Create DVDs with All of Ubuntu’s Packages December 11, 2006
Posted by Carthik in guides, packages.trackback
For those looking to install Ubuntu without a high speed internet connection, a set of DVDs with the entire contents of the repositories would be a great tool. The idea being that armed with the DVDs, you really don’t need a net connection for retrieving any packages, since between the DVDs you have every package that is present in the software repositories.
Though there is no “official” set of DVDs, one can find such DVD sets for sale at some shops online. The catch is, of course, that the DVD sets are expensive. Why pay for something that is free? Ubuntu is 100% free, and we like it that way.
I just ran across some detailed instructions to create a set of Ubuntu DVDs. In fact, it is one better than a set of detailed instructions – it is script that you can use to create such DVDs. A few months ago I had started on writing a bunch of commands in python that would do the job – but never got done. The “How-To Make Ubuntu DVDs Including Main, the Universe and Everything” article seems to use some Ruby scripts. I know little about Ruby, but as long as the task is completed, the programming language matters little.
The script promises to generate 4 DVD images (.iso files), and might require as much as 30 GB of hard disk space. I usually try out the tips I post here first – but this time, since I don’t have 30 GB of hard disk space to spare, I have not been able to try this technique. I have a tight budget – with a laptop, I really can’t have all the HDD space I want 🙂 So it would be great if some of you could try this one out, and let me know how it goes.
Ubuntu Blog 
If you can read Python, you can read Ruby. They are both pretty “pseudo-codish”. Ruby doesn’t use whitespace for control, but rather is line based with do-end blocks and is a bit cleaner with regards to object orientedness and such (no __hacks or similar, so less noise). Also, there’s a bit less “bondage” 😉 and a bit more “this should work” and it does – which is not to everyone’s liking, of course.
It’s my *personal* belief that most people using Python just hasn’t looked at Ruby, but apart from personal preference, they are both easy to read and easy to write scripting languages. Not wanting to start a discussion, just urging you to take a little longer look at it. For fun, if nothing else. Or because *knowing* more languages makes you better in your preferred one.
On topic, it would be a nice service if it was possible to order DVDs like this at cost. But then someone would have to take the time to create them and pack/ship… maybe not so easy. Hopefully these scripts can help a bit anyways. 🙂
[…] I was just reading Carthik Sharma’s blog post on a series of DVD’s with All Ubuntu’s packages, and I personally think that this is a fantastic idea. People in developing countries without high speed internet access should be able to use Ubuntu. In addition to the current Ship-it scheme it would be brilliant to add a copy of whatever flavour Ubuntu, plus its complete repositories for people who can’t afford internet connections. Although it would (I’m sure) be expensive to implement, it is my view that it would be worth it. […]
This page with a script and ready made dvd images for download has been around for ages:
http://cargol.net/~ramon/ubuntu-dvd-en
I think you just want this
http://aptoncd.sourceforge.net/
From the site: “APTonCD is a tool with a graphical interface which allows you to create one or more CDs or DVDs (you choose the type of media) with all of the packages you’ve downloaded via APT-GET or APTITUDE, creating a removable repository that you can use on other computers.”
check this nice tutorial for aptoncd
http://www.debianadmin.com/create-backup-of-all-packages-using-aptoncd-in-ubuntu.html
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This page with a script and ready made dvd images for download has been around for ages:
From the site: “APTonCD is a tool with a graphical interface which allows you to create one or more CDs or DVDs (you choose the type of media) with all of the packages you’ve downloaded via APT-GET or APTITUDE, creating a removable repository that you can use on other computer
check this nice tutorial for aptoncd
Continue Reading at Ubuntu.Wordpress.com