apt-get install pkg_name[-] suffix with - to remove apt-get upgrade upgrades all packages will "keep back" packages in case of broken dependencies (absent dependencies), or if a package has an additional dependency (resolve with apt-get install) apt-get dist-upgrade upgrades everything, handling relationship changes apt-get clean; apt-get autoclean remove cached packages under varying conditions /etc/apt/apt.conf config file contains APT::Default-Release "version"; /etc/apt/preferences allows pinning of packages pin priorities allow packages to be blocked from installation, or from being upgraded, plus intermediate behaviours