apt-get vs apt-cdrom
 

I'm considering installing Libranet 2.7. This version doesn't come with a lot of software, so I'll have to download a bunch of stuff and install it. As I understand it, the apt-get command requires me to have an internet conncection, which my Linux machine will not have (not for a few months at least). So I want to download packages at work, burn them to CD and take them home. Is this more or less what the apt-cdrom command is for? Apt-get sounds awesome. Is apt-cdrom pretty much the same, but just getting the package from CD rather than the net?

apt-cdrom scans CD-ROMs and DVDs for index files which list the packages available in the directory. If an index file is found you can add the CD-ROM to your /etc/apt/sources.list configuration file. Then you can use apt-get to install packages from your CD-ROMs.


Håkan

Ok, so I would only use apt-cdrom to check and see if the CD has packages that can be installed? To do the actual install, I would still be using apt-get?

i think he means you have to have an index file (points to the programs) on your cd along with the prgrams if you want to use it with apt cdrom.
how to make this file, i am not sure

You won't be able to use apt-get unless you write up a sources list, you may just be better off mounting the CD and using dpkg -i