[DarkMuse]

So here's the problem:

"I have a Debian system without access to the internet. How do I update it?"

The solution? Good 'ol copy and paste.

Step 1:
Create a virtual machine in your preferred application with the exact iso as what the machine is using. (I will be using vmware player) You must use EXACTLY the same specifications as your machine. For the sake of precision, this includes, ram, memory amount, PROCESSOR TYPE (32 or 64 bit) etc.

Step 2:
Run the following commands on the virtual machine with internet access:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

Step 3:
Plug in a flash drive and connect it to the VM.
Open a terminal and run the following command:
sudo zip /media/user/*USBName*/filename.zip /var/cache/apt/archives/*.deb

Step 3b:
Safely eject the USB. This prevents any possible corruption.

Step 4:
Plug in the flash drive to the offline debian machine

Step 5:
Open a terminal and run the following command:
sudo unzip /media/user/*USBName*/filename.zip -d /var/cache/apt/archives/

Step 6:
Run the following command:
sudo dpkg -i /var/cache/apt/archives/*.deb

This should complete the necessary steps. You could always try to run sudo apt-get install just to be sure but it has yet to do anything necessary for me yet.

TL;DR
Copy the update files from /var/cache/apt/archives to a flash drive then paste them to the same file location on the offline system and install them

If you have any questions, shoot them!

[mothered]

This seems like a logical solution.

Not that I'm doubting the methodology, but more so simply asking whether anyone's given this a shot? @roger_smith, you're the best to ask, what are your thoughts? I haven't fired up my Linux box for ages and don't have the time to do so.

Appreciate the contribution DarkMuse.

[roger_smith]

This seems like a logical solution.

Not that I'm doubting the methodology, but more so simply asking whether anyone's given this a shot? @roger_smith, you're the best to ask, what are your thoughts? I haven't fired up my Linux box for ages and don't have the time to do so.

Appreciate the contribution DarkMuse.

While I have not re-created this exact scenario, @DarkMuse is one of my Heuristic students and he and I have been talking about this particular challenge for I feel like about a week now. He took the initiative to research the problem he was having and update his offline Debian machine.

Hope this helps

[Megan]

While I have not re-created this exact scenario, @'dark muse' is one of my Heuristic students and he and I have been talking about this particular challenge for I feel like about a week now. He took the initiative to research the problem he was having and update his offline Debian machine.

Hope this helps

While I have not re-created this exact scenario, @DarkMuse is one of my Heuristic students and he and I have been talking about this particular challenge for I feel like about a week now. He took the initiative to research the problem he was having and update his offline Debian machine.

Hope this helps

FTFY

@mothered the solution is correct.

[roger_smith]

FTFY

@mothered the solution is correct.

Thx, fixed my post.

[DarkMuse]

This seems like a logical solution.

Not that I'm doubting the methodology, but more so simply asking whether anyone's given this a shot? @roger_smith, you're the best to ask, what are your thoughts? I haven't fired up my Linux box for ages and don't have the time to do so.

Appreciate the contribution DarkMuse.

Yeah I did in fact test this myself and it is a universal Debian solution. The file path is the same for everyone and all versions of apt-get update go to that folder. Just make sure the VM is setup exactly like the physical machine and no problems should occur.

[mothered]

While I have not re-created this exact scenario, @DarkMuse is one of my Heuristic students and he and I have been talking about this particular challenge for I feel like about a week now. He took the initiative to research the problem he was having and update his offline Debian machine.

Hope this helps

Yes It certainly does help and confirms my question raised.

I knew I could count on you.
Thanks.