Edit My Apt Sources List

carlosinfl · 08-24-2005, 08:02 AM

Ok, I decided to try Debian again with the net install of "etch" (testing).

Everything went smooth as far as booting from disk. I was able to part. my entire 120GB drive with EXT3 and just did a min. install using the "Network Install" CD.

It then spat the CD out the drive and rebooted. It comes to the actual OS setup process now and gives me a few options:

- CDROM
- HTTP
- FTP
- Edit Sources by Hand

I selected to edit sources by hand since I only have a bare min. ISO so I can't do CDROM.

Now that I selected "Edit Sources by Hand", I am in NANO editing /etc/apt/sources.list file.

I don't know what source entry I need to use being in FL & how it should look in the sources.list file.

Thanks for any help.

archtoad6 · 08-24-2005, 08:57 AM

Haven't installed an actual Debian for a while, only its progeny (lower case 'p', baad pun).

I think you want(ed) to select "HTTP" or "FTP".

Here is my sources.list from SimplyMEPIS:

Code:

# See sources.list(5) for more information, especialy

# This file may be edited by the MEPIS System Center
# Do not modify the comments manually!
# Change sources only in the section at the end of this file!

# Primary
deb ftp://ftp.us.debian.org/debian       \
               testing main contrib non-free
#deb-src ftp://ftp.us.debian.org/debian  \
               testing main contrib non-free
deb ftp://ftp.us.debian.org/debian       \
               unstable main contrib non-free
#deb-src ftp://ftp.us.debian.org/debian  \
               unstable main contrib non-free

# non-us
deb ftp://non-us.debian.org/debian-non-US       \
               testing/non-US main contrib non-free
#deb-src ftp://non-us.debian.org/debian-non-US  \
               testing/non-US main contrib non-free
deb ftp://non-us.debian.org/debian-non-US       \
               unstable/non-US main contrib non-free
#deb-src ftp://non-us.debian.org/debian-non-US  \
               unstable/non-US main contrib non-free

# MEPIS apt pool - specific packages available on-line
deb http://apt.mepis.org/3.3 unstable main

# DO NOT EDIT ABOVE THIS LINE
# = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - =


# mplayer
deb ftp://ftp.nerim.net/debian-marillat/ unstable main

# KNetStats (knetstats)
deb     http://0x5c.net/knetstats/debian/ ./

and here is what I think yours should look like:

Code:

# See sources.list(5) for more information (RTFM!)

# Primary
deb ftp://ftp.us.debian.org/debian              \
               testing main contrib non-free
#deb-src ftp://ftp.us.debian.org/debian         \
               testing main contrib non-free

# non-us
deb ftp://non-us.debian.org/debian-non-US       \
               testing/non-US main contrib non-free
#deb-src ftp://non-us.debian.org/debian-non-US  \
               testing/non-US main contrib non-free

EDIT: folded lines in Code blocks to alleviate horizontal scrolling. Be sure to unfold in use.
Remember, currently "etch" & "testing" mean the same thing. I think the servers take care of the fact you're in FL.

Hope this helps.
If this doesn't work & you re-install, remember the "*TP" suggestion. Or try SimplyMEPIS.

suwandy_chandra · 08-24-2005, 10:04 AM

Hi,

if you have an internet connection then I believe it should be easier for you to use the HTTP or FTP option, as they allows you to choose the nearest mirror (based on your country) and then it should give you a list of available mirrors in your country.
Editing the sources by hand can be a bit of a pain.

By the way,

did anyone know how to fix a apt-get installation?
Even though I do have internet connection available, whenever I tried to run a apt-get install <packagename> it complains about "Failed to fetch http:// ..." and told me to do #apt-get update to fix the problem (but never fixed it)
and this error message at the end

Quote:

E : some index files failed to download, they have been ignored or old one used instead

Is there a way to fix it?

Thanks,

Suwandy

carlosinfl · 08-24-2005, 10:11 AM

My problem is that if I use HTTP and or FTP, I then get a screen that asks me what I would like to install.

Example

When I select desktop environment, I hate the fact that it installs everything including the kitchen sink. I only want what I need and nothing more. Should I just de-select that options and move on?
I am scared that if I don't select desktop environment, I wont be able to install GNOME when I am done.

Thanks for any info.

archtoad6 · 08-24-2005, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by suwandy_chandra
if you have an internet connection then I believe it should be easier for you to use the HTTP or FTP option, as they allows you to choose the nearest mirror (based on your country) and then it should give you a list of available mirrors in your country.
Editing the sources by hand can be a bit of a pain.

Thanks for amplifying what I said.

Quote:

Originally posted by suwandy_chandra
Is there a way to fix it?

AFAIK, No. But AFAIK, It doesn't matter. It's the vagaries of the 'net -- not every server is accessible all the time; however, there is redundancy is the APT sources system.

HappyTux · 08-24-2005, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by carlwill
My problem is that if I use HTTP and or FTP, I then get a screen that asks me what I would like to install.

Example

When I select desktop environment, I hate the fact that it installs everything including the kitchen sink. I only want what I need and nothing more. Should I just de-select that options and move on?
I am scared that if I don't select desktop environment, I wont be able to install GNOME when I am done.

Thanks for any info.

Unselect the Desktop option and scroll to the bottom of the list and select the Manual Package selection you should be able to choose the packages you want to install. Be careful when you install the packages for X apt will happily install them and not install the fonts needed to be able to run the X server.

archtoad6 · 08-24-2005, 10:59 AM

Sorry about the out of order answers, my last was started before yours, but entered after.

So pick what you know you want & add the rest w/ apt-get afterward. Or, go ahead w/ the "Desktop environment" & remove the parts you don't want w/ apt-get, synaptic, or KPackage. Wastes bandwidth & d/l time, but you get to use a GUI tool.

EDIT: "manual package selection" also works but can be time consuming.

craigevil · 08-24-2005, 11:31 AM

Here is a decent sources.list that will give you access to most things you will need. Also if you don't want all he crap that install with KDE or Gnome you can use the XFCE desktop .

if you want to install the whole Xfld desktop - including the Terminal emulator, the ROX file manager, the Xfmedia media player and several additional panel plugins - you should run the command

apt-get install -t testing xfld-desktop

n case you want to use only the core components of the Xfce 4.2 Desktop Environment, the command

apt-get install -t testing xfce4

os-cillation - Debian Packages

#Stable Sarge
#deb http://http.us.debian.org/debian/ stable main contrib non-free
#deb-src http://http.us.debian.org/debian/ stable main contrib non-free
#Security Updates Stable
#deb http://security.debian.org/ stable/updates main contrib non-free

#Debian Unofficial packages for Sarge/stable Opera, latest JAVA
# deb http://ftp.debian-unofficial.org/debian/ sarge main contrib non-free restricted
# deb-src http://ftp.debian-unofficial.org/debian/ sarge main contrib non-free restricted

# Testing Etch
deb http://http.us.debian.org/debian/ testing main contrib non-free
# Testing Sources
deb-src http://http.us.debian.org/debian/ testing main contrib non-free

# Unstable Sid
deb http://http.us.debian.org/debian/ unstable main contrib non-free
# Unstable Sources
deb-src http://http.us.debian.org/debian/ unstable main contrib non-free

# Debian experimental
# deb ftp://ftp.debian.org/debian/ ../project/experimental main
# deb http://http.us.debian.org/debian/ ../project/experimental main contrib non-free

#Debian KDE 3.4 Team updates
# deb http://pkg-kde.alioth.debian.org/kde-3.4.1/ ./

#mplayer,acroread.realplayer,various packages
deb ftp://ftp.nerim.net/debian-marillat/ etch main
deb ftp://ftp.nerim.net/debian-marillat/ sid main
deb-src ftp://ftp.nerim.net/debian-marillat/ sid main

archtoad6 · 08-24-2005, 12:00 PM

Great list. Thanks.

craigevil · 08-24-2005, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by archtoad6
Great list. Thanks.

No problem.
Just notice you still have the non-us in your sources.list it is no longer needed. Debian moved anything that was in non-us into the main. Suprised it hasn't been giving you errors.

Here is my complete sources.list

suwandy_chandra · 08-24-2005, 06:48 PM

Hi,

I managed to fix the non-working apt-get.

I run the apt-get install base-config (I think that's the command), then I inserted my Ubuntu disk which it read and reinstall the apt-get properly.

I then changed the sources.list and it's now working happily.

Quote:

Just notice you still have the non-us in your sources.list it is no longer needed. Debian moved anything that was in non-us into the main. Suprised it hasn't been giving you errors

Just to amplify what he said. It's giving me errors now, and so, removing the non-us list should work fine for you

Thanks everyone for the help and for the nice collection of sources.

reddazz · 08-24-2005, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by craigevil
No problem.
Just notice you still have the non-us in your sources.list it is no longer needed. Debian moved anything that was in non-us into the main. Suprised it hasn't been giving you errors.

Here is my complete sources.list

Ah, I've just installed Debian Unstable and as having a problem with this issue. Thanks for the info, I won't waste anymore time trying to configure non-us repos.

carlosinfl · 08-25-2005, 04:45 PM

Guys, I hate to look dumb but maybe I am not understanding this quite yet.

When I look at my source list, this is what I see...

Code:

#deb file:///cdrom/ etch mail
deb http://mirrors.kernel.org/debian/ testing mail
deb-src http://mirrors.kernel.org/debian/ testing main

deb http://security.debian.org /testing/updates main

I know that if it has a "#" that means it will be ignored so to say but should I just delete everything I see on here and follow your examples above? Sorry but I don't want to mess this file up if there is a particular format that needs to be kept.

Thanks for any help.

craigevil · 08-25-2005, 04:54 PM

The sources.list I posted will work. Just copy it over yours. Then run apt-get update or open Syaptic and click reload.

Comment out the ones you do not use and uncomment the ones you use.

Using my complete list I have access to over 22k packages.

reddazz · 08-25-2005, 05:06 PM

Whats the purpose of experimental when Debian already has unstable?