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Tech Tip: Using the Synaptic Package Manager to Ease Installations

Jun 23, 2009  By Patrick Dunn
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On Debian based systems, or any that use Synaptic for package management, you can use Synaptic to help you setup multiple systems with the same software. On the first system select all the packages you want and then under the File menu use Save Markings or Save Markings as to save your selections to a file. If you save the file to a USB stick, you can then use Read Markings on subsequent installs to quickly duplicate your selections.

This is also handy when you are doing a fresh re-install or installing a new version of Linux so that you don't have to go through package selection each time.

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Pat

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Jeric's picture
Submitted by Jeric (not verified) on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 08:49.

Your tip requires internet connection for all computers. Just recently I was faced with a situation where a freshly installed ubuntu box has no internet connection. After marking upgradeable packages and those packages i would like to install, I used synaptic to create a package download script and used hyperget in an internet cafe to update and install new packages.

Thanks

Misel's picture
Submitted by Misel (not verified) on Wed, 06/24/2009 - 12:14.

This is exactly what I wondered the whole time but never really bothered before. But since I'm going to reinstall my mainsystem soon this comes very handy :)

Thank you very much