Why a local package repository

If you are packaging software for Debian Linux or (K)Ubuntu sometimes you need not only one package, but you have to provide a dependency like a library or whatever. When those dependencies are not in the official repositories, the only way to fulfill those dependencies is to put your package inside the repository.

But what, if you don't have the permission to upload to main/universe/multiverse? So, inject your packages to your pbuilder enviroment via a local apt-get repository.

In this document I will describe how to setup a local apt-get repository, how to upload it to your root server via rsync and how to change your pbuilders sources.list.

You might wish to also check out LocalAptGetRepositoriesTrivial for a slightly easier way to make a local repository.

Requirements

You need to install the following packages:

  • pbuilder
  • dput
  • mini-dinstall
  • rsync

Installation

The installation of pbuilder is described at PbuilderHowto, so I won't repeat it here. The other tools you can install with: 

$ sudo apt-get install dput mini-dinstall rsync

Configuration

Well, you need to configure the dput and mini-dinstall tools. I will show you how my configuration looks so you can adjust it for your needs.

dput

* Create $HOME/.dput.cf with the following content: 

[local]
fqdn = localhost
method = local
incoming = ~/archive/mini-dinstall/incoming
allow_unsigned_uploads = 1
post_upload_command = mini-dinstall --batch

* Create the required directories 

$ mkdir -p $HOME/archive/mini-dinstall/incoming

mini-dinstall

Ok, this is something which needs some extra explanation, but first the setup:

* Create $HOME/.mini-dinstall.conf with the following content: 

[DEFAULT]
architectures = all, i386
archivedir = /home/shermann/archive
use_dnotify = 0
verify_sigs = 0
extra_keyrings = /home/shermann/.gnupg/pubring.gpg
mail_on_success = 0
archive_style = flat
poll_time = 40
mail_log_level = NONE
generate_release = 1
release_description = shermanns ubuntu packages

[hoary]

[breezy]

Explanation:

  • the DEFAULT group sets

    • everything which is default to all repositories. If you gpg pubkey is inside the Ubuntu/Debian pub-keyring, you need to verify_sigs = 1, for me te extra_keyrings weren't working. I have to figure out why, but later Smile :)

  • hoary and breezy Groups

    • describing the two repositories, one for hoary and one for the next ubuntu generation breezy. When you upload the packages, you have to be sure, what distribution it is. For example if you set in your <app>-version/debian/changelog as distribution "hoary" the package will be moved into the hoary distribution.

Ready to Upload ?

Now, after configuring the required tools we're ready to upload the packages.

Let's say, that we build packages for Ubuntu Breezy and they are laying in $HOME/myPackages/ you should see after a ls -la the following listing: 

-rw-r--r--  1 user group    340 2005-04-12 12:42 qinx_1.4-0ubuntu1.dsc
-rw-r--r--  1 user group    765 2005-04-12 12:44 qinx_1.4-0ubuntu1_i386.changes
-rw-r--r--  1 user group 206702 2005-04-12 12:44 qinx_1.4-0ubuntu1_i386.deb
-rw-r--r--  1 user group    916 2005-04-12 12:40 qinx_1.4-0ubuntu1_source.changes
-rw-r--r--  1 user group 663497 2005-04-12 12:42 qinx_1.4-0ubuntu1.tar.gz

Now, we want to upload this source and binary package to our local repository. This package has as distribution "breezy", so it will be uploaded to the "breezy" repository. Do the following: 

$ dput local qinx_1.4-0ubuntu1_i386.changes

Well, if everything went fine, you will find in $HOME/archive/breezy/ this: 

-rw-r--r--  1 user group   2150 2005-04-13 13:17 Packages
-rw-r--r--  1 user group    774 2005-04-13 13:17 Packages.gz
-rw-r--r--  1 user group    340 2005-04-13 13:17 qinx_1.4-0ubuntu1.dsc
-rw-------  1 user group    765 2005-04-13 13:17 qinx_1.4-0ubuntu1_i386.changes
-rw-r--r--  1 user group 206702 2005-04-13 13:17 qinx_1.4-0ubuntu1_i386.deb
-rw-r--r--  1 user group 663497 2005-04-13 13:17 qinx_1.4-0ubuntu1.tar.gz
-rw-r--r--  1 user group    689 2005-04-13 13:17 Release
-rw-r--r--  1 user group    868 2005-04-13 13:17 Sources
-rw-r--r--  1 user group    425 2005-04-13 13:17 Sources.gz

Is it? If not, go back to the beginning and try again Smile :)

Changing your systems apt-get sources.list

Now you're ready to change your local systems apt-get sources list to let it know about your local package repository.

Do this: 

$ sudo vi /etc/apt/sources.list

and add the following lines to it (please replace $HOME with the correct pathname to your home): 

deb file:///$HOME/archive breezy/
deb-src file:///$HOME/archive breezy/

After adding these two lines, update your local apt cache: 

$ sudo apt-get update

You should see, how apt is reading your local repository.

If this is working, let's do the change for your pbuilder enviroment

Adjusting Pbuilder to use your repository

Well, if you followed the PbuilderHowto you should have a directory like /etc/pbuilder/apt.config/. In this directory there is also a copy of the old sources.list of your system.

You have to know now, pbuilder is working in a chroot enviroment, so it doesn't know anything about your $HOME directory. It means you have to setup a remote repository for your packages.

If you have your own server

I'm in the position to have a Root-Server (ok, it's running with Gentoo, but what the hell ;)) and I'm running an Apache webserver so I setup a virtualhost for my own package repository.

Say, my remote repository is in the directory /var/www/ubuntu.linux-server.org/htdocs/archive/ and I have write permissions on this directory, I have to synchronize now my local repository with the remote one.

If you know the magics of rsync now, it will be easy to do this, without having a rsync daemon running. SSH + rsync are good buddies Smile :)

Ok, time to sync local with remote, try this: 

$ cd $HOME/archive
$ rsync -azrptL --progress --delete-after -e "ssh" breezy user@host:/var/www/ubuntu.linux-server.org/htdocs/archive/

That's it for syncing. Easy, isn't it?

If you have shared hosting

On the other hand, if you don't have access to your own server, but want to use shared hosting for your remote repo, there is a guide on Setting up your own Ubuntu repository on Dreamhost, which should be applicable, no matter what hosting service you're using.

ok, now you have your own remote package repository. It's time to adjust the pbuilder enviroment.

Changes to the pbuilder enviroment

Ok, vi the /etc/pbuilder/apt.config/sources.list 

$ sudo vi /etc/pbuilder/apt.config/sources.list

and add these two lines (replace <url to repository> with your URL) 

deb http://<url to repository>/ breezy/
deb-src http://<url to repository>/ breezy/

save it and now update the pbuilder: 

$ sudo pbuilder update --distribution breezy --override-config

You should see, how apt-get is updating inside the pbuilders enviroment its cache.

Finally

Yeah, you did it. Now you can build your new packages with your self-made dependencies. Have fun.

If anything is not clear, please leave a comment with the comment function on this page.

CategoryPackageManagement

LocalAptGetRepository (last edited 2010-01-29 08:02:51 by c-76-99-27-37)