Enabling Extra Repositories

Why enable extra repositories?
Enabling extra repositories the point-and-click way
If you don't want to tax the Ubuntu servers...
Adding a key for Medibuntu
Backing up and opening the repositories list file
Updating the list for 7.10 (Gutsy)
Updating the list for Feisty
Updating the list for Edgy
Updating the list for Dapper
Making the changes take effect

Why enable extra repositories?

Repositories contain software. Extra repositories give you extra software. Some people like that. If you need help installing software, check out this page.

Enabling extra repositories the point-and-click way

Many new users are intimidated by the terminal and do not even want to copy and paste commands. If you do not want libdvdcss2 (commercial DVD playback—legality questionable, depending on your country of residence) or w32codecs (Windows codecs—legality extremely questionable, regardless of where you live), the vast majority of your software needs can be met in a very simple point-and-click way—by enabling extra software sources using the GUI (graphical user interface).

Note: This point-and-click method works for only Ubuntu 6.06 and higher.

First, go to System > Administration > Software Sources. In 6.06, it may be called Software Properties. In 6.10 and higher, the name changed to Software Sources.

A dialogue will appear that shows you which repositories are currently enabled. The ones with the checked (or ticked) boxes are enabled. The others are not enabled.

Check (or tick) the unchecked (or unticked) boxes. You may also want to choose to use a local server instead of the main server. I chose Server for United States, since I live in the United States. You may also want to uncheck (or untick) the CD-ROM/DVD source. Otherwise, every time you try to install software, you may be prompted to insert the Ubuntu installer disc. If you have a working internet connection, you will want to use the online servers for software installation.

Once you do this, you'll be asked to reload the repository information. This allows Ubuntu to see what software is newly available to you. Click Reload to continue.

Then, wait for the information to be reloaded. Once that's done, the window will disappear, and you'll be able to use apt-get, Synaptic, or Add/Remove to install new programs. More information about software installation can be found here.

If you don't want to tax the Ubuntu servers...

Source-o-Matic can also generate a repositories list for you. It forces you to choose a local mirror for your country of residence. Using a local repository mirror eases up loads on the main Ubuntu server and will also probably give you faster downloads, especially during heavier download times (say, around the time of a new Ubuntu release).

Adding a key for Medibuntu

Paste this command into the terminal so you don't get a key error when you see what new software is available:

wget -q http://packages.medibuntu.org/medibuntu-key.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add -

Backing up and opening the repositories list file

Open up a terminal and type in

If you're using Ubuntu (Gnome):

sudo mv /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/sources.list_backup
gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

If you're using Kubuntu (KDE):

sudo mv /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/sources.list_backup
kdesu kwrite /etc/apt/sources.list

If you're using Xubuntu (XFCE):

sudo mv /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/sources.list_backup
gksudo mousepad /etc/apt/sources.list

Updating the list for 7.10 (Gutsy)

Then copy and paste the following into the (currently empty) text file if you're using 7.10 (Gutsy):

## Uncomment the following two lines to fetch updated software from the network
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy main restricted
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy main restricted

## Uncomment the following two lines to fetch major bug fix updates produced
## after the final release of the distribution.
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-updates main restricted
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-updates main restricted

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the 'universe'
## repository.
## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## universe WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu security
## team.
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy universe
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy universe

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-security main restricted
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-security main restricted

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-security universe
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-security universe

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy multiverse

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu gutsy-backports main restricted universe multiverse

deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu gutsy partner

deb http://packages.medibuntu.org/ gutsy free non-free

Updating the list for Feisty

Then copy and paste the following into the (currently empty) text file if you're using Feisty (7.04):

## Uncomment the following two lines to fetch updated software from the network
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu feisty main restricted
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu feisty main restricted

## Uncomment the following two lines to fetch major bug fix updates produced
## after the final release of the distribution.
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu feisty-updates main restricted
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu feisty-updates main restricted

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the 'universe'
## repository.
## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## universe WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu security
## team.
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu feisty universe
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu feisty universe

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu feisty-security main restricted
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu feisty-security main restricted

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu feisty-security universe
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu feisty-security universe

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu feisty multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu feisty multiverse

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu feisty-backports main restricted universe multiverse

deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu feisty-commercial main

deb http://medibuntu.sos-sts.com/repo/ feisty free non-free
deb-src http://medibuntu.sos-sts.com/repo/ feisty free non-free

Updating the list for Edgy

Then copy and paste the following into the (currently empty) text file if you're using Edgy (6.10):

## Uncomment the following two lines to fetch updated software from the network
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu edgy main restricted
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu edgy main restricted

## Uncomment the following two lines to fetch major bug fix updates produced
## after the final release of the distribution.
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu edgy-updates main restricted
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu edgy-updates main restricted

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the 'universe'
## repository.
## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## universe WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu security
## team.
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu edgy universe
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu edgy universe

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu edgy-security main restricted
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu edgy-security main restricted

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu edgy-security universe
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu edgy-security universe

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu edgy multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu edgy multiverse

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu edgy-backports main restricted universe multiverse

deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu edgy-commercial main

deb http://medibuntu.sos-sts.com/repo/ edgy free non-free
deb-src http://medibuntu.sos-sts.com/repo/ edgy free non-free

Updating the list for Dapper

Then copy and paste the following into the (currently empty) text file if you're using Dapper (6.06):

## Uncomment the following two lines to fetch updated software from the network
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper main restricted
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper main restricted

## Uncomment the following two lines to fetch major bug fix updates produced
## after the final release of the distribution.
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-updates main restricted
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-updates main restricted

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the 'universe'
## repository.
## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## universe WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu security
## team.
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper universe
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper universe

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-security main restricted
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-security main restricted

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-security universe
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-security universe

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper multiverse

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-backports main restricted universe multiverse

deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu dapper-commercial main

deb http://medibuntu.sos-sts.com/repo/ dapper free non-free
deb-src http://medibuntu.sos-sts.com/repo/ dapper free non-free

Making the changes take effect

Save your file and close kwrite, mousepad, or gedit. Lastly, and most importantly, type this into the terminal

sudo apt-get update