Using squid to cache deb packages

The squid proxy server can be configured to cache deb packages. Only minor tweaks are needed for this. Here is a example config that can be added to the default /etc/squid/squid.conf

# refresh pattern for debs and udebs
refresh_pattern deb$   129600 100% 129600
refresh_pattern udeb$   129600 100% 129600
refresh_pattern tar.gz$  129600 100% 129600

# handle meta-release and changelogs.ubuntu.com special
refresh_pattern changelogs.ubuntu.com/*  0  1% 1

There is also a more complete config at https://code.edge.launchpad.net/~mvo/+junk/squid-deb-proxy

For reference, see:

• http://usr-share-doc.com/node/16

• http://castrojo.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/saving-some-bandwidth-and-the-mirrors-with-squid/

• http://www.debian.org/CD/faq/#lan-install