FAQ Policies
FAQ : Apt proxy


apt-proxy at CSE



Ubuntu and Debian Linux use a program named apt to install system updates and additional software. CSE runs an apt-proxy service that allows you to get all these updates at no cost to your IPQ quota. To use the CSE apt-proxy, you need to edit the /etc/apt/sources.list file to reference our server.

Debian

Here's a sample configuration for your /etc/apt/sources.list file. Note that you may replace (or replicate) stable with testing or unstable if you are running those Debian releases.


# /etc/apt/sources.list for Debian stable using CSE's apt-proxy

deb http://mirror.cse.unsw.edu.au:9999/debian stable main contrib non-free
deb http://mirror.cse.unsw.edu.au:9999/debian-non-US stable/non-US main contrib non-free

deb-src http://mirror.cse.unsw.edu.au:9999/debian stable main contrib non-free
deb-src http://mirror.cse.unsw.edu.au:9999/debian-non-US stable/non-US main contrib non-free

deb http://mirror.cse.unsw.edu.au:9999/debian-security stable/updates main contrib non-free











You can download this file from http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~csg/apt/debian/sources.list


Ubuntu

Here's a sample configuration for your /etc/apt/sources.list file, using 7.04 or feisty fawn. Note that you may replace feisty with edgy, dapper, breezy, warty or hoary if you are running those earlier Ubuntu releases.


# /etc/apt/sources.list for Ubuntu dapper using CSE's apt-proxy

deb http://mirror.cse.unsw.edu.au:9999/ubuntu feisty main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://mirror.cse.unsw.edu.au:9999/ubuntu feisty main restricted universe multiverse

# plus major updates after release
deb http://mirror.cse.unsw.edu.au:9999/ubuntu feisty-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://mirror.cse.unsw.edu.au:9999/ubuntu feisty-updates main restricted universe multiverse

deb http://mirror.cse.unsw.edu.au:9999/ubuntu-security feisty-security main restricted universe multiverse












You can download this file from http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~csg/apt/ubuntu/sources.list


Accessing apt-proxy from outside CSE

If you are accessing the CSE apt-proxy from outside CSE or for some reason you are on the CSE network and not using the CSE web proxy, you may receive the error 404 NON_EXISTENT BACKEND while downloading updates. You may be able to fix this by editing your /etc/apt/apt.conf file.

  • From a terminal window, run an editor (such as nano) as root to edit the configuration file:

    sudo nano /etc/apt/apt.conf



  • After the line that reads Acquire::http::Proxy "FALSE";, insert a line that reads :

    Acquire::http::Proxy::mirror.cse.unsw.edu.au "DIRECT";



  • Save the file (CTRL-O in nano), close your editor and then from the terminal prompt type ..

    sudo apt-get update



  • You should no longer see the previous error


If your network does not allow outgoing connections on port 9999, then you may need to contact your network administrator.
Tags for this article: apt proxy