Downloading packages + dependencies from repos
 

Hello everyone :) I'm still new to Linux and trying to learn the basics of using it (currently a Windows user but willing to move once I learn Linux better). My system is a dual boot between Windows XP and OpenSuse 11.1 (64 bit) which is the distro I use. This is one of the questions I need to know about before I can start using Linux.

I'm one of the users who don't like running applications from online sources without always having an offline backup too. Since in Linux most things are installed from repos, I'd love to know how a repo as well as all its dependencies which are not on that distro's DVD can be downloaded into .rpm packages which can be installed offline in case the user can't connect or the repo for that program is gone. I'd also like to know how to do that in case the program is already installed with all dependencies (if it can still know the dependency packages if they're already installed).

I made this thread on the OpenSuse forum a while ago but no one gave me a clear answer, so I was wondering if anyone here could help me with that. It would help a lot to know all details about this and how it can be done precisely. Thanks.

MirceaKitsune:

I understand your questions are the basic ones commonly asked by linux newbies. Actually, the scope of your questions is broad and cannot be answered easily.

My advise is of course for you (as did everyone who passed this way) is to read basic tutorials. I have one linked hereunder my signature, quite an old tutorial but very well written. You can download it and begin reading. You may not finish the whole material but having at least gone halfway you will have more than enough TO ENJOY YOUR LINUX EXPERIENCE.

There is usually documentation for your distro which if you read you'd save lots of time than posting questions here every moment need arises. Usually it is found in folders:

/usr/share/doc
/usr/doc/Linux-HOWTOs

also in man command:

$ man [command here] <Enter>

Hope this helps.

Goodluck.

off line management of downloaded files in Open SUSE like distro will mean more work. In opensuse simply use the package manager. You will have a few options there.


Otherwise go in for Slackware

In Ubuntu you have something like aptoncd for what you want to do... you are looking for something similar

Try searching for 'package manage' in your package manager

I shall look in the tutorials if they mention how to do this. And Amani, which exact package manager? Is it "rpm"? From what I know rpm only works for installing packages which are already there. At the current time I'm familiar with 3 install methods: the "rpm -i" command, the "zypper install" command (I like Zypper most) and installing from repos with Yast -> Software Management.

I do know of some way to do this actually but it's very inaccurate. If I use Zypper, I can activate packet caching with the command "zypper mr --keep-packages --all" and find them in /var/cache/zypp/packages. However this only works if Zypper finds the program by name as far as I know, and I'm not sure how to retrieve already installed software together with their dependencies again using this method.

What I was hoping for was a possible direct command of the type "zypper -download --depencencies_too http://url-of-repo.com/" or something like that, which could download all needed packages right into that folder. Sorry if I said something stupid in this post, I still don't understand a lot here.

I am not sure if that it was what you're looking for , in the old versions of opensuse when you are updating using Yast you have the option to hold on the downloads .
So you can use it to update for instance a other machine running opensuse without downloading again.
In other words it is saved on you're machine.
IF I understand it correct this option come back with opensuse 11.2.
So if this is what you're looking for wait until opensuse 11.2 is out ,they are not at Milestone 1 with opensuse 11.2
Do not know what official release date is

So will Yast have the ability to keep repo packages + dependencies? That would be a great possibility, it is indeed what I'm looking for hope that will be added in 11.2.

Have a look at the man page for zypper, because yum (the equivalent for RH/Fedora) allows you to install and keep installed RPMs (and dependencies) very easily, and you can either install them on another computer via rpm or create your own local repo and use yum.

Zypper may allow the same.

Some locations where you can find RPM packages for downloading to your hard disk:
http://rpmfind.net/linux/RPM/
http://dag.wieers.com/rpm/
http://rpm.pbone.net/

On the long term you will find it more practical to keep only a few critical applications saved as source/binary tarballs. In most other cases it make more sense to rely on the package manager and to keep major versions of your distribution available on CD/DVD.

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