Ubuntu

Revision 43 as of 2006-06-16 21:46:00

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What are Repositories?

There are thousands of programs available to install on Ubuntu. These programs are stored in software archives (repositories) and are available for installation over the Internet. This makes it very easy to install new programs in Linux, and it is also very secure, because each program you install is thoroughly tested and built specifically for Ubuntu.

The Ubuntu software repository is organised into four "components", on the basis of the level of support Ubuntu can offer them, and whether or not they comply with Ubuntu's [http://www.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/philosophy Free Software Philosophy]. The components are called Main (officially supported software), Restricted (supported software that is not available under a completely free license), Universe (community-maintained, i.e. not officially supported software) and Multiverse (software that is "not free"). You can find more information about the Ubuntu Repositories [http://www.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/components here].

The Ubuntu Install CDs contain software from the Main and Restricted components. Once your system is made aware of the Internet-based locations for these repositories, many more software programs are made available for installation. Using the software package management tools already installed on your system, you can search for, install and update any piece of software directly over the Internet, without the need for the CD.

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Adding Repositories in Ubuntu

attachment:IconsPage/eyes.png This page describes how to manage software repositories in Ubuntu 6.06 (Dapper Drake). [:KubuntuAddingRepositoriesHowto: This wiki page] explains how to manage software repositories in Kubuntu 6.06, and instructions for earlier versions of Ubuntu can be found on [:/Breezy: this wiki page].

attachment:IconsPage/terminal.png The operations described on this page modify the software repositories configuration file located at

  • etc/apt/sources.list 

    Software sources can also be managed by making direct modifications to this file using the command line. If you prefer to use the command line instead of a graphical user interface, see the guide at [:AddingRepositoriesCliHowto: Managing Repositories with the CLI] instead.

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Adding the Universe and Multiverse Repositories

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  • Navigate to "System" > "Administration" > "Software Properties".

attachment:menu-sw.png

  • A list of repositories or "Channels" will be shown. attachment:repos.png
  • Select Add.

  • To enable the [#what Universe repository], check the Community maintained (Universe) button.

  • To enable the [#what Multiverse repository], check the Non-free (Multiverse) button.

    • attachment:add-channel.png
  • The Universe or Multiverse repositories should now appear in the list of repositories.

  • Click Close to save your changes and exit.

BR attachment:IconsPage/info.png Integration with Synaptic Package Manager

  • The next time you use the Synaptic package manager, click on the Reload button to make it aware of the new software repositories. attachment:reload.png

  • You can also manage software repositories from within Synaptic by selecting "Settings" > "Repositories". attachment:synaptic-repos.png

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Adding Other Repositories

BR attachment:IconsPage/warning.png Note: There are some (but not many) good reasons for which you might want to add non-Ubuntu repositories to your list of software sources. For example, some software cannot be distributed by Ubuntu due to patent and licensing restrictions in some countries (see the RestrictedFormats page for examples). You might want to add repositories that offer such software. Make sure that all repositories you add in this way have been tested and are known to work on Ubuntu systems. Repositories that are not designed to work with your version of Ubuntu can introduce inconsistencies in your system and might force you to re-install.


BR You can add custom software repositories by adding the apt repository line of your software source to the list of repositories. To do so, click on the Add button next to the Channel list in the Software Management window, then select Custom.

  • attachment:add-custom.png

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  • Enter the apt line into the dialog box. It should look something like this:
    deb http://mirror3.ubuntulinux.nl/ dapper-seveas freenx 

attachment:IconsPage/info.png For an explanation of the different parts of the apt line, see the [#edit Editing Repositories] section below.

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Managing Local Repositories

Removing the CD-ROM Repository

If you have installed Ubuntu from one of Ubuntu Installation CD-ROMs, it will be included in the list of repositories used by Ubuntu's package managment tools. When you install a new package, Synaptic will check whether the package is available locally (i.e. on the CD-ROM). Synaptic may then ask for the CD-ROM. This can help reduce the size of downloads and speed up the installation process. If you would like Synaptic to rely solely on the internet repositories for package management, you can disable the CD-ROM entry with a few steps:

  • Start Synaptic and navigate to "Settings" > "Repositories". BR A list of software repositories or "Channels" will be shown.

  • Locate the entry for the CD-ROM. (It may say something like CD disk with Ubuntu 6.06 LTS.) Click on the checkbox next to it to disable the CD-ROM as a software source.

  • Click the Close button to save the changes you have made.

  • You can re-enable the CD-ROM at any time using the checkbox next to its entry.

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Removing Repositories

To remove software sources ("Channels") from the list, select the source and click on the Remove button. (If you only want to disable the repository temporarily, uncheck the checkbox next to the source instead.)

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Editing Repositories

To make changes to a software source, select it in the list and click the Edit button. A dialog box displays the apt line, broken up into its components.

  • attachment:edit-channel.png
  • Type Software sources may contain software in binary or source code format. Select the option that corresponds to the repository.

    attachment:IconsPage/eyes.png The corresponding apt line has deb for binary repositories and deb-src for source code repositories.

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  • URI Enter a valid Uniform Resource Indicator or URI fo the software repository. Here's a list of examples:

    • cdrom BR

      cdrom:[description_of_cd]/ 
    • ftp BR

      ftp://ftp.domain.ext/path/to/repository 
    • http BR

      http://www.domain.ext/path/to/repository 
    • smb (works only when the computer is connected to a Samba share) BR

      file://path/to/repository   
    • nfs (works only if the computer is connected to a NFS share) BR

      file://path/to/local/directory   

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  • Distribution Select the name of the distribution or the name of the distribution version. BR(dapper-seveas [#aptline in the example above].)

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  • Sections Select the repository section to access. Add more sections separated by spaces. BR(The [#aptline example repository] has a freenx section.)

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  • Comment Add a comment to describe the repository for easier reference.

BR attachment:IconsPage/info.png Repositories defined using the Software Management window are available to Update-Manager and will therefore be checked periodically for updates.

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Managing Authentication Keys

Authentication keys are usually obtained from the maintainer of the software repository. The maintainer will often place a copy of the authentication key on a public key server such as www.keyserver.net. The key can then be retrieved using the command

  • gpg --keyserver [name of keyserver] --recv-keys [keyhash] 
  • In our example above, you would import the maintainer's authentication key as follows:
    gpg --keyserver subkeys.pgp.net --recv-keys 1135D466 
  • Then, add the key to Ubuntu's apt trusted keys database with the following command
    gpg --export --armor 1135D466 | sudo apt-key add - 
  • Note there's a dash at the end of the line

BR attachment:IconsPage/info.png For more on apt and authentication keys, see [http://wiki.debian.org/SecureApt SecureApt] on the Debian Wiki.

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See also

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CategoryDocumentation CategoryCleanup