/var directory in ubuntu

[Derek Broughton]

Peter wrote:

> Hello,
> I mistakenly deleted everything under /var in unbuntu 8.04.
> restarting ssh allows me to login as root.

It does?  Or it doesn't?  ssh typically, iirc, doesn't allow root logins 
under Ubuntu.  However, if you can ssh in at all, then sudo should still 
work.  Who needs root logins, anyway?

> however, the mysql database on the server and apt-get does not working any
> more.
> 
> I don't mind to reinstall everything. is there way that I can put back
> the original ubuntu 8.0 without the physical access of the machine?

/var doesn't typically have a lot of stuff that is vital to operating the 
machine, so I'm not sure what your problem is.  If you had a list (NOT in 
/var) of the installed packages, it would be a little easier.