Local repo on Debian

Local repository on Debian

How to install all packages from local copy of repository (fully offline).

• install Debian 12 from DVD - I used: https://ftp.linux.cz/pub/linux/debian-cd/12.0.0/amd64/iso-dvd/debian-12.0.0-amd64-DVD-1.iso

• create target directory for repository:

  mkdir /INSTALL-DVD

• after installation mount DVD-ROM using mount /media/cdrom command

• and copy these files (I simply used mc)

  • debian (symlink to .)
  • dists/ - contains just metafiles for each distribution
  • pool/ - contains real packages

• here is example listing of copied DVD:

  ls -l /INSTALL-DVD/
  
  total 8
  lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root    1 Jun 10 12:27 debian -> .
  dr-xr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 Jun 10 12:27 dists
  dr-xr-xr-x 4 root root 4096 Jun 10 12:28 pool
  

• now edit /etc/apt/sources.list this way:

  #deb cdrom:[Debian GNU/Linux 12.0.0 _Bookworm_ - Official amd64 DVD Binary-1 with firmware 20230610-10:23]/ bookworm main non-free-firmware
  deb [ trusted=yes ] file:/INSTALL-DVD bookworm main non-free-firmware
  

• an try as root apt-get update - it should work

• note: trusted=yes is required (see also https://superuser.com/questions/1331936/how-can-i-get-past-a-repository-is-not-signed-message-when-attempting-to-upgr), because file /INSTALL-DVD/dists/bookworm/Release is not signed for unknown reason...