Other than using tools that download packages automatically, it is also possible to use a CD to install packages through a package manager while not connected to the Internet. The Ubuntu installation CD can be used for this purpose, and other CDs with different packages are available as well. Additionally, the program APTonCD can automatically backup installed packages on your system, and create CDs with the contents of various repositories on them.
Some packages from the main and restricted Ubuntu package repositories can be installed from the Ubuntu installation CD. Simply insert your Ubuntu installation CD and open → → . To list only packages on the Ubuntu installation CD, click on the button in the lower left corner of the Synaptic window. The packages should be listed under the section.
If the packages are not listed, it may be because the CD is not listed as a package repository (the CD should be listed as a repository by default). To add the CD as a package repository, follow the instructions in the section called “Enabling other CDs that can be used to install packages”, below.
To enable Synaptic and other package managers to install software from CDs which contain packages:
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Press → → .
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Go to the Third Party Software tab and click on the button.
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Insert the CD.
The packages should then be listed. To have Synaptic only list packages from the CD, click the button on the lower left corner of the Synaptic window and then find the name of the CD in the list in the upper left corner the window.
APTonCD can be used to create a CD that contains all the packages you have on your system, or it can create CDs with packages or entire repositories of your choice. In a package manager such as Synaptic, find the aptoncd package and install it.
Further documentation on APTonCD can be found on its website, aptoncd.sourceforge.net
