Skip downloading things twice?
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Skip downloading things twice?
If I have 2 computers both running Linux Mint 14 (or even if both ran Lubuntu or something) how could I avoid download updates or new software twice? I have a limited bandwidth connection, meaning I pay for how much data I use. So if I download 0 AD (roughly 300 MB game) on the one computer I'd like to not have to redownload it for the other. Same thing for system updates.
I read a few years ago how to do this... and it involved copying over files from a certain folder but I don't remember what folder that even was anymore.
I read a few years ago how to do this... and it involved copying over files from a certain folder but I don't remember what folder that even was anymore.
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
Re: Skip downloading things twice?
You could mount /var/cache (or, more specifically, /var/cache/apt) on a separate partition.
When you download updates, they stay in /var/cache/apt/archives until you remove them.
If you have both installations mounting the same /var/cache partition, you'll only need to download updates once, then apply them separately on each.
When you download updates, they stay in /var/cache/apt/archives until you remove them.
If you have both installations mounting the same /var/cache partition, you'll only need to download updates once, then apply them separately on each.
Re: Skip downloading things twice?
I actually have several different computers, not several distributions on the same PC.passerby wrote:You could mount /var/cache (or, more specifically, /var/cache/apt) on a separate partition.
When you download updates, they stay in /var/cache/apt/archives until you remove them.
If you have both installations mounting the same /var/cache partition, you'll only need to download updates once, then apply them separately on each.
But so if I downloaded the updates on 1 computer I could just copy the contents of /var/cache/apt/archives onto my other computer and install updates without downloading, right?
Where do the install files for programs download to when I install them?
Re: Skip downloading things twice?
That should work, yes.
If you want to install the programs via synaptic or another such tool, copy the program's packages into /var/cache/apt/archives along with the "update" files.
Otherwise you can single out the installation file and install the .deb file manually.
If you want to install the programs via synaptic or another such tool, copy the program's packages into /var/cache/apt/archives along with the "update" files.
Otherwise you can single out the installation file and install the .deb file manually.
Re: Skip downloading things twice?
If I install a program on one computer via Synaptic, mintinstall etc, where does it download the installation packages to? Is that also /var/cache/apt/archives?passerby wrote:That should work, yes.
If you want to install the programs via synaptic or another such tool, copy the program's packages into /var/cache/apt/archives along with the "update" files.
Otherwise you can single out the installation file and install the .deb file manually.
Re: Skip downloading things twice?
Yes. All package managers (apt, aptitude, synaptic, mintinstal, etc) are only text or GUI frontends.
Regarding what you want to do, have a look to the packages "apt-cacher" or "apt-cacher-ng", made to manage a single local apt cache/proxy for multiple computers on your LAN.
Regarding what you want to do, have a look to the packages "apt-cacher" or "apt-cacher-ng", made to manage a single local apt cache/proxy for multiple computers on your LAN.
Re: Skip downloading things twice?
Okay, so do the files for software installs AND system updates both get downloaded into /var/cache/apt/archives?
I'll take a look at apt-cacher too.
I'll take a look at apt-cacher too.
Re: Skip downloading things twice?
All packages downloaded by any deb package manager are stored "by-design" in /var/cache/apt/archives. If you want them to be stored elsewhere, you have to modify the apt-config "Dir::Cache" variables tree or create according symlinks. Check with
Code: Select all
apt-config dump | less
Re: Skip downloading things twice?
Does that include the update manager?eanfrid wrote:All packages downloaded by any deb package manager...
Re: Skip downloading things twice?
eanfrid wrote:All package managers
What is more than "all" ?eanfrid wrote:All packages downloaded