on Sat, Nov 15, 2003 at 02:01:42PM -0800, Wm.G.McGrath (wgm@telus.net) wrote: > > Hi, > > Is there any way I can reset the directory/partition that apt uses > to install software? I believe it currently install packages under > /usr... and /var.... > > The history of *nix is very diverse and reflected in the (needless?) > complexity of its directory structure. /usr is very large and used > for many purposes, and I'd like to move a little beyond it's current > default - at least for my own system. > > I'd like to be able to set up a separate partition/directory to > contain all the software that I install using apt for security, > backup and upgrade purposes. The advantage of this would be similar > to using a separate partition/directory for /home, /opt or > /usr/local. > > Thus, for example, I'll be able to upgrade my base system without > affecting my packages and upgrade them later, one at a time, at > my leisure if I wish. (Yes I know there are other ways of doing > this.) > > A separate partition could also provide advantages for backup and > security, but what I'm really interested in is in keeping things > well organized and neat. I'd like to create a partition something > like /apt with subdirectories like /apt/bin, /apt/opt, > /apt/usr/local, etc. It might even be nice to put each app/utiltity > in its own directory? :) > > Anyway, does anyone have any thoughts on this? Does apt rely on any > environment variables for example? You're bonkers. And I mean that in the nicest possible way. As others have stated: DEBs are not relocatable. For good reason. If you want to maintain a separate install root, look at a chroot install or jail. Or a "system2" installation with a base set of security/recovery utilities (I've posted about same in recent past on list, with a pointer to my own packages list). Much of your objective could be attained via a reasonable partitioning scheme. The existing Debian Policy specification of what files go where already makes system backup and restoration trivial. Peace. -- Karsten M. Self <kmself@ix.netcom.com> http://kmself.home.netcom.com/ What Part of "Gestalt" don't you understand? "Just another million years," said Marvin, "just another quick million. Then I might try it backwards. Just for the variety, you understand." -- HHGTG
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