2010
05.03

Backup package configuration on Ubuntu

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If your Ubuntu machine crashes, you can always restore it fairly quickly since Ubuntu is a breeze to install. If you backup your data, then you are cooking with gas. However, after years of installing various packages, it might take a while to remember them all.

Reference: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=261366

The article referenced above shows how to save the list of all installed packages, as well as how to reinstall them all. The commands are shown below:

1. To get a list of all packages currently installed

dpkg --get-selections > packages.txt

2. To install all packages obtained by such a list

sudo dpkg --set-selections < packages.txt
sudo dselect

A comprehensive backup process should include that list as well as a copy of /etc

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  1. JP said: 2011.04.03 21:59

    In Ubuntu 10.10 (Lucid), “sudo dselect” does not seem to work. The command appears to be:

    > sudo apt-get -u dselect-upgrade

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