copying *.deb files into /var/cache/apt/archives ?

[Goh Lip]

On 07/27/2010 09:06 PM, Mihamina Rakotomandimby wrote:
>> a24061 at ducksburg.com :
>> If I do a distribution upgrade on my machine at work, then copy the
>> /var/cache/apt/archives/*.deb files onto a USB hard drive, take it
>> home, and copy them into /var/cache/apt/archives there (where the
>> network connection is much slower), would the distribution upgrade
>> successfully pick them up (to save downloading time)?
>
> When I made that, it worked.
>

Strange that it could work just like that. (make sure nothing is 
downloaded). Adam, if that works out as Mihamina said, would appreciate 
if you let us know, or others could confirm this as well.

If not, then at the directory where the deb files are copied to,
sudo dpkg-scanpackages . /dev/null | gzip -9c > Packages.gz

This will generate a package.gz too. Then burn all to cd. At the 
computer where it is to be updated,
sudo apt-cdrom add

A prompt will ask to name the cd and further
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade will prompt you to put the 
cd if the packages are in the cd.

Of course, you can use an iso file instead of cd by
mount -o loop xxxx.iso /media/cdrom
instead. (at another bash tab)

Regards - Goh Lip