Dapper Server: apt-get question

[Tommy Trussell]

On 2/14/06, Derek Broughton <news at pointerstop.ca> wrote:
> john levin wrote:
>
> > Yuki Cuss wrote:
> >> john levin wrote:
> >>
> >>> Hi all,
> >>>
> >>> I'm setting up my first server, for the experience more than anything
> >>> else, using Dapper.
> >>>
> >>> I've just done 'apt-get install apache2', and apt has given me a
> >>> number of 'suggested' files (lynx, apache2-doc, etc). Is there any way
> >>> to get these installed automatically? I've gone througthe apt-get man
> >>> page, but can't find any mention of installing suggested files.
> >>
> >> Just try another apt-get with those!
> >
> > So there's no automatic way to get suggested packages installed, as with
> > dependencies?
>
> I don't think so.  By default aptitude will install "recommended" packages,
> and you can turn that behaviour on and off, but I haven't found a similar
> switch for "suggested" packages.  Still, using aptitude would get you
> closer to what you want.

there's also a non-gui package manager aptitude -- just type aptitude
at the prompt to see its text interface, and/or you can use
command-line options with it similar to apt-get.

BUT in my humble opinion, you probably DON'T want many of the
suggested packages. If you don't know what lynx is, you probably don't
need it. (It's a non-graphical web browser.) You may not want the
documentation installed locally, I wouldn't bother with apache2-doc
unless you just don't have a connection to the web.

I suspect if somehow you DID find a way to automatically install all
suggested packages, the dependencies of those packages (and all their
suggested packages) would make a HUGE installation with LOTS of stuff
you don't need. Just wait until you learn you need something specific
-- apt-get is very easy to use!