}
check_packages() {
check_meta_packages
check_unwanted_packages
}
Output of : dpkg -l non-qubes-whonix-workstation
root@host:/home/user# dpkg -l non-qubes-whonix-workstation
dpkg-query: no packages found matching non-qubes-whonix-workstation
root@host:/home/user#
EDIT : I took a snapshot before the upgrade in case you want me to reverse something.
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install non-qubes-whonix-workstation-kde
1 Like
YOU ARE A BOSS PATRICK !!!
Thumbs up 
Message disappeared !
Should I do the same on the Gateway now ?
Whonix-Gateway: If you want to test…
sudo whonix_repository --enable --repository testers
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
Hopefully not required.
sudo apt-get install non-qubes-whonix-gateway-kde
Let me know if it was required.
I decided to use the tester’s repository on both the Gateway and the Workstation. So no difference while updating or upgrading them in the futur.
May I ask you one more thing @Patrick ?
On my Workstation I still have a lot of packages that the system would like to remove :
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
anon-shared-applications-kde anon-shared-default-applications anon-shared-desktop anon-shared-desktop-kde anon-shared-packages-dependencies
anon-shared-packages-recommended anon-torchat anon-workstation-packages-dependencies ca-certificates-mono cli-common libexif12 libgdiplus
libjsoncpp1 libmono-accessibility4.0-cil libmono-corlib4.5-cil libmono-data-tds4.0-cil libmono-i18n-west4.0-cil libmono-i18n4.0-cil
libmono-posix4.0-cil libmono-security4.0-cil libmono-system-configuration4.0-cil libmono-system-core4.0-cil libmono-system-data4.0-cil
libmono-system-drawing4.0-cil libmono-system-enterpriseservices4.0-cil libmono-system-numerics4.0-cil
libmono-system-runtime-serialization-formatters-soap4.0-cil libmono-system-security4.0-cil libmono-system-transactions4.0-cil
libmono-system-windows-forms4.0-cil libmono-system-xml4.0-cil libmono-system4.0-cil libmono-webbrowser4.0-cil mono-4.0-gac mono-gac mono-runtime
mono-runtime-common mono-runtime-sgen non-qubes-vm-enhancements thunderbird whonix-shared-packages-dependencies whonix-shared-packages-recommended
whonix-workstation-packages-dependencies whonix-workstation-packages-recommended xsel xul-ext-torbirdy
Use 'sudo apt autoremove' to remove them.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Same on the Gateway :
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
anon-gateway-default-applications anon-gateway-packages-dependencies
anon-gateway-packages-recommended anon-shared-applications-kde
anon-shared-default-applications anon-shared-packages-dependencies
anon-shared-packages-recommended libcdio13 libdirectfb-1.2-9 libgles1-mesa
libiso9660-8 libvcdinfo0 libvlccore8 linux-headers-4.9.0-6-amd64
linux-headers-4.9.0-6-common linux-image-4.9.0-6-amd64
whonix-gateway-packages-dependencies whonix-gateway-packages-recommended
whonix-shared-packages-dependencies whonix-shared-packages-recommended
Use 'sudo apt autoremove' to remove them.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Is that normal ? Can I keep it like this ? Is there a risk to autoremove ? Are these packages useful ?
EDIT : Error message was also present on the Gateway and I had to type the required command line :
sudo apt-get install non-qubes-whonix-gateway-kde
to make it disappear as I did on the Workstation.
Thank you again and again 
You deserve 
If I autoremove some of packages if I will set testers repositories and then run dist-upgrade packages will be back ?
I didn’t have coIM installed, but after update I got it installeg. Now Whonix is using coIM by default ?
I doubt that but I am also not sure I get the question right.
Yes, search in anon-meta-packages/control at master · Whonix/anon-meta-packages · GitHub
Yes sure @Patrick, I’ll do so and keep you (and the community) posted if I have some troubles while removing the above packages.
Again, many thanks for your support, you can’t imagine how your contribution is helpful.
Best regards,
2 Likes
I did a snapshot before I launched sudo apt autoremove and afterwars everything is working very well. So that seems that the above packages are not required for the proper functioning of the Workstation.
Will update if something changed in the well operating of the system.
2 Likes
Good Question dear Cottonwoodhill. Really good! Same Problem!
ef86
Hello ef86
What do you mean ? Do you also have the list of packages that the system proposes to remove ?
1 Like
Dear Cottonwoodhill, please excuse me for answering so late. Yes, I have the same problem.
ef86
Hi ef86,
In my case, I removed the above packages by running apt autoremove and that didn’t affect my system. (From what I have seen until now, but I’m not an expert)
So please if you also do so, backup your Whonix before and be aware of the risk. See Patrick’s post documented here
Hope that helps 
2 Likes
Dear Cottonwoodhill,
done too and works perfectly!
ef86
1 Like