apt-get install updates

Hello,

I have an ubuntu 16.4 which is offline.
and another PC installed with the same version which is online.
In the online PC I want to run:
apt-get install updates

and then install the package on the offline PC.

How can I do it ?

Thank you,
Zvika

apt-get install updates

I don't think that syntax is correct.
apt-get update - installs the updated lists of what's available
apt-get upgrade installs updates which debian, for reasons of it's own, refer to as 'upgrades'

Presuming the 2 machines are in synch presently, I would use the online machine, run sudo apt-get update, and then when you run 'sudo apt-get upgrade' it spits out a line or many lines of what's going to be upgraded. RETAIN THAT INFORMATION!

Now there's some option (maybe in dpkg) that allows you to download the packages. You can get them on a usb key, carry them over and manually install/upgrade them. There's also documents on creating your own repo

You are better off downloading the latest isos. Either burn them to DVD or USB stick. Mount them on the offline machine and point Apt to the iso as a local source. That is how I did it for years.

If you have multiple machines that require an update, create a local http mirror on your LAN with the online box, and then point the offline boxen to that mirror.

Both options will allow you to receive updates and satisfy all dependencies. If you try to copy just a few packages at a time, you will end up doing so many times for a system update. Big time sink IMHO.

you need to put the packages (files) to that offline host somehow. What is the preferred way to do that?

Make a archives folder in a USB key, and a lists folder.

I usually copy all the packages from the online machine's /var/cache/apt/archives directory, and all the lists from /var/lib/apt/lists directory onto USB key, delete the list files in the offline machine's /var/lib/apt/lists directories, then copy the packages and list files off the USB into the same directories of the offline machine and just issue command: sudo apt-get upgrade. No need to do the: sudo apt-get update command as the list files are up to date.

Just don't try copying the lock files and partial/aux folders from those directories, only .deb packages and list files. And don't delete the lock file/folders in the offline machine's directories.

And to install stuff on the offline, I use synaptic on the online machine selecting "download only" after hitting "Apply", then again, transfer the packages to the offline to upgrade/install. Since my offline uses different version of Nvidia drivers, I always check if the version number changed in Synaptic to determine if I need to get the latest version, simply right clicking "mark for install" of the appropriate nvidia-driver downloads everything needed for the offline to upgrade nvidia.