I keep a list of installed packages around so I can easily populate a new disk (or repopulate a mashed-up disk) by doing something along the lines of
$ apt-get install $(cat installed-packages-list) I use a daily cron job along the lines of ls /var/cache/apt/archives | sed 's/\([^_]*\)_.*/\1/' | sort | uniq to maintain an installed-packages list that looks like this: $ cat installed-packages-list aalib1 base-files bash bittorrent bzip2 cdrecord [ and so on ] I would be interested in hearing opinions and suggestions about a general approach to backing-up and reconstituting package archives, as well as opinions and suggestions about the particular approach I've outlined above. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]