How to install .deb files using dpkg

Faheem    Linux     .deb install, dpkg install, ubuntu package instal

Most of the Ubuntu users depend apt-get to get and install debian packages. Using apt-get application is the quickest way to find and install debian packages. The installation part is done by an application named dpkg. Dpkg doesn’t have to be used by apt-get, you can use it manually as well.

dpkg is a medium-level package manager for Debian

In keeping with GNU/Linux system security, only the superuser(sudo) can use the dpkg application. Dpkg is a typical GNU/Linux application that is controlled by command-line switches. Possibly the most common use of dpkg is to install a local .deb file.

To install a .deb file, switch to ‘root’ and use the command:

dpkg -i filename.deb

Dpkg can also be used to:

dpkg –unpack: unpacks the file but does not install it

dpkg –configure: presents whatever configuration options are available for the package

dpkg –remove: removes a package

Some of the package manipulation commands are actually carried out by an application called dpkg-deb. In those cases, dpkg just acts as a front end to dpkg-deb and passes the commands to it.

Dpkg-deb can also be used to manipulate .deb files. Some of the more useful commands of dpkg-deb are:

dpkg-deb –show filename.deb

This will display the information for filename.deb. Please refer the dpkg man page for more information.

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