Restoring dpkg without an internet connection
Forum: HD Install
Topic: Restoring dpkg without an internet connection
started by: JackBoCracken
Posted by JackBoCracken on Mar. 23 2004,13:37
This is the first time I've used linux.I'm trying to restore dpkg so I can compile stuff and whatnot, and I've copied the archive to /var/lib and then uncompressed and untared it, but...now what?
I've searched around on the forums; some posts say "copy dpkg to its directory"; what is dpkg? where is it?
I'm not quite sure what I'm supposed to do at this point.
Posted by Grim on Mar. 24 2004,02:36
The way to do this is to download the compressed dpkg file and move it to '/var/lib/', then uncompress it:| Quote |
| tar zxvf dpkg.tar.gz |
That should get you fixed.
Posted by drx456 on Mar. 24 2004,06:35
Where can I get the file (dpkg.tar.gz) ?
Posted by bostonrue on Mar. 24 2004,06:42
stupid awnser but search google.com, lol sorry.
Posted by Jack on Mar. 24 2004,07:55
| Quote (Grim @ Mar. 23 2004,21:36) | ||
The way to do this is to download the compressed dpkg file and move it to '/var/lib/', then uncompress it:
That should get you fixed. |
um, that's exactly what I did
Posted by Grim on Mar. 24 2004,08:03
Sorry, I think I understand what you meant now. Doing the dpkg-restore just restores the dpkg database and allows apt to start working again.If you're just trying to install software try running apt-get install packagename
If you're not sure of the exact package name you can add the wildcard operator at the end of the command, i.e. apt-get install packagename*
This'll return every package that even remotely resembles that for which you're searching. Sort of a starting point where you can begin to narrow down your search.
If you're looking to compile from source, you may want to download and install 0.6.2, it has a new script that switches the busybox utils out for standard gnu utils (gcc and the like) when you install to hard drive.
Then you can run apt-get source -b packagename to have apt download the source, compile and install the application.
However, apt is a means for installing applications over the network, i.e. the internet. It seems sorta pointless to get apt working if you don't have a network connection.
In order to start compiling from source, you're going to need to find a way to install gcc and probably g++ and the associated libs. Either with the new DSL release, or find a way to get your existing installation connected to the net, just long enough to install the necessary apps, or get ahold of some Debian CD's with the apps you need and add them to apt with apt-cdrom add.
Good luck.
Posted by Grim on Mar. 24 2004,08:27
| Quote (drx456 @ Mar. 23 2004,23:35) |
| Where can I get the file (dpkg.tar.gz) ? |
from a terminal type...
| Code Sample |
| sudo su dpkg-restore |
Posted by cbagger01 on Mar. 24 2004,14:30
If you want to download it on another computer and copy over to your DSL box, the address is:< http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/dpkg.tar.gz >
After you have used tar to restore the dpkg structure, you can download *.deb files on a different computer and use the dpkg program to install them on your DSL box after copying the file to your DSL computer.
| Code Sample |
| sudo su dpkg -i filename_i386.deb exit |
You can find many Debian packages for offline download at the Debian pool web site:
< http://ftp.debian.org/debian/pool/main/ >
Good Luck.
Posted by firefly2442 on July 19 2004,23:03
I tried unpacking the dpkg.tar.gz in the "/var/lib" and restarted the computer but I still cannot use dpkg or apt-get to install files... any thoughts? 
Posted by firefly2442 on July 20 2004,00:17
Got it to work with ".dsl" file.