J_K9 @ Linux

What is HyperGet?!

October 29, 2005 on 10:32 am | In hyper-get |

Here is a simplified explanation of why hyper-get was started and what its purpose is. I think this will help clear up any misunderstandings which may have occured.

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Let’s say that we have an application called Nmap. Now, Nmap depends on some libraries (which it needs to function correctly), and let’s say one of these libaries is libpcap-0.9.4. We also have a computer which is running a Debian-based Linux distribution like Ubuntu, but which is not connected to the internet. We’ll call this computer ‘C1′. You also have access to another computer which is connected to the internet. We’ll call this computer ‘C2′.

Many Linux users complain because let’s say that a user ‘John’ wants to download the Nmap security scanner. He goes to C2, downloads the .deb file for Nmap, transfers that over to C1, and tries to compile it. But, this doesn’t work - because he’s realised that he also needs to download and install libpcap-0.9.4 (because that was in the compile error). So, John wanders back to C2 and downloads libpcap-0.9.4 and puts it on C1. He installs the pcap libary, and then tries to compile Nmap again. But then he gets another error - he needs to install the libdnet library!

As you can see, this process is very tedious and time-consuming, and usually ends up with a very frustrated ‘John’ because he needs to travel between the computers so many times. This is the gap that this project is trying to bridge. Usually, Ubuntu users (with an internet connection) would simply type ’sudo apt-get install nmap’ into a terminal window and Nmap would be downloaded along with all the required dependencies, but they are not able to do that if their system is not connected to the internet. They have to use the method described above - which, as I said, is extremely dull.

HyperGet steps in here. The first application (on C1) puts your /var/lib/dpkg/status file onto a specified removable drive. What the second application (on C2) does is to discover what applications and libraries you already have installed: from this file (which you have pointed it to after plugging in the drive). This will stop the downloader (also contained within the second application) from downloading libraries which you already have (unless you need a newer version for your desired application). Then, once it has finished processing the information, you are allowed to type in the name of the package you would like. You click a button, and the downloader fires up and gets the specified package along with all its dependencies. These files are stored on the removable drive, and once the downloads have been completed, you unplug the drive and plug it back into C1. You fire up the first application and switch to the ‘Install’ tab. Then, you point the installer to the folder on your removable drive containing the downloaded files and voilà! The packages are installed, and the end user is happy. Congratulations, John.