You did download a .deb file and want to install its contents to your Linux system? This article will help you to be successful with this task!

What is a .deb File?

.deb files are software packages containing files and install/uninstall scripts to be integrated in Debian-based systems. To install contents of .deb files to your system you have to instruct your  package manager to do so.

List of Debian-based Linux Distributions

Please take a look to the following uncomplete list of available Debian-based Linux distributions. This might help you to identify, whether your present system contains a Debian compatible package manager.

Installation on Debian-based Systems

.deb files are used on Debian based Linux distributions to install software, manuals and so on. If you are asking yourself whether you have got a Debian based system running, you may try to execute dpkg at command line or try to right-click the archive at desktop systems with graphical user interfaces.

If your Linux system is not setup to install .deb files via a graphical desktop interface then try to use the following commands to install the software package to your system.

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# change the working directory$ cd to/your/directory/containing/the/deb-file # install the package as super user$ sudo dpkg -i package.deb 

Due to the fact that there may be some dependencies to other software packages the installation might be canceled. In this case you should install the required software packages first or – if you really know what you are doing – you can try to perform a forced installation by ignoring all warnings generated by the package manager. In this case execute the following command.

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# perform a forced installation$ sudo dpkg --force-all -i package.deb 

Note: However, if you know what contents are contained in the software package you may perform the previously described step. But keep in mind, that unmet dependencies could lead to binaries that are not executable or might cause a lasting harm to your Linux installation.

Installation on Other Systems

Other Linux distributions like Redhat, SuSE, Mandriva and others are based on the Redhat Package Manager. These distributions will allow to install other package managers in parallel. Try to find and install software packages called dpkg, apt or aptitude. Then you will be able to install .deb files, too.

Additionally there might be a chance to convert software packages between different formats by utilizing the tool alien. It will try to convert software packages automatically. Subsequently you can try to install the conterted package by utilizing the native package manager of your Linux distribution.

Related articles:

• Problems with Removing dpkg Packages

Related resources:

• Dpkg at Wikipedia

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