HOWTO: Cleaning local package archives

[Rog131]

Apt
apt - Advanced Package Tool. APT is a management system for software packages.

From http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/ap...n.html#s-clean

3.6 Removing unused package files: apt-get clean and autoclean

When you install a package APT retrieves the needed files from the hosts listed in /etc/apt/sources.list, stores them in a local repository (/var/cache/apt/archives/), and then proceeds with installation

In time the local repository can grow and occupy a lot of disk space. Fortunately, APT provides tools for managing its local repository: apt-get's clean and autoclean methods.

apt-get clean removes everything except lock files from /var/cache/apt/archives/ and /var/cache/apt/archives/partial/. Thus, if you need to reinstall a package APT should retrieve it again.

apt-get autoclean removes only package files that can no longer be downloaded.

Aptitude
A highly configurable console front-end for Debian APT. Aptitude is a text-based interface to the Debian GNU/Linux package system.

man aptitude:

aptitude clean/autoclean

clean
Removes all previously downloaded .deb files from the package cache directory (usually /var/cache/apt/archives).

autoclean
Removes any cached packages which can no longer be downloaded. This allows you to prevent a cache from growing out of control over time without completely emptying it.

Synaptic
Synaptic is a graphical package management program for apt. It provides the same features as the apt-get command line utility with a GUI front-end based on Gtk+.

Cleaning:
Settings > Preferences > Files > Delete downloaded packages after installation and/or click Delete Cached Package Files


Adept
Adept is a GUI to the Advanced Packaging Tool for KDE. Adept is developed by Peter Ročkai and is sponsored by Canonical Ltd. through the Kubuntu project.

Hmm - Is there cleaning in the adept ?


Links

APT HOWTO
http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/ap.../index.en.html

Debian New Maintainers' Guide
http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/ma.../index.en.html

Cleaning up a Ubuntu GNU/Linux system
http://www.ubuntugeek.com/cleaning-u...in-ubuntu.html

Synaptic Package Manager - Home
http://www.nongnu.org/synaptic/index.html

SynapticHowto
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SynapticHowto

Adept
http://web.mornfall.net/adept.html

Adept Package Manager
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adept_Package_Manager

Ubuntu Linux Resources
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/

aptitude versus apt-get
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/aptitude

Topic: benefits and disadvantages of synaptic instead of adept in Kubuntu
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/index.php?topic=5933.0

[Rog131]

Re: HOWTO: Cleaning local package archives

Autocleaning local package archives


There is a apt script in the /etc/cron.daily/. Anacron will use it to clean local package archives.

/etc/cron.daily/apt :

# This file understands the following apt configuration variables:
#
# "APT::Periodic::Update-Package-Lists=1"
# - Do "apt-get update" automatically every n-days (0=disable)
#
# "APT::Periodic:ownload-Upgradeable-Packages=0",
# - Do "apt-get upgrade --download-only" every n-days (0=disable)
#
# "APT::Periodic::AutocleanInterval"
# - Do "apt-get autoclean" every n-days (0=disable)
#
# "APT::Periodic::Unattended-Upgrade"
# - Run the "unattended-upgrade" security upgrade script
# every n-days (0=disabled)
# Requires the package "unattended-upgrades" and will write
# a log in /var/log/unattended-upgrades
#
# "APT::Archives::MaxAge",
# - Set maximum allowed age of a cache package file. If a cache
# package file is older it is deleted (0=disable)
#
# "APT::Archives::MaxSize",
# - Set maximum size of the cache in MB (0=disable). If the cache
# is bigger, cached package files are deleted until the size
# requirement is met (the biggest packages will be deleted
# first).
#
# "APT::Archives::MinAge"
# - Set minimum age of a package file. If a file is younger it
# will not be deleted (0=disable). Usefull to prevent races
# and to keep backups of the packages for emergency.
.
.
.

Configuration files for the apt script are in the /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/.

As default autocleaning is disabled (Kubuntu Gutsy). /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/10periodic:

APT::Periodic::Update-Package-Lists "0";
APT::Periodic:ownload-Upgradeable-Packages "0";
APT::Periodic::AutocleanInterval "0";
APT::Periodic::Unattended-Upgrade "0";

As default packages maximum/minimum age and maximum size of the cache are set, /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/20archive:

APT::Archives::MaxAge "30";
APT::Archives::MinAge "2";
APT::Archives::MaxSize "500";

Links:

Topic: Is /var/cache/apt/archives partially cleaned automatically?
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3089393.0

Could autoclean be, well auto?
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=227797

Keeping unstable machines up to date easily.
http://www.debian-administration.org/articles/43

Saving Time :: Debian APT Auto-Update
http://www.thedailyhtf.com/