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~-[[DebianWiki/EditorGuide#translation|Translation(s)]]: English - [[fr/Backports|Français]] - [[it/Backports|Italiano]] - [[de/Backports|Deutsch]] - [[ru/Backports|Русский]]-~||<style="text-align: right;border: 0px hidden"> (!) [[/Discussion|Discussion]]||
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~-[[DebianWiki/EditorGuide#translation|Translation(s)]]: English - [[de/Backports|Deutsch]] - [[es/Backports|Español]] - [[fr/Backports|Français]] - [[it/Backports|Italiano]] - [[ru/Backports|Русский]] - [[zh_CN/Backports|简体中文]]-~

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For official instructions on how to use Debian Backports, visit [[http://backports.debian.org/Instructions/]]. For official instructions on how to use Debian Backports, visit [[https://backports.debian.org/Instructions/]].
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{{{{#!wiki note
On Sept. 5th, 2010, Backports became an official service (see [[http://www.debian.org/News/2010/20100905|announcement]]).
If you want to create a non-official backport of a package you need, have a look at SimpleBackportCreation.
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If your system is already configured to use backports.org, you may want to [[#migrate-to-bdo|Migrate from backports.org to backports.debian.org]].
}}}}
If you want to build a backport with the intent of sharing it with others within Debian, see the BuildingFormalBackports page.
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 <<TableOfContents(3)>> <<TableOfContents(3)>>
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In the following example, we will use <<DebianCodename(stable)>> as the current codename for Debian Stable.
Please adjust the codename accordingly if you are using a different version of Debian.

If you're setting up backports for a system that isn't running the latest version of Debian
(e.g. a <<DebianCodename(oldstable)>> system while the latest is <<DebianCodename(stable)>>)
then you will also want to add a line for the "sloppy" backports section.
Currently that is <<DebianCodename(oldstable)>>-backports-sloppy,
but after the release of <<DebianCodename(testing)>>,
you'll want to add a line for <<DebianCodename(stable)>>-backports-sloppy.
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 * Go to "''Settings -> Repositories''"  * Go to "''Settings -> Repositories''":
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[screen 1] || {{attachment:backports_synaptic_1.png}} ||
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## {{attachment:Screenshot-Repositories.png}}  * In the following dialog box, select the tab "''Third-Party Software''" and click on the "''Add...''" button in the lower left corner:
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 * In the following dialog box, select the tab "''Third-Party Software''" and click on the "''Add...''" button in the lower left corner || {{attachment:backports_synaptic_2.png}} ||
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[screen 2]  * Copy the repository below, then hit the "''Add Source''" button:
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 * Now add this repository: {{{deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bullseye-backports main contrib non-free}}}
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{{{deb http://backports.debian.org/debian-backports lenny-backports main contrib non-free}}}

[screen 3]
|| {{attachment:backports_synaptic_3.png}} ||
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[screen 4]
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Become root and open the file {{{/etc/apt/sources.list}}} in your favorite editor:
{{{
human@debian:~$ su
Password:
debian:/home/human# nano /etc/apt/sources.list}}}
Add the following lines:
As root, or using sudo, open your sources.list file (Nano is the recommended editor for new users):
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# Backports repository
deb http://backports.debian.org/debian-backports lenny-backports main contrib non-free}}}
# apt edit-sources
}}}
Append the following line to the bottom of the file:
{{{

deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bullseye-backports main contrib non-free
}}}
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(See [[http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/debian-reference/ch-system.de.html#s-stable|Debian sections]] for details.) (See [[https://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/debian-reference/ch02.html|Debian package management]] for details.)
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debian:/home/human# aptitude update}}} # apt update
}}}
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There are a several different ways to find out if a backport of a certain Debian package exists. A pretty convenient one is using Debian's web-based package search ([[http://packages.debian.org|packages.debian.org]]).
If you are running Iceweasel, simply use the built-in search plugin (Deb Search).
There are a several different ways to find out if a backport of a certain Debian package exists. A pretty convenient one is using Debian's web-based package search ([[https://packages.debian.org|packages.debian.org]]).

Backported versions of packages will also appear when searching their names with the {{{apt search}}} command, or one can view all available versions of a package b
y running:
{{{
apt show package-name -a
}}}
Replacing {{{package-name}}} with the name of the package yo
u wish to view.
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debian:/home/human# aptitude -t lenny-backports install iceweasel}}}
The {{{-t}}} option here specifies {{{lenny-backports}}} as the target release. This would install Iceweasel 3.5 from Backports instead of version 3.0 from the Debian stable release.

== Automatic upgrades ==

Because the Backports repository is deactivated by default, your installed backports will not recieve upgrades automatically. However, you can use ''pinning'' to cause APT to perform automatic upgrades.
''Pinning'' basically means controlling which version of which package is to be selected for installation. (See the [[http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/apt-howto/ch-apt-get.en.html#s-pin|APT HOWTO]] and {{{man apt_preferences}}} for in-depth explanation.)

In order to make APT perfom automatic upgrades of installed backports, follow these steps:

 1. Open the file {{{/etc/apt/preferences}}} in an editor of your choice. (as root)
 1. Insert the text below.
 1. Save and exit.
{{{
# APT PINNING PREFERENCES
Package: *
Pin: release a=lenny-backports
Pin-Priority: 200
}}}
After changing APT's behavior in that file, it will act like this:

If a package was installed from Backports and there is a
newer version there, it will be upgraded from there.
Other packages that are also available from Backports will not be upgraded to the Backports version unless explicitly
stated with {{{-t lenny-backports}}}.
# apt -t bullseye-backports install cockpit}}}
The {{{-t}}} option here specifies {{{bullseye-backports}}} as the target release. This would install a newer version of Cockpit and all its reverse dependencies from bullseye-backports instead of the older one from Debian stable release.
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[[http://lists.debian.org/debian-backports/|debian-backports]] list. [[https://lists.debian.org/debian-backports/|debian-backports]] list.
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On Sept. 5th, 2010, Backports became an official service (see [[http://www.debian.org/News/2010/20100905|announcement]]). On Sept. 5th, 2010, Backports became an official service (see [[https://www.debian.org/News/2010/20100905|announcement]]).
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Systems configured to use backports.org should reconfigured to use the new
repository/URL (in {{{/etc/apt/source.list*}}}), since backports.org
service will be stopped at some point.
Systems configured to use backports.org should be reconfigured to use the new
repository/URL (in {{{/etc/apt/sources.list*}}}), since backports.org
service is already stopped.
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 1. replace {{{backports.org}}} with {{{backports.debian.org}}} in {{{/etc/apt/source.list*}}}.
 2. run {{{aptitude update}}}
 1. replace {{{backports.org}}} with {{{http://deb.debian.org/debian}}} in {{{/etc/apt/sources.list*}}}.
 2. run {{{apt update}}}
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  * {{{apt-get purge debian-backports-keyring}}}<<BR>>''or''   * {{{apt purge debian-backports-keyring}}}<<BR>>''or''
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== No public key ==

Backports is now an official service residing at [[http://backports.debian.org|backports.debian.org]]. Previously, when the service was hosted at [[http://backports.org|backports.org]], users were required to install the [[DebianPkg:lenny-backports/debian-backports-keyring|debian-backports-keyring]] package in order to verify the integrity of downloaded backports before installation. This is no longer necessary.

However, APT may warn with the following message after updating package lists: {{{
'W: There is no public key available for the following key IDs: EA8E8B2116BA136C'
== List installed backports ==
Out of all installed packages, which ones are backports? One way to tell is by version: all backports are tagged with ''~bpo'', for example, `24.5+1-6~bpo8+1`, so at the command line you might say:{{{
    dpkg-query -W | grep '~bpo'
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This is due to Debian Backports release files currently being double-signed (official ftpmaster key and old backports.org key). The warning is an APT bug and can be safely ignored. = External links =
 * [[https://backports.debian.org/|backports.debian.org]] for more information
 * [[http://doc.cliss21.com/index.php?title=Backports|Article about backports on cliss21.com]]: The article contains information on how to backport packages as well as some step-by-step simple examples to start with.
 * [[https://backports.debian.org/bullseye-backports/overview/|Diffs between bullseye-backports and bookworm]]: A useful comparison of package versions in {{{bullseye-backports}}} and {{{bookworm}}}.
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= External links =
 * [[http://backports.debian.org/|backports.debian.org]] for more information
 * [[http://doc.cliss21.com/index.php?title=Backports|Article about backports on cliss21.com]]: The article contains information on how to backport packages as well as some step-by-step simple examples to start with.
 * [[http://backports.deb.at/lenny-backports|Diffs between lenny-backports and squeeze]]: A useful comparison of package versions in {{{lenny-backports}}} and {{{squeeze}}}.
----
 CategoryDistributionRelease
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ToDo : update the screenshot ! ----------------------

CategoryPackageManagement CategoryRelease

Translation(s): English - Deutsch - Español - Français - Italiano - Русский - 简体中文

You are running Debian stable because you prefer the stable Debian tree. It runs great, there is just one problem: The software is a little bit outdated compared to other distributions. That is where backports come in.

Backports are recompiled packages from testing (mostly) and unstable (in a few cases only, e.g. security updates), so they will run without new libraries (wherever it is possible) on a stable Debian distribution. It is recommended to pick out single backports which fit your needs, and not to use all backports available.

This article illustrates how to:

  • configure your stable system to use the Backports repository
  • find a specific backport
  • install packages from the repository
  • have your backports upgraded automatically

For official instructions on how to use Debian Backports, visit https://backports.debian.org/Instructions/.

If you want to create a non-official backport of a package you need, have a look at SimpleBackportCreation.

If you want to build a backport with the intent of sharing it with others within Debian, see the BuildingFormalBackports page.


Configuring your stable system

In the following example, we will use bookworm as the current codename for Debian Stable. Please adjust the codename accordingly if you are using a different version of Debian.

If you're setting up backports for a system that isn't running the latest version of Debian (e.g. a bullseye system while the latest is bookworm) then you will also want to add a line for the "sloppy" backports section. Currently that is bullseye-backports-sloppy, but after the release of trixie, you'll want to add a line for bookworm-backports-sloppy.

Adding the repository

Using Synaptic

  • Open Synaptic
  • Go to "Settings -> Repositories":

backports_synaptic_1.png

  • In the following dialog box, select the tab "Third-Party Software" and click on the "Add..." button in the lower left corner:

backports_synaptic_2.png

  • Copy the repository below, then hit the "Add Source" button:

deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bullseye-backports main contrib non-free

backports_synaptic_3.png

  • Finally, hit the "Reload" button in Synaptic's main panel to update the repository information on your system.

Using the command line

As root, or using sudo, open your sources.list file (Nano is the recommended editor for new users):

# apt edit-sources

Append the following line to the bottom of the file:

deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bullseye-backports main contrib non-free

If you are a free software enthusiast, you might want to remove the contrib and non-free sections. (See Debian package management for details.)

Now that you have added the repository, update APT's cache to include the backports in the list of available packages:

# apt update

Done.

Using backports

Finding backports

There are a several different ways to find out if a backport of a certain Debian package exists. A pretty convenient one is using Debian's web-based package search (packages.debian.org).

Backported versions of packages will also appear when searching their names with the apt search command, or one can view all available versions of a package by running:

apt show package-name -a

Replacing package-name with the name of the package you wish to view.

Installing backports on the command line

The backports repository is deactivated by default. So, if you want to install a backported package, you will have to state that explicitly.

For example:

# apt -t bullseye-backports install cockpit

The -t option here specifies bullseye-backports as the target release. This would install a newer version of Cockpit and all its reverse dependencies from bullseye-backports instead of the older one from Debian stable release.

FAQ

Reporting bugs

Because of limitations in the Debian Bug Tracking System, any bugs relevant to backported packages still have to be reported to the debian-backports list.

Migrate from backports.org to backports.debian.org

On Sept. 5th, 2010, Backports became an official service (see announcement).

Systems configured to use backports.org should be reconfigured to use the new repository/URL (in /etc/apt/sources.list*), since backports.org service is already stopped.

  1. replace backports.org with http://deb.debian.org/debian in /etc/apt/sources.list*.

  2. run apt update

  3. remove the backports.org key from your keyring. Depending how you installed it...
    • apt purge debian-backports-keyring
      or

    • apt-key del 16BA136C

List installed backports

Out of all installed packages, which ones are backports? One way to tell is by version: all backports are tagged with ~bpo, for example, 24.5+1-6~bpo8+1, so at the command line you might say:

    dpkg-query -W | grep '~bpo'

External links


CategoryPackageManagement CategoryRelease