[ubuntu-uk] gradual Distribution update

[Rob Beard]

Stephen Garton wrote:
> Afternoon All,
> 
> I look after my mother in laws's ubuntu box - currently running hardy.
> She only has a 512 broadband connection, and a full upgrade needs to
> download ~1.8GB of packages.
> 
> I have ssh access to the machine, when it is turned on. What I would
> like to do is log on when I know the machine is online, and start
> downloading the packages ready for installing at a later date. When I
> have downloaded all the packages, I can give her a call and say 'don't
> turn it off until I call back' and run the update.
> 
> Doing it this way would mean that it wouldn't matter if she shut the
> machine down while the packages were downloading, as when I next
> logged in they would start again from where they left off (similar to
> the way it works if you hit Ctrl+C whilst packages are downloading
> using sudo aptitude dist-upgrade)
> 
> Could I & Should I do the update this way, or should I wait until she
> goes on holiday in january, and leave the computer turned on and do it
> in one fell swoop?
> 
> TIA
> 
> Steve Garton
> http://www.sheepeatingtaz.co.uk
> 

Try apt-get update -d

The -d switch means that it just downloads updates but doesn't install 
them.  That way you can say download a few updates and then if she turns 
the PC off you can just start it again.  I'm sure there's a more elegant 
way of doing it but this is how I'd do it if I was in a hurry.

Rob