networkless install

[eery]

I got: a machine that has gentoo 2004-2 installed off the CDs.

What i want: some software that's not included on the package CD.

My problem: my machine is not connected to the net in any way to download all the stuff i need.

my opportunities: i could d/l everything i need at university...

questions:
- i can't even d/l the portage tree (anyone know how big it actually is?). is there a way to d/l it at university (debian!) and copy it to my machine at home?

- is there another way except emerge --pretend ? preferably one where i can d/l like 5 GB of the newest stuff with all dependencies, put it on CD, copy it on my harddrive and be covered for a while?

THANX folks!

[Trevoke]

emerge --help
man emerge

-k ?
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[eery]

always great to get 'em RTFM answers. no, not ok!
the reason i posted this question in a forum was that i couldn't figure out how to do it and i can't find it in 'em manuals.

anyone who agrees on RTFM plz don't post... thx.

[djm]

It's not easy keeping a Gentoo (or any other) box up to date without an internet connection, but...

Snapshots of the portage tree are ~15MB, and can be found on Gentoo mirrors, they can be "installed", as follows:

[Trevoke]

export PKGDIR=/path/to/downloaded/packages

emerge --help to find which option lets you use packages from a directory and not the internet (I think it _MIGHT_ be -k, but not sure).

All you need to do now is .... emerge -p <package> ... Go to your university, download all the packages you need.. Put them in directory.. export PKGDIR... emerge.

That should work.
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[monkey89]

Eep... no, don't update your portage tree. You already have one - otherwise, you wouldn't have been able to install Gentoo. If you do, your precompiled packages will need to be updated, and this will be a pain in the behind.

Do an emerge -pv software to get a list of the dependencies (and their versions) and download these versions (even if a newer one exists) at the university, burn it on cd or floppy depending on size or USB stick if you have, then copy it to /usr/portage/distfiles and run the emerge.

Not sure what you mean by another way except emerge --pretend... If you want to completely update your system, then you can download a portage tree off the internet, unpack it, run emerge -uDpv world to get a list of updates, then download the needed packages (I think if you do emerge -pf world it shows a list of files).

Hope this helps,
-Monkey