Re: keeping the same packages on multiple machines

[Wackojacko <wackojacko32@ntlworld.com>]

Digby Tarvin wrote:
> On Tue, May 02, 2006 at 06:13:15PM +0200, Christoph Bier wrote:
> > Adam Black schrieb am 02.05.2006 17:44:
> >
> > > Hi
> > >
> > > I am running a P4 desktop and a centrino notebook with Debian sid and
> > > I wanted to know what the best way is to keep the same set of packages
> > > installed on both machines.  For the initial setup of the laptop, can
> > > I install a base system and then rsync /usr and /var/lib/dpkg from the
> > > desktop, or is there a different way that is better?
> > # on your desktop:
> > dpkg --get-selections > my-selections.txt
> > # copy my-selections.txt to your laptop
> >
> > # on your laptop:
> > dpkg --set-selections < my-selections.txt
> > apt-get dselect-upgrade
>
> Useful to know...
>
> I assume that any modifications to the /etc/apt/sources.list file would
> need to be copied across to the target system before the upgrade?
>
> I wonder what complications could arise if the two machines are running
> different versions of Debian - I am thinking of my i86 Etch install
> on my notebook vs the ARM system on my iPAQ.
>
> Regards,
> DigbyT

I run amd64 and i386 ports with apt-cacher.  It just means that any 
packages that are architecture independent (*all.deb) only need to be 
downloaded once.  Others will have to be downloaded for each machine.

You may run into trouble if a package is available in one arch but not 
another when trying the dpkg --set-selections step above.

HTH

Wackojacko