/var/backups, how to restore ?

[Erwan David <erwan@rail.eu.org>]

	In /var/backups I find
alternatives.tar.0
apt.extended_states.0
dpkg.arch.0
dpkg.diversions.0
dpkg.statoverride.0
dpkg.status.0

and older versions (upto .6.gz) of same files.

I understand it is backup of different dpkg/apt states. But what I do
not find is how to use those files ?

I backup them on other disks, but if my PC crashed, how an I use this
to install a new PC, with same packages ?

I do following commands before my backups, to be able to reinstall,
but maybe they are not necessayer (except that I know how to use the
files)

        - dpkg-query -f '${binary:Package}\n' -W > /var/backups/installed_pkgs.txt
        - apt-mark showmanual > /var/backups/manualpkgs.txt
        - debconf-get-selections > /var/backups/debconf.txt


-- 
Erwan David