Ubuntu
update-manager package

how to save automatic security updates to disk

Asked by peter massen

Currently using 10.04 which I have on DVD which came with mag ubuntu user (but also would like to be applicable to other versions). Currently when I do an install from DVD and connect to net the update manager wants to install about 160MB of security updates and another 100MB or so of suggested updates.

My problem is this, I have a slow internet con with limited and expensive download capability, how can I save the updates (only) to a removable drive i.e. usb or whatever so that if I do another install (on same or similar hardware) I can then install them on the new clean install without downloading another 260MB over the net again from repositories?

I have researched this and maybe I have missed something but I cannot find a simple answer. There is info on backing up all of an install with updates using something like remastersys, but not just the debs and scripts that the update manager does automagically, I cannot even figure out where to find the list of downloaded files or where they are stored, let alone figure out how to reactivate an update install once they are found.

PLEASE HELP! would be much appreciated.

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Ubuntu update-manager Edit question
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actionparsnip
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Revision history for this message
marcus aurelius (adbiz) said : 		#1

that's not really an efficient way of installing updates. if one package, lets say empathy, is updated, the previous update of empathy is replaced with the new one. the same goes with other packages. so if new updates for empathy is available again, you'll have the old copy on your usb stick and will still have to download the new one. after awhile, all the packages that you have will be old and you will be forced to download everything again.

just my thoughts on this.

do you have public internet access where you are? say the public library?

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Best actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#2

You can copy the files from /var/cache/apt/archives to a CD / USB storage and then run:

sudo dpkg -i /path/to/files/*.deb

And it will install them. You can even use aptoncd and setup a pretty CD GUI for the apps.

Revision history for this message
peter massen (ubuntu-newbie) said : 		#3

Thanks actionparsnip, that solved my question.