I have Internet access at home that allows me 2 hours of Internet use at a time before I'm thrown off.

If I install Debian and apt-get a large package which involves several packages to be installed first, If apt-get is halfway through the set of packages and the Internet connection goes down, will the downloaded packages be installed?

That is to say, if apt-get gets cut off half way through does that stuff up the whole installation, or can I just apt-get update and try again, with half the packages already installed and OK?

I think it downloads first, and then installs. Although admittedly I have very little experience with Debian...however, in my limitted experience it handled an unreliable net connection quite well.

Thanks, tcaptain.

I suppose, to be safe, I should note down all the dependencies myself, cancel the install and apt-get install each one in order, which would mean that I know where I stand.

I was concerned, however, that if I got through half an install, that it would break the package list and stuff everything up.

One way to find out, I suppose.

I was concerned, however, that if I got through half an install, that it would break the package list and stuff everything up.

apt-get will be just fine. I've found that it will pick up right where it left off if you get disconnected in the middle of a large download. (I left mine downloading overnight -- in the morning (after losing the connection some time during the night) it looked as if it had tried over and over to reestablish the dropped connection but then finally gave up.

I deliberately killed apt-get during the download.
It works fine
It keeps track of the uncomplete downloaded files.
So you can kill it, reboot, shotdown, wait a few days(exagerating if the file is updated during that time I don't know what will happend) and then run apt-get and still it will work!!!!

apt-get will continue your download from where it left off...i am currently using unstable/Sid and it took me 19 hours to upgrade from stable/woody (silly me added a few games and stuff before doing the upgrade which made it take longer). It took me 3 nights to download it and then did the install after. Try
apt-get -d dist-upgrade
which will download without doing the install until YOU are ready. then just
apt-get dist-upgrade will install the downloaded files.
remember to apt-get update before each
apt-get -d dist-upgrade and it will take care of all the dependency problems.

Hope this has helped.

Right, that's it. I'm taking the plunge. Thanks guys.

I'll get the base packages installed and get my kernel sorted, then I'll dist-upgrade to SID and work from there.

As long as apt can handle my ISP shutting down every 2 hours I'll be happy.

Yeah! This is because my USB ADSL modem is not supported by Linux. So no apt-getting for me!
Anyway

When you do apt-get -D
where does it download the files to in the HDD?

/var/cache/apt/archives