Linux Server Configuration

unstable : The latest unstable release. This release sometimes contains serious bugs and should not be installed by users who require high levels of system availability or reliability.

The components part of a sources.list line specifies the parts of the distribution that will be accessed. Typical values include:

• 
  main: The main set of packages.
  
• 
  contrib.: Packages not an integral part of the distribution, but which may be useful.
  
• 
  non-free: Packages that contain software distributed under terms too restrictive to allow inclusion in the distribution, but which may be useful.
  

A typical sources.list file might contain the following entries:
deb file:/cdrom stable main contrib
deb http://www.us.debian.org/debian stable main contrib non-free
deb http://non-us.debian.org/debian-non-US stable non-US
This configuration allows rapid access to the distribution packages contained on the local CD-ROM. It also allows convenient access via the network to other packages and more recent package versions stored on web servers.

1.6.3 Using apt-get

Once you've configured sources.list, you can use apt-get to update information on available packages, to install a package, or to upgrade installed packages.

1.6.3.1 Updating Information on Available Packages

To update information on available packages, issue the following command:
$ sudo apt-get update

1.6.3.2 Installing a Package

To install a specified package, issue the following command:
$ sudo apt-get install <package>
where package specifies the name of the package to be installed.

1.6.3.3 Upgrading Installed Packages

To automatically upgrade all installed packages to the latest available version, issue the following command:
$ sudo apt-get upgrade