Re: Upgrading with a low data cap
On Mon 08 Oct 2018 at 08:06:56 (+0000), Curt wrote:
> On 2018-10-07, Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> wrote:
> > All my machines have use Stretch DVD1 for installation.
> > I have a low monthly data cap - currently at my limit.
> > One machine has an apt-get update and upgrade with the addition of some
> > packages not on DVD1.
> > I've not intentionally deleted any cached files.
> > Is it possible to use the cached data on another machine?
> > What should I be reading?
> > TIA
>
> I gave a perfunctory gander at the following page.
>
> https://www.pcsuggest.com/reuse-deb-files-to-install-software-in-many-offline-machine/
>
> I found the "echo 'Acquire::Languages "none";' > /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/99no-translation"
> tip of particular interest (actually that's not how he does it but the result is the same).
>
> This apparently avoids the downloading of the supernumerary Translation
> files which only those living on the Babel Tower really have a pressing
> need for.
>
> I'm reading that you won't have long descriptions (with apt-cache?) with this
> parameter toggled on.
>
> man apt.conf Languages section for details (which I'm too stupid to
> really grasp entirely but whatever).
On this 1843-package stretch the statistics are:
45MB /var/lib/apt/lists/*Packag*
31MB /var/lib/apt/lists/*Translat*
40MB /var/lib/apt/lists/*Sourc*
67MB /var/lib/apt/lists/*Contents* (for apt-file I believe)
182MB total
OTOH freshly installed 1819-package (no DE) system gives:
$ du -sh /var/cache/apt/archives/
du: cannot read directory '/var/cache/apt/archives/partial': Permission denied
2.9G /var/cache/apt/archives/
This laptop runs a mature¹ apt-cacher-ng for wheezy/jessie/stretch
systems with the default expiration parameters and gives:
$ du -sh /var/cache/apt-cacher-ng/
13G /var/cache/apt-cacher-ng/
I would call that a pretty marginal saving. I've never bothered to
play with lists the same way as I did with packages. And really, the
hint is in the file locations: mess with /var/cache/ all you like,
but don't mess with /var/lib/. If you screw /var/cache/, it's
legitimate to delete it. You *can* clear specifically
/var/lib/apt/lists/ (leave partial/ and lock) but that's not the
same as juggling them.
Under "KNOW THE RISK", it spells out the self-imposed problem with
the method outlined below. dpkg -i *deb is a stupid thing to do
under the circumstances. Far better to stuff the cache with debs
and leave the apt family do their job.
¹ Looks like I started it running in May 2014 by importing at least
1500 packages without preserving their timestamps. The entirety has
been reimported twice since, from wheezy via jessie to stretch.
Cheers,
David.
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