KBTAG: kben10000078
URL: http://www.securityportal.com/lskb/10000050/kben10000078.html
Date created: 17/07/2000
Date modified:
Date removed:
Authors(s): Kurt Seifried seifried@securityportal.com
Topic: Linux - dpkg software management
Keywords: Software/dpkg
The Debian package system is a similar package to RPM, however lacks some of the functionality, although overall it does an excellent job of managing software packages on a system. Combined with the dselect utility (being phased out) you can connect to remote sites, scroll through the available packages, install them, run any configuration scripts needed (like say for gpm), all from the comfort of your console. The man page for dpkg "man dpkg" is quite extensive.
The general format of a Debian package file (.deb) is:
packagename_packageversion-debversion.deb
ncftp2_2.4.3-2.deb
Unlike rpm files .deb files are not labeled for architecture as well (not a big deal but something to be aware of).
Command Function:
-I Queries Package
-i Install software
-l List installed software (equiv. to rpm -qa)
-r Removes the software from the system
Command Example |
Function |
dpkg -i package.deb |
Install package.deb |
dpkg -I package.deb |
Lists info about package.deb (rpm -qpi) |
dpkg -c package.deb |
Lists all files in package.deb (rpm -qpl) |
dpkg -l |
Shows all installed packages |
dpkg -r package-name |
Removes 'package-name' from the system (as listed by dpkg -l) |
Debian has 1500+ packages available with the system. You will learn to love dpkg (functionally it has everything necessary, I just miss a few of the bells and whistles that rpm has, on the other hand dselect has some features I wish rpm had).
There is a list of URL's and mailing lists where distribution specific errata is later on in this document.
dpkg supports MD5, so you must somehow get the MD5 signatures through a trusted channel (like PGP signed email). MD5 ships with most distributions.
Debian's software package management tools (dpkg and apt-get) support automated updates of packages and all their dependencies from a network ftp server. Simple create a script that is called by cron once a day (or more often if you are paranoid) that does:
#!/bin/bash
PATH=/usr/bin
apt-get update
apt-get upgrade
The only additional thing you will need to do is configure your download sites in /etc/apt/sources.list and general apt configuration in /etc/apt/apt.conf, you can download it from: http://www.debian.org/Packages/stable/admin/apt.html.