How to Create a Download for Linux Update for Offline PC

As long as you can download from somewhere, you don't need a Internet connection to update your Linux distro.

One of the advantages of Linux is its ability to automatically download updates to the operating system and installed software packages. Package updating relies on an Internet connection though. Fortunately, there is an open source software script -- "Sushi, huh?" -- that will help you do the job. Sushi, huh? will run in either Windows or Linux. It will download the packages and dependencies you need using an Internet connected computer. You can then transfer the files to another medium and install them into your unconnected Linux distro.

Things You'll Need

• Web browser with Javascript support enabled
• One of the following Linux distros: Debian, Fedora, Mandriva, openSuse or Ubuntu (you must have a Python version greater than 2.4 but less than 3.0)
• Linux or Windows (Windows version must be 2000 or later)
• Flash drive

Instructions

1. Download Sushi-huh-0.5.3.zip, and extract the files to a flash drive.

2. Open the "srcs" folder. If using Linux, skip to step 4.

3. Double-click on sushi_huh.bat if you are using Windows. Your Web browser will be invoked at this point. If your browser does not open, open a browser, go to the address bar and type "http://localhost:7874" without the quotation marks.

4. Open a terminal or console if using a Linux distro. Type "chmod +x sushi_huh.py" without the quotation marks. This will make the python script executable.

5. Type "./sushi_huh.py" without the quotation marks. Your Web browser will be invoked at this point. If your browser does not open, open a browser, go to the address bar and type "http://localhost:7874" without the quotation marks.

6. Click "Next" and choose your desired Linux distro when prompted.

7. Click "Next" and choose your appropriate distro version and release, then choose the appropriate architecture (32 or 64 bit) for your computer.

8. Click "Next." Choose the repositories that you want to use by clicking the boxes next to the repository names. Clicking will deselect the repository if it is already checked.

9. Click "Next." Choose the packages that you want to install by clicking the boxes next to the package names. Your chosen packages and dependencies will now be downloaded to the sushi_huh folder.

10. Copy the sushi_huh folder to a flash drive.

11. Put the flash drive in a USB port on the machine you want to update. Run the program again and choose "Synchronize."

12. Check "Transfer the downloaded packages to your PC."

13. Click "Next" and the program will proceed to update your Linux installation.

Tips & Warnings

• If you would prefer to let sushi, huh? configure your package manager automatically, run the Linux script as root by typing " sudo ./sushi_huh.py" at step 5.

• If this is not for an initial installation, or if you already have packages and dependencies that you don't need duplicated, then click "Synchronize" at the screen where you choose packages, to avoid duplication of your efforts. Synchronize will also check for damaged packages and dependencies.

• As of December 2010, Sushi, huh? will only download packages from the official Linux repositories. You will not be able to download packages from PPA repositories.

References

• Sushi, Huh?
• WebUpd8: "Sushi Huh?" - Easily Download Packages For Offline Installation In Debian, Ubuntu, openSUSE, Fedora and Mandriva

Resources

• SourceForge: Sushi-huh-0.5.3.zip
• Ubuntu: Installing Software