Installable packages may contain configuration files, usually installed in /etc/ . When updating packages, if such files are changed, the system does not rewrite them, but asks the user. The list of files and their source md5 sums is stored in the dpkg database. You can get it, though not very beautiful:

 dpkg-query --showformat='${Conffiles}\n' --show \*

How to get a list of all modified configuration files, then write them to the archive? Maybe there is some kind of ready-made utility?

    1 answer 1

    You can use the debsums program from the package of the same name:

     $ sudo debsums -ce > список-изменённых-файлов 2> список-отсутствующих-файлов
    • -с - report only changed files
    • -e - report configuration files only.
    • sudo - i.e., administrative authority is required due to the fact that some files may not be readable by ordinary users

    in the список-изменённых-файлов will get the lines of the form:

     /etc/apache2/mods-available/php5.conf

    In the список-отсутствующих-файлов will get the following lines:

     debsums: missing file /etc/udev/hdparm.rules (from hdparm package)

    in general, it’s pretty good to follow changes in configuration files using the etckeeper program from the package of the same name.