How to (re-) install software of older versions of openSUSE?

English Install/Boot/Login
1

Hello all!

On the PC that I’m writing about, I had an openSUSE 15.1 with KDE (probably not with all updates) running as part of a multiboot, and I used it for scanning documents with a scanner CanoScan LiDE 60 (from Canon) without any problems.

A few days ago, I replaced this installation of 15.1 with a fresh installation of openSUSE 15.6 with KDE.

When I try to scan a page, using Skanlite, under the new installation of openSUSE 15.6, preview of the scan works.

But when I try to do the final scan, the scanner makes an ugly noise (I feared it would be damaged) and the output is a criss-cross of grey lines that have nothing in common with the scanned region of the page.

I first was about to blame Skanlite for this.

But after looking around a bit I found, that Skanlite (like Xsane) is just a frontend and relies on SANE as a backend.

Finally I found

saying that
sane-1.0.27-2
was the last version of SANE that worked for a CanoScan LiDE 60.

This still seems to be true.

Now my question is:
I would like to replace the actual installation of SANE in my openSUSE 15.6 by that of openSUSE 15.1 (what as strange question …).

In other words, I would like to use
http://download.opensuse.org/distribution/leap/15.1/repo/oss/x86_64/sane-backends-1.0.27-lp151.5.3.x86_64.rpm
which worked just fine, to replace
http://download.opensuse.org/distribution/leap/15.6/repo/oss/x86_64/sane-backends-1.0.32-150400.15.2.1.x86_64.rpm
of openSUSE 15.6.

Is this possible?
And how can I do that?

A similar problem that I have with GIMP under openSUSE 15.6 is:
In GIMP under openSUSE 15.6 the menu of colors-curves ist broken, while that worked fine with the versions of GIMP included up to openSUSE 15.5.

Can I install the version of GIMP that shipped with openSUSE 15.5 under openSUSE 15.6 in order to have GIMP work again in the way I need it?

2

Generally speaking, if you have an occasional .rpm package you can install it via rpm, check
rpm --help
but if you have a few you regularly use you can place them in a “local repository” and manage them with zypper.
Say your collection is at

/home/<some user>/LocalRepo

you can do

zypper addrepo dir:/home/<some user>/LocalRepo myrepo

and then install /switch /whatever from that repo.
Whether or not those older packages will work properly is another question.

3

Of course.

I have written some code, and if the interface changed, then the old software wont work anymore.

4

You can add the old repository or just download the RPMs. This solution can be very problematic, depending on the required dependencies you may end downgrading the Leap to 15.1.
The best way is reporting the problems to developers and meanwhile you could try to use virtual machine and/or flatpak for GIMP in order to not stay stuck.

5

The problem with sane (1.0.28) and CanonScan LiDE 60 was fixed with sane 1.0.29 (4 years ago):

Are you sure, you want to downgrade?

6

Hi Kieltux,

I’m not quite sure yet what I should do.

As you can read in my first post in this thread my CanoScan LiDE 60 tells me loud and clear that it can not work with version 1.0.32-150400.15.2.1 of sane-backends which shipped with openSUSE 15.6.

And it is not a hardware problem: the scanner works perfectly under an old openSUSE 13.2 still present on this multiboot PC.

7

@Kieltux

P.S.:
Skanlite, which is a frontend to SANE, isn’t the problem either.

I installed Xsane (frontend) in my openSUSE 15.6 and tried with that too.

Result: exactly the same symptoms.

8

It is possible to downgrade. But definitely not recommended. You will rip big security holes into your system as also other packages needs downgrade. Better retire your 20 years old museum piece. Or run Leap 15.1 in a VM as already suggested.

Possible way to downgrade:

leaptest:~ # zypper ar -f https://download.opensuse.org/distribution/leap/15.1/repo/oss/ oss
Adding repository 'oss' ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................[done]
Repository 'oss' successfully added

URI         : https://download.opensuse.org/distribution/leap/15.1/repo/oss/
Enabled     : Yes
GPG Check   : Yes
Autorefresh : Yes
Priority    : 99 (default priority)

Repository priorities are without effect. All enabled repositories share the same priority.
leaptest:~ # zypper ar -f https://download.opensuse.org/distribution/leap/15.1/repo/non-oss/ non-oss
Adding repository 'non-oss' ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................[done]
Repository 'non-oss' successfully added

URI         : https://download.opensuse.org/distribution/leap/15.1/repo/non-oss/
Enabled     : Yes
GPG Check   : Yes
Autorefresh : Yes
Priority    : 99 (default priority)

Repository priorities are without effect. All enabled repositories share the same priority.

leaptest:~ # zypper in --oldpackage http://download.opensuse.org/distribution/leap/15.1/repo/oss/x86_64/sane-backends-1.0.27-lp151.5.3.x86_64.rpm
Refreshing service 'NVIDIA'.
Refreshing service 'openSUSE'.
Warning: The gpg key signing file 'repomd.xml' has expired.
  Repository:       non-oss
  Key Fingerprint:  22C0 7BA5 3417 8CD0 2EFE 22AA B88B 2FD4 3DBD C284
  Key Name:         openSUSE Project Signing Key <opensuse@opensuse.org>
  Key Algorithm:    RSA 2048
  Key Created:      Mon May  5 10:37:40 2014
  Key Expires:      Thu May  2 10:37:40 2024 (EXPIRED)
  Rpm Name:         gpg-pubkey-3dbdc284-53674dd4
Retrieving repository 'non-oss' metadata ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................[done]
Building repository 'non-oss' cache ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................[done]
Warning: The gpg key signing file 'repomd.xml' has expired.
  Repository:       oss
  Key Fingerprint:  22C0 7BA5 3417 8CD0 2EFE 22AA B88B 2FD4 3DBD C284
  Key Name:         openSUSE Project Signing Key <opensuse@opensuse.org>
  Key Algorithm:    RSA 2048
  Key Created:      Mon May  5 10:37:40 2014
  Key Expires:      Thu May  2 10:37:40 2024 (EXPIRED)
  Rpm Name:         gpg-pubkey-3dbdc284-53674dd4
Retrieving repository 'oss' metadata ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................[done]
Building repository 'oss' cache ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................[done]
Loading repository data...
Reading installed packages...
Resolving package dependencies...

Problem: 1: the to be installed sane-backends-1.0.27-lp151.5.3.x86_64 requires 'libnetsnmp.so.30()(64bit)', but this requirement cannot be provided
not installable providers: libsnmp30-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64[oss]

 Solution 1: Following actions will be done:
  downgrade of snmp-mibs-5.9.4-150600.24.2.1.x86_64 to snmp-mibs-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64
  deinstallation of libsnmp40-5.9.4-150600.24.2.1.x86_64
  downgrade of net-snmp-5.9.4-150600.24.2.1.x86_64 to net-snmp-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64
  downgrade of perl-SNMP-5.9.4-150600.24.2.1.x86_64 to perl-SNMP-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64
 Solution 2: do not install sane-backends-1.0.27-lp151.5.3.x86_64
 Solution 3: break sane-backends-1.0.27-lp151.5.3.x86_64 by ignoring some of its dependencies

Choose from above solutions by number or cancel [1/2/3/c/d/?] (c): 1

Resolving dependencies...
Resolving package dependencies...

The following 4 packages are going to be downgraded:
  net-snmp perl-SNMP sane-backends snmp-mibs

The following NEW package is going to be installed:
  libsnmp30

The following package is going to be REMOVED:
  libsnmp40

4 packages to downgrade, 1 new, 1 to remove.

Package download size:     4.7 MiB

Package install size change:
              |      22.6 MiB  required by to be installed packages
    -4.8 MiB  |  -   27.4 MiB  released by to be removed packages

Backend:  classic_rpmtrans
Continue? [y/n/v/...? shows all options] (y): 
Retrieving: snmp-mibs-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64 (oss)                                                                                                                                                                                                        (1/5), 256.3 KiB    
Retrieving: snmp-mibs-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64.rpm .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................[done]
Retrieving: libsnmp30-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64 (oss)                                                                                                                                                                                                        (2/5), 949.7 KiB    
Retrieving: libsnmp30-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64.rpm ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................[done (5.1 MiB/s)]
Retrieving: net-snmp-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64 (oss)                                                                                                                                                                                                         (3/5), 456.7 KiB    
Retrieving: net-snmp-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64.rpm ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................[done]
Retrieving: perl-SNMP-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64 (oss)                                                                                                                                                                                                        (4/5), 136.7 KiB    
Retrieving: perl-SNMP-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64.rpm .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................[done]
Retrieving: sane-backends-1.0.27-lp151.5.3.x86_64 (Plain RPM files cache)                                                                                                                                                                                 (5/5),   3.0 MiB    

Checking for file conflicts: ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................[done]
(1/6) Installing: snmp-mibs-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64 .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................[done]
(2/6) Installing: libsnmp30-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64 .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................[done]
/usr/lib/tmpfiles.d/net-snmp.conf:1: Line references path below legacy directory /var/run/, updating /var/run/net-snmp → /run/net-snmp; please update the tmpfiles.d/ drop-in file accordingly.
(3/6) Installing: net-snmp-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64 ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................[done]
(4/6) Installing: perl-SNMP-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64 .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................[done]
(5/6) Installing: sane-backends-1.0.27-lp151.5.3.x86_64 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................[done]
(6/6) Removing: libsnmp40-5.9.4-150600.24.2.1.x86_64 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................[done]
 
leaptest:~ # 


leaptest:~ # zypper al sane-backends
Specified lock has been successfully added.
leaptest:~ #
9

Hi hui,

thank you very much for the time you took to produce your post.
Probably you used a VM for this, right?

I was not sure if I would need repositories like the two old 15.1 repositories in your example and am happy about your advice.

I’ll make a try later and report the results.

10

Correct. For such tests i have some VMs ready.

It makes tests like that easier. If you do not want to add the old repos, you need to download the needed old package versions:

Retrieving: snmp-mibs-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64 (oss)                                                                                                                                                                                                        (1/5), 256.3 KiB    
Retrieving: snmp-mibs-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64.rpm .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................[done]
Retrieving: libsnmp30-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64 (oss)                                                                                                                                                                                                        (2/5), 949.7 KiB    
Retrieving: libsnmp30-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64.rpm ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................[done (5.1 MiB/s)]
Retrieving: net-snmp-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64 (oss)                                                                                                                                                                                                         (3/5), 456.7 KiB    
Retrieving: net-snmp-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64.rpm ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................[done]
Retrieving: perl-SNMP-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64 (oss)                                                                                                                                                                                                        (4/5), 136.7 KiB    
Retrieving: perl-SNMP-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64.rpm .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................[done]
Retrieving: sane-backends-1.0.27-lp151.5.3.x86_64
11

Hi again, hui,

for me the issue with SANE is solved!

I did it a bit different than you proposed, but now the scanner works fine.

Thank you very much!

OK, what I did:

Add OSS repo of openSUSE 15.1

linux:/ # zypper addrepo -f https://download.opensuse.org/distribution/leap/15.1/repo/oss/ oss151
Adding repository 'oss151' ...............................................................................................[done]
Repository 'oss151' successfully added

URI         : https://download.opensuse.org/distribution/leap/15.1/repo/oss/
Enabled     : Yes
GPG Check   : Yes
Autorefresh : Yes
Priority    : 99 (default priority)

Repository priorities are without effect. All enabled repositories share the same priority.

I didn’t add the NON-OSS repo, because on this PC I have onboard graphics, i.e. no ```
NVIDIA graphics.

Then I decided to first downgrade Skanlite, because that should depend on the old version of SANE.

linux:/ # zypper install --oldpackage https://download.opensuse.org/distribution/leap/15.1/repo/oss/x86_64/skanlite-2.1.0.1-lp151.2.6.x86_64.rpm
Warning: The gpg key signing file 'repomd.xml' has expired.
  Repository:       oss151
  Key Fingerprint:  22C0 7BA5 3417 8CD0 2EFE 22AA B88B 2FD4 3DBD C284
  Key Name:         openSUSE Project Signing Key <opensuse@opensuse.org>
  Key Algorithm:    RSA 2048
  Key Created:      Mon May  5 10:37:40 2014
  Key Expires:      Thu May  2 10:37:40 2024 (EXPIRED)
  Rpm Name:         gpg-pubkey-3dbdc284-53674dd4
Retrieving repository 'oss151' metadata ..................................................................................[done]
Building repository 'oss151' cache .......................................................................................[done]
Loading repository data...
Reading installed packages...
Resolving package dependencies...

Problem: 1: the installed skanlite-lang-23.08.5-bp156.1.2.noarch requires 'skanlite = 23.08.5', but this requirement cannot be provided
 Solution 1: downgrade of skanlite-lang-23.08.5-bp156.1.2.noarch to skanlite-lang-2.1.0.1-lp151.2.6.noarch
 Solution 2: do not install skanlite-2.1.0.1-lp151.2.6.x86_64
 Solution 3: break skanlite-lang-23.08.5-bp156.1.2.noarch by ignoring some of its dependencies

Choose from above solutions by number or cancel [1/2/3/c/d/?] (c): 1

Resolving dependencies...
Resolving package dependencies...

The following 2 packages are going to be downgraded:
  skanlite skanlite-lang

2 packages to downgrade.

Package download size:     2.2 MiB

Package install size change:
              |       2.6 MiB  required by to be installed packages
  -395.2 KiB  |  -    3.0 MiB  released by to be removed packages

Backend:  classic_rpmtrans
Continue? [y/n/v/...? shows all options] (y): y
Retrieving: skanlite-2.1.0.1-lp151.2.6.x86_64 (Plain RPM files cache)                                       (1/2),   1.1 MiB
Retrieving: skanlite-lang-2.1.0.1-lp151.2.6.noarch (oss151)                                                 (2/2),   1.1 MiB
Retrieving: skanlite-lang-2.1.0.1-lp151.2.6.noarch.rpm .......................................................[done (2.9 MiB/s)]

Checking for file conflicts: .............................................................................................[done]
(1/2) Installing: skanlite-2.1.0.1-lp151.2.6.x86_64 ......................................................................[done]
(2/2) Installing: skanlite-lang-2.1.0.1-lp151.2.6.noarch .................................................................[done]

A bit funny that for Skanlite - as a frontend of SANE - wasn’t asked for a downgrade of sane-backends, the backend.

Now the downgrade of SANE.

Different than you suggested, I did not choose to downgrade SNMP (The Simple Network Management Protocol), because I anyway didn’t want to share the scanner in a network, and because it may be a good idea to change the running software as little as possible.

linux:/ # zypper install --oldpackage https://download.opensuse.org/distribution/leap/15.1/repo/oss/x86_64/sane-backends-1.0.27-lp151.5.3.x86_64.rpm
Loading repository data...
Reading installed packages...
Resolving package dependencies...

Problem: 1: the to be installed sane-backends-1.0.27-lp151.5.3.x86_64 requires 'libnetsnmp.so.30()(64bit)', but this requirement cannot be provided
not installable providers: libsnmp30-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64[oss151]

 Solution 1: Following actions will be done:
  downgrade of snmp-mibs-5.9.4-150600.24.2.1.x86_64 to snmp-mibs-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64
  deinstallation of libsnmp40-5.9.4-150600.24.2.1.x86_64
  downgrade of net-snmp-5.9.4-150600.24.2.1.x86_64 to net-snmp-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64
  downgrade of perl-SNMP-5.9.4-150600.24.2.1.x86_64 to perl-SNMP-5.7.3-lp151.7.5.x86_64
 Solution 2: do not install sane-backends-1.0.27-lp151.5.3.x86_64
 Solution 3: break sane-backends-1.0.27-lp151.5.3.x86_64 by ignoring some of its dependencies

Choose from above solutions by number or cancel [1/2/3/c/d/?] (c): 3

Resolving dependencies...
Resolving package dependencies...

The following package is going to be downgraded:
  sane-backends

1 package to downgrade.

Package download size:     3.0 MiB

Package install size change:
              |      15.6 MiB  required by to be installed packages
    -4.4 MiB  |  -   20.0 MiB  released by to be removed packages

Backend:  classic_rpmtrans
Continue? [y/n/v/...? shows all options] (y): y
Retrieving: sane-backends-1.0.27-lp151.5.3.x86_64 (Plain RPM files cache)                                   (1/1),   3.0 MiB

Checking for file conflicts: .............................................................................................[done]
warning: /etc/sane.d/dll.conf created as /etc/sane.d/dll.conf.rpmnew
(1/1) Installing: sane-backends-1.0.27-lp151.5.3.x86_64 ..................................................................[done]

Then

linux:/ # zypper addlock skanlite
Specified lock has been successfully added.
linux:/ # zypper al sane-backends
Specified lock has been successfully added.
linux:/ #
linux:/ # zypper removerepo oss151
Removing repository 'oss151' .............................................................................................[done]
Repository 'oss151' has been removed.
linux:/ #

Finally I used
YaST - Scanner .

A scanner database was built.
“Canon LiDE 60 at genesys:libusb:002:003” was chosen.

The scanner works fine now!

Thanks again
Mike

12

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