apt-zip will allow you to get the packages you need using a different computer instead of downloading on the computer system you are upgrading. This can be handy if you have a slow Internet connection on that computer, but have access to another system with a fast connection. apt-zip will allow you to take advantage of the benefits of apt-get like not having to worry about getting all the dependencies. apt-get will be used to figure that out and apt-zip will transfer this info on separate media that you can carry to another computer, mount it there and run a script that will download the files. Here is how it works.

• # apt-get update (You need to go online for this. After it is finished, go offline.)
• mount the media - /ZIP is default, but that can be changed in the apt-zip config file or with the '-m' option which I use below.)
• I mounted my jump drive on /jump so:
• # apt-zip-list -m /jump -a upgrade

This last command writes 2 files to the media and tells you how much needs to be downloaded.

• mount the media on the computer with the fast connection. You need wget installed on it.
• run the fetch script on the media (./fetch….) wget will begin getting the files
• When finished umount the media

• mount the media on the system to be upgraded using the same mountpoint you used originally
• # apt-zip-inst

You will see a list of the packages to be installed just you see with 'apt-get upgrade' If it is a large amount, you will get the option to do the upgrade or not. Choose 'Y' and the upgrade takes place using the packages stored on the media.

• http://wiki.debian.org/AptZip