I'm experimenting with a possible answer for How to add packages to a squid-deb-proxy cache?, wherein I am trying to add files downloaded on a different network to the squid-deb-proxy cache. It occurred to me that if I could stick a downloaded package into apt's partial downloads cache, installing it would then add it to the squid-deb-proxy cache. My question, then, is this:

I have two computers, a laptop and a desktop. How can I add a package downloaded on the laptop to apt's partial downloads cache on the desktop?

I've tried simply putting it in /var/cache/apt/archives/partial, but when I go to install it, apt-get simply overwrites the file and tries to download it anew.


Packages that have finished downloading are not stored in the partial folder, they are stored in the /var/cache/apt/archives/ folder. Also, apt looks for the package (with the proper version) in the same folder (and not the partial folder) before trying a download. Also, putting a completely downloaded package in the partial folder doesn't sound proper, maybe that's why apt ignores it.

  • Right, but it doesn't get downloaded if it's in /var/cache/apt/archives. I need it to be downloaded so it goes in squid(-deb-proxy)'s cache. Good point about fully downloaded packages, though; I'll have to try editing out the last byte and seeing what happens. (Now I just have to upgrade my proxy machine to 12.04 . . .) – zpletan May 8 '12 at 23:40

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