Install Multiple Deb Files on Ubuntu with Ease

Among all the available Linux distributions, probably the most popular one is considered to be Ubuntu. There are lots of tools specifically created for this system so users have a good choice of available software. Lots of software come in .deb packages so they should be properly installed on your machine.

There are some scenarios of how users should install a couple of such packages on the system and regular installation when you launch the process one by one can take a lot of time. Thanks to our knowledge, we can recommend several good variants for the installation of multiple Deb files in your system with ease.

Here in the guide, we will discuss a couple of available options for the installation of multiple files such as:

• Usage of gdebi tool for several installations in a row
• Installation with the help of dpkg command
• Installation process with the help of GUI
• Prior to discussion of the actual process, you should have the following requirements:
• Any version of Ubuntu can be used.
• As for the software requirements, you should have Ubuntu Software Center, gdebi, dpkg.
• You should have access to the GUI or terminal.
• Commands should be executed with sudo or root privileges.

Approaches to Installing Multiple Deb Packages on Ubuntu

In this part, we will actually share the approaches that can be used for the installation process of multiple packages. Each option has some plusses compared to the other ones. Generally, it is a rather individual choice that depends on the complexity of the packages as well as your own skills connected with the command line usage. So, select one that works for your case.

Approach 1:  Installation with the help of dpkg.

Dpkg is a rather useful tool for most Debian-based systems mainly because it can be used for offline installation processes as well as for multiple file installation. Now let’s actually discuss what the process of multiple Deb files installation looks like:

$ sudo dpkg -i package1.deb package2.deb

With the usage of this command line, you will install all the deb files in the current directory. In case, you have experienced some issues with the installation, it might be because of the missing dependencies. To fix this issue, you should use the following line:

$ sudo apt-get install <package-name> -f

With the usage of this command, the automatic fetching will occur and the process will be finished properly.

Approach 2: Usage of Ubuntu Software Center for multiple installations.

There are users who would rather prefer to use GUI for the installation because there is no need for the usage of the commands and it might be simpler in some way. In case, you don’t like command line usage just follow the next procedure:

1. By pressing the Ctrl key, you can select all the needed files.
2. Once the necessary Deb files are selected, right-click on them and open them with Ubuntu Software Center.
3. When it opens, you will need only to press Install for every pack.

This approach might take more time than other installation variants, but it is way easier to use GUI for some unfamiliar with command line users.   

Approach 3: Usage of gdebi for the installation of multiple files

For the usage of this helpful tool, you will need to install it on your system. This can be done with the following command:

$ sudo apt install gdebi

Once the tool is installed, you can use it for the multiple files installation:

$ sudo gdebi package-name.deb

This approach is considered to be the most effective when installing more complex packages so that all the dependencies will be done automatically.

Final Remarks

The installation of several Deb files is a fairly easy task that can be done with the usage of the most appropriate variant. You should pay attention to the complexity of packages before the installation, and of course, whether you would like to use a command line of GUI. For the users who prefer a visual interface, the most beneficial option is Ubuntu Software Center. With the usage of gdebi tool, you are getting a more streamlined process, whereas with dpkg you might need to follow some additional steps with dependencies.