Re: Replicate installed packages to new system

[Jeff D <fixedored@gmail.com>]

On Thu, 12 Apr 2007, Michael Pobega wrote:

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> On Thu, Apr 12, 2007 at 06:21:08PM -0000, McNamee, John wrote:
> > I've been evaluating Etch for several months on a test machine, and now
> > I'd like to install it on a production server.  What's the best way to
> > get the list of packages installed on the test system, and then
> > re-install those packages on the new system?
> >
> > --John
>
> Well there's loads of ways you can do it.
>
> aptitude search "~i" will give you a list of your installed packages.
> This will probably be a lot though, and will take a long time to install
> them on the other computer.
>
> You can always see what's hanging out in your /var/cache/apt/archives/
> folder though, and install those with dpkg.
>
> Maybe some of the more experienced people here can give you better tips
> than me though.

on first sytsem:
dpkg --get-selections > selections.txt
on new base install:
copy over selections.txt
dpkg --set-selections < selections.txt
dselect update
apt-get dselect-upgrade

If you plan on doing a multiple installs, you could use preseeding:
http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/i386/apbs02.html.en

or use a system like systemimager or FAI.


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