Must have Ubuntu repositories

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Tuesday, 20 July 2010 14:56

Here is a list of repositories you must use if you are an Ubuntu user. Repositories are servers which contain sets of packages. You generally access them with tools like Synaptic (System->Administration->Synaptic Package Manager) or command line utility apt. These tools can list all the packages you have installed (from your kernel to your favorite application with all the libraries in between) and the packages that are available in the repositories that you have configured the tool to have access to.In Ubuntu you generally want to have at least Ubuntu's repositories (which may include the install CD) but it is not uncommon to have other repositories (from other packagers) set up.

Recent Ubuntu installations comes with certain repositories pre configured(You could see them by going to System->Administration->Software Sources) . They are known by different names. They are listed below.

Main - Officially supported software.
Restricted - Supported software that is not available under a completely free license.
Universe - Community maintained software, i.e. not officially supported software.
Multiverse - Software that is not free.

The easiest way to add a package is by going to System->Administration->Software Sources and clicking on the "Third Party Software" tab and add the repository name.

Here we go..........

1) Medibuntu (Multimedia, Entertainment & Distractions In Ubuntu) is a repository of packages that cannot be included into the Ubuntu distribution for legal reasons (copyright, license, patent, etc). The important packages included in it are mplayer, google earth.... For the full list visit the link http://packages.medibuntu.org/

In the APT line add(System->Administration->Software Sources->Third Party Software)

deb http://packages.medibuntu.org/ feisty free non-free

Depending on your version change feisty with your version. Then to add key run in terminal

$ sudo wget -q http://packages.medibuntu.org/medibuntu-key.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add - && sudo apt-get update

2) Google softwares like Google chrome, Picassa...

In the APT line add(System->Administration->Software Sources->Third Party Software)

deb http://dl.google.com/linux/deb/ stable non-free main

Then save the key by going to this page...... Then authnticate the key by moving to (System->Administration->Synaptic Package Manager->Authentication and click on Import.

3) For latest versions of Mozilla softwares like firefox,thunderbird....

In the APT line add(System->Administration->Software Sources->Third Party Software)

deb http://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/ubuntuzilla/mozilla/apt all main

Then add the package signing key to your keyring, by running the following command:

$sudo apt-key adv --recv-keys --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com C1289A29
$sudo apt-get update

4) For installing Opera web browser

In the APT line add(System->Administration->Software Sources->Third Party Software)

deb http://deb.opera.com/opera/ stable non-free

5) Virtualbox software

In the APT line add(System->Administration->Software Sources->Third Party Software)

deb http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian lucid non-free

The public key for apt-secure can be downloaded here..... You can add this key with

$sudo apt-key add oracle_vbox.asc

6) Skype VOIP client

In the APT line add(System->Administration->Software Sources->Third Party Software)

deb http://download.skype.com/linux/repos/debian/ stable non-free

7) For lots of other packages the best way is to go to Ubuntu PPA. Personal Package Archives (PPA) allow software developers to upload Ubuntu source packages to be built and published as an apt repository by Launchpad. Lots of software packages are available in PPA. Click here to search for Packages in PPA.. Detailed instruction for how to install from a PPA can be find here.

NOTE: Some times you get error of missing keys. You could easily use apt-key directly to add keys:

$sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys KEY

where KEY is the missing key code printed in apt-get output, e.g. EF4186FE247510BE. Key servers often use port 11371. Make sure your firewall allows port 11371 to be open.

If you know any more repositories append to the list......

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Last Updated on Tuesday, 20 July 2010 21:46

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