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I am trying to set up a .deb package I have downloaded. I need to know how to set it up. I do have root privileges, and I am currently running BasilOS Linux(Trinity).

Boleslav
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2 Answers2

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To install a package which you have in the form of a .deb file, use the dpkg command as root:

dpkg -i /path/to/file.deb

dpkg is a low-level package manager. It doesn't understand dependencies. If the installation command complains of missing dependencies, install them first. If the dependencies are available in your distribution, you can use apt-get install to install them. For example, if dpkg -i complains

somepackage depends on someotherpackage; however:
 Package someotherpackage is not installed.

then try (as root)

apt-get install someotherpackage

Note that packages intended for one version of a distribution might not always work in another version because they require different versions of libraries. Don't try to force broken dependencies: APT doesn't cope well with them. The best thing to do if you're faced with unsatisfiable dependencies depends on the circumstances. Sometimes you can install other packages that aren't from your distribution. Sometimes you can recompile the package from source and link with other dependencies. Sometimes you can install another distribution in a chroot.

Community
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Gilles 'SO- stop being evil'
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First, type root to gain root accesses. Then, once you are in the same directory the .deb file is, type getdeb packagename.deb to install and setup the package in question. I have only tried this as root, I am not sure it will work if you do not have lower privileges.

  • Yes, I believe that the getdeb command is based off of dpkg and (specifically about BasilOS), the newer versions of BasilOS Linux have apt-get installed although Trinity and Duo only have dpkg and getdeb... –  Mar 02 '15 at 02:22