create back up for ubuntu softwares

[Ankit Agrawal]

hey friends plz help...
how can I create back up of softwares which I hav installed from internet long hours waiting, so that when I reinstall my pc I don't require to download them again......

[JGuru]

@Ankit Agrawal, The software packages that you downloaded are cached in the directory
/var/cache/apt/archives. Burn this directory contents using CD/DVD burner
software 'Gnomebaker'. Also open Synaptic Package Manager,

$ gksu /usr/sbin/synaptic

Go to the menu 'Settings'->'Preferences'

This opens the 'Preferences' dialog. Here click on the tab 'Files' .Under 'Temporary Files',
selct the option Leave all downloaded packages in the cache. Click on 'OK'
button. This step is important. Otherwise the cache will be deleted over a period of time!!!

See ScreenShot:

[Ankit Agrawal]

@JGURU, in archieves folder I got approx, 200 files which r arranged acc... to alphabetical wise, when I double click on them some don't get install as sequence is required to maintain...
do I hav to click 200 times for installing, and what to do with files which could not be installed (how to arrange them in sequence they get install)

[kalpik]

^^ Dont double click them! Just replace your /var/cache/apt folder when you re-install ubuntu and just install the normal way (using apt-get).

[JGuru]

Just copy the files from the CDROM to the directory /var/cache/apt/archives.

Open the Terminal Window & type:

$ sudo cp /cdrom/*.deb /var/cache/apt/archives

Now update the Source list

$ sudo cp /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/sources_back.list
$ sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

Just copy & Paste & following in the file.

  deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper main restricted

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the 'universe'
## repository.
## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## universe WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu security
## team.
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ dapper universe main restricted multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper universe

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-security main restricted
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-security main restricted

Save the file /etc/apt/sources.list

Now you must fetch the Source updates from the Net (it takes a few minutes using a broadband connection)

$ sudo apt-get update

Wait until the updates are complete.

After that install packages using 'apt-get'
For eg.,
$ sudo apt-get install xmms xmms-skins

Or use Synaptic Package Manager to install packages.

[cpyder]

Thank you guys.. Here is something that even i was looking for. I was thinking about this idea (for entire system):-
Backup the / Partition (or directory whatever it is called in Linux) on a DVD.
Backup the GRUB
To restore format the drive (it should be same as original one ie hda1, hda2 etc)
Copy the / from the backup to the drive.
Restore the MBR.

Should'nt it work??
Geeks??

[JGuru]

@Cpyder,
Backup root ('/') partition on a DVD:

Just burn the root directory ('/') contents using gnomebaker.

Backup Root partition on another partition:

The partition were you want to backup the root parition must also
be ext3 file system. First mount the partition where you want to transfer
the root file system

$ sudo mkdir /media/linux
Assume that partition is hda8. ( NOTE: In your case it may vary!!)

$ sudo mount /dev/hda8 /media/linux

$ cp -a / /media/linux

Restore MBR:

GRUB (the Linux bootloader) is written in the MBR. If you install Window O.S
after installing Linux. Windows writes itself in the MBR & GRUB is gone!!
Boot from Ubuntu Live CD, Open the Terminal Window & type:

$ sudo fdisk -l | grep Linux

This will display two Linux partitions as output one is the root('/') & another swap
Note down & the Linux root partition ( for eg., hda7)

$ sudo grub-install /dev/hda7

This will resore GRUB in the MBR.

[Ankit Agrawal]

@JGURU, hey I want to know can I get my softwares back which I installed without internet use, and if I hav stored my archieves folder in another partition how to replace it with files system's archieve folder