re-using cached .deb files on new installation

[Bill Moseley <moseley@hank.org>]

I'm sure this is a FAQ, so URLs are welcome.

I'm going from Potato -> Sid (over and over, to learn about installing).
I'm using the diskette boot method and then a network install.

Boot, install Potato base system.
apt-get update / apt-get dist-upgrade

update sources.list and repeat for Woody, and then for Sid.

Seems to work, but I'm not sure if that's the "right" or fastest path to
Sid or not.

I'll be doing this again on another machine.  Is there a way to use the
.deb files in /var/cache/apt/archives for a new install to save the network
time?

I looked at using "deb file:" in sources.list, but that doesn't seem right.

Thanks,
-- 
Bill Moseley
mailto:moseley@hank.org