Managing Repositories
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Managing Repositories

What are Repositories?

There are thousands of programs freely available to install on Kubuntu. These programs are stored in software archives (repositories) and are made available for installation over the Internet. This makes it very easy to install new programs in Kubuntu, and it is also very secure, because each program you install is built specially for Kubuntu and checked before it is installed. To organize the software, Kubuntu repositories are categorized into four groups:

  • Main

  • Restricted

  • Universe

  • Multiverse

The rationale used to determine which software goes into which category is based on two factors:

  • The level of support software development teams provide for a program

  • The level of compliance the program has to the Free Software Philosophy

You can find more information about the Repositories available on the Ubuntu website.

The standard Kubuntu Install CD contains some software from the Main and Restricted categories. Once your system is made aware of the Internet-based locations for these repositories, many more programs are made available for installation. Using the software package management tools already installed on your system, you can search for, install and update any piece of software directly over the Internet, without the need for the CD.

Disabling the CD-ROM Repository

The Kubuntu Install CD-ROM is included in the repositories after installation. This can cause Adept to ask for the CD-ROM when installing packages. It is possible to disable this repository so that Adept relies solely on the internet repositories.

To disable the CD-ROM repository:

  1. Start Adept by choosing KMenuSystemAdept Manager Manage Packages from the Desktop menu system.

  2. Select ViewManage Repositories in the Adept package manager window.

  3. Find the repository line that starts with "cdrom:", right click the line, and select Disable.

  4. Click Apply to save your changes, and then exit using Close.

Adding or Removing Repositories

To enable extra repositories:

  1. Start Adept by choosing KMenuSystemAdept Manager Manage Packages.

  2. Select ViewManage Repositories in the Adept package manager window.

  3. To add an extra repository, insert the repository information in the New Repository: text box like

    deb
    http://repository_location feisty main

    and then press the Add button. To finalize your additions press the Apply button and then the Close button.

  4. To remove a repository, select the repository you want to remove and then press the Reset button. Once complete go ahead and press the Close button.

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