Creating a debian stable repository (Step 2)

Now that we have space for the new repository, is time to create it.
For that, I use the reprepro tool because it allow me to create new repositories for "out of the box" specific packages.

To set reprepro you'll need to prepare a directory. I created a "repository" directory, and all the repositorys will be below that.
Since I only use this once, before this time I generated a new dir "apt" below repository, so I can manage multiple configuration.

cd to the place where to generate, and create a directory named conf/ and create a file named "distributions" and fill it like this:

Origin: Debian
Label: Debian
Suite: stable
Version: 3.1r4
Codename: sarge
Architectures: i386
Components: main contrib non-free
Description: Debian 3.1r4 Released 28 October 2006
Update: sarge

For this step I only describe how to mirror a known repository, but is possible to gerante your own repository (I'll talk about that later).
Having a mirror is particulary usefull for times there's no stable internet or just is not possible to everyone to access the internet at the same time to install packages.

This tool is very flexible, so you can manage different repositorys by the input of a new entry. So have in mind that

• Multiple entries are separated with an empty line.
• The codename is used to determine the directory to create.

The Update line is described later. If SignWith is there, it will try to sign it. (Either use "yes" or give something gpg can use to identify the key you want to use).
The other fields are copied into the appropriate Release files generated.

So... I don't want only the sarge repository.. i'd like a etch as well! so my conf/distribution looks like this (and only the i386 part, as you can see).

Origin: Debian
Label: Debian
Suite: stable
Version: 3.1r4
Codename: sarge
Architectures: i386
Components: main contrib non-free
Description: Debian 3.1r4 Released 28 October 2006
Update: sarge

Origin: Debian
Label: Debian
Suite: testing
Codename: etch
Architectures: i386
Components: main contrib non-free
Description: Debian Testing distribution - Not Released
update: etch

Now, that I've defined what I want, I must set the update part.
Each configuration will search its updates in the destinations set at conf/updates. Mine looks just like this:

Name: sarge
Method: http://debian.ua.pt/debian
Architectures: i386
IgnoreRelease: yes

Name: etch
Method: http://debian.ua.pt/debian
Architectures: i386
IgnoreRelease: yes

Now, it's all set. reprepro command must be runned at the path before of conf/
after a ls you should see this

# ls
conf db dists lists pool

To update everything possible do:

reprepro -Vb . update

To only update some distributions do:

reprepro -Vb . update sarge

Note:You can use the VerifyRelease field also, which can be retrieved using

gpg --with-colons --list-keys

I wasn't able to manage with this command, so I just ignore it.
/**********************
* NOT COMPLETE!
**********************/

Creating a debian stable repository (Step 1)

I adquired a few months ago a external hard drive.
Recently I found usefull to create a repository of the latest stable debian distribution. It might be extremely usefull, if you usually don't have a fast internet connection and have some machines to keep up to date
Step 1: make the partitions
I had made mine recently..Inicially the hard drive have been formated in a big 300Gb NTFS partition.
Cool, apart the fact I cannot write on it using Linux.
So in order to keep portability I made more partitions in FAT32, the disk now, looks like this:

~# fdisk -l /dev/sda

Disk /dev/sda: 300.0 GB, 300069052416 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 36481 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 18266 146721613+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 18267 36481 146311987+ f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda5 18267 23470 41801098+ b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda6 23471 29972 52227283+ b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda7 29973 36481 52283511 b W95 FAT32
~#

I choosed the last partition the be the target of formating. It's empty for now, and will be formated in ext3 format
I must make sure that the disk is not beeing acessed by any other application and umount it.

~#umount /dev/sda*
umount: /dev/sda: not mounted
umount: /dev/sda1: not mounted
umount: /dev/sda2: not mounted
umount: /dev/sda5: not mounted
umount: /dev/sda6: not mounted
~#

Fomat the partition

~# mkfs.ext3 /dev/sda7
mke2fs 1.40-WIP (02-Oct-2006)
Filesystem label=
OS type: Linux
Block size=4096 (log=2)
Fragment size=4096 (log=2)
6537216 inodes, 13070877 blocks
653543 blocks (5.00%) reserved for the super user
First data block=0
Maximum filesystem blocks=0
399 block groups
32768 blocks per group, 32768 fragments per group
16384 inodes per group
Superblock backups stored on blocks:
32768, 98304, 163840, 229376, 294912, 819200, 884736, 1605632, 2654208,
4096000, 7962624, 11239424

Writing inode tables: done
Creating journal (32768 blocks): done
Writing superblocks and filesystem accounting information: done

This filesystem will be automatically checked every 36 mounts or
180 days, whichever comes first. Use tune2fs -c or -i to override.
~#

Now it must be formated.. Now I have to change the partition system ID to ext3

~# fdisk /dev/sda

Command (m for help): t
Partition number (1-7): 7
Hex code (type L to list codes): 83
Changed system type of partition 7 to 83 (Linux)

Command (m for help): p

Disk /dev/sda: 300.0 GB, 300069052416 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 36481 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 18266 146721613+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 18267 36481 146311987+ f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda5 18267 23470 41801098+ b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda6 23471 29972 52227283+ b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda7 29973 36481 52283511 83 Linux

Now i must apply changes made

Command (m for help): w
The partition table has been altered!

Calling ioctl() to re-read partition table.

WARNING: If you have created or modified any DOS 6.x
partitions, please see the fdisk manual page for additional
information.
Syncing disks.
~#

checking:

~# fdisk -l /dev/sda

Disk /dev/sda: 300.0 GB, 300069052416 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 36481 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 18266 146721613+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 18267 36481 146311987+ f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda5 18267 23470 41801098+ b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda6 23471 29972 52227283+ b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda7 29973 36481 52283511 83 Linux

Hooray!
Let's mount it and start building the repostory