6.4.11 Local package archive

In order to create a local package archive which is compatible with APT and the dselect system, Packages needs to be created and package files need to be populated in a particular directory tree.

A local deb repository similar to an official Debian archive can be made in this way:

     # aptitude install dpkg-dev
     # cd /usr/local
     # install -d pool # physical packages are located here
     # install -d dists/unstable/main/binary-i386
     # ls -1 pool | sed 's/_.*$/ priority section/' | uniq > override
     # editor override # adjust priority and section
     # dpkg-scanpackages pool override /usr/local/ \
        > dists/unstable/main/binary-i386/Packages
     # cat > dists/unstable/main/Release << EOF
     Archive: unstable
     Version: 3.0
     Component: main
     Origin: Local
     Label: Local
     Architecture: i386
     EOF
     # echo "deb file:/usr/local unstable main" \
        >> /etc/apt/sources.list

Alternatively, a quick-and-dirty local deb repository can be made:

     # aptitude install dpkg-dev
     # mkdir /usr/local/debian
     # mv /some/where/package.deb /usr/local/debian
     # dpkg-scanpackages /usr/local/debian /dev/null | \
       gzip - > /usr/local/debian/Packages.gz
     #  echo "deb file:/usr/local/debian ./" >> /etc/apt/sources.list

These archives can be remotely accessed by providing access to these directories through either HTTP or FTP methods and changing entries in /etc/apt/sources.list accordingly.