Tag Archives: aptitude

How to install the same debian packages on another system

The approach is simple: generate a list of installed packages on Debian-based systems and install this list of packages on the new box. This approach is useful when you want to install the same packages on another fresh OS install for example.

1. To export the list of installed packages, proceed as follows:
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dpkg --get-selections | grep -v deinstall > LIST_FILE

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The file LIST_FILE is small so it can be emailed to yourself by using:
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dpkg --get-selections | grep -v deinstall > LIST_FILE && cat LIST_FILE | mailx -s "`hostname -f`: Package list" "user@test.org"

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2. Once you’ve got your server up and running with a fresh base install
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apt-get update
apt-get dist-upgrade

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3. Move your LIST_FILE file into your home directory and run the following commands to recover the previous generated list:
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dpkg --clear-selections
dpkg --set-selections < LIST_FILE

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4. Install the packages
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aptitude install

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How to fix the error: "Not replacing deleted config file..."

Let's assume that when you are trying to install apticron the default config file is not created and when you are trying to execute postinst configure the following error message occurs:

Not replacing deleted config file /etc/apticron/apticron.conf

The fix is:

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aptitude -o DPkg::Options="--force-confmiss" reinstall apticron

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