Backing-up your already downloaded packages for a future fresh install

English Install/Boot/Login
#1

I may have to do a fresh install of openSUSE. However, internet connection speed is slow here and it’s a pain to download anew all the installed and updated packages. Is it possible to back-up your already downloaded packages by creating an offline repository or some other way?

#2

I blogged about how I am doing that:
Sharing updates with opensuse

My Internet speed is reasonably good, but I still find this worth doing.

The idea is from Carlos, who used to post here (until banned). I’m hoping he will be reinstated. He was recently reinstated at the mailing list which I cite in that blog post. If you use the “previous” and “next” links in that cited mail message, you will see other suggestion on how to handle this problem.

#3

I read that and the email archives, thanks. Please kindly see my below questions:

  1. From what I understand, I should have enabled repositories to keep the downloaded packages. I did not do that, so now I must be out of chance, right?

  2. From the linked email archive in your blog, I see that there’s an option when using zypper to just download the packages, “-d, --download-only.” So perhaps it’s possible to re-download my already downloaded packages from a place with fast internet connection, and then turn it into a disk for future uses. The question is, how can I gather the names of all the packages that are installed on my current system?

  3. I’m going to copy the packages on an external drive, not a shared partition. Is the procedure the same as you described in your blog? Or is it simpler, just some copy and pastes?

#4

You can still do it. It’s just that it will only apply to packages used after you set it up.

  1. From the linked email archive in your blog, I see that there’s an option when using zypper to just download the packages, “-d, --download-only.” So perhaps it’s possible to re-download my already downloaded packages from a place with fast internet connection, and then turn it into a disk for future uses. The question is, how can I gather the names of all the packages that are installed on my current system?

I’m not sure that it is worth the effort.

  1. I’m going to copy the packages on an external drive, not a shared partition. Is the procedure the same as you described in your blog? Or is it simpler, just some copy and pastes?

It should be pretty much the same. You just have to remember to plug in the external drive before you do updates.