How do I change the location where Ubuntu installs programs.

[Jaok]

I have 2 drives, 1 for the OS and the other one  for data/programs. I would like to store programs on the other drive but I don't know how.

Thanks in advance.

[rcmaehl]

You'd want to link the folder to the location on the other drive using ln

 

https://shapeshed.com/unix-ln/

[Sauron]

3 minutes ago, rcmaehl said:

You'd want to link the folder to the location on the other drive using ln

 

https://shapeshed.com/unix-ln/

I don't think you can symlink /usr/bin to something else. You'd need to make a dedicated partition for it but I don't think that's what OP wants. I think what they actually want is to have their home folder on the other drive.

[rcmaehl]

1 minute ago, Sauron said:

I don't think you can symlink /usr/bin to something else. You'd need to make a dedicated partition for it but I don't think that's what OP wants. I think what they actually want is to have their home folder on the other drive.

I mean, it's not the smartest move, but I don't see why not. Regardless, /home directory on another drive is a lot more common (and natively supported by the installer)

[Jaok]

8 minutes ago, rcmaehl said:

You'd want to link the folder to the location on the other drive using ln

 

https://shapeshed.com/unix-ln/

Thanks I will try this out.

 

[Sauron]

5 minutes ago, rcmaehl said:

I mean, it's not the smartest move, but I don't see why not.

The system straight up won't let you, at least according to stackexchange.

[Alex Atkin UK]

Programs are spread across the root partition, between man files, libraries, etc, so you can't really achieve this.  Plus if you do manage it and the second drive fails, your whole OS breaks down.

[Electronics Wizardy]

1 hour ago, Sauron said:

The system straight up won't let you, at least according to stackexchange.

that link is for osx, where there is SIP that keeps you from touching system files, most distros don't have. that. but if you mess with any of the system directories it will have issues, and normally /usr isn't that big, so I wouldn't worry about it.

[Sauron]

Just now, Electronics Wizardy said:

that link is for osx, where there is SIP that keeps you from touching system files, most distros don't have. that. but if you mess with any of the system directories it will have issues, and normally /usr isn't that big, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Oh you're right. Still, it's a very bad idea.

[wasab]

You can't. Location is handle by the package manager. Applications that you built from source or download in raw binary forms can be place where ever you want however. 

 

Usually you don't want to just symbolic link. Many programs rely on files and libraries that they may not find if you move them elsewhere and symbolic link them. 

 

If you want all the programs package manager install to a 2ndary drive, you can boot into a live USB and then mount partitions in your 2nd drive to usr/bin and usr/sbin. 

 

Important: move everything from the bin into your partitions on your 2nd drive before mounting. Don't forget to edit the fstab file. 

[Jaok]

2 hours ago, wasab said:

You can't. Location is handle by the package manager. Applications that you built from source or download in raw binary forms can be place where ever you want however.  

 

Usually you don't want to just symbolic link. Many programs rely on files and libraries that they may not find if you move them elsewhere and symbolic link them. 

 

If you want all the programs package manager install to a 2ndary drive, you can boot into a live USB and then mount partitions in your 2nd drive to usr/bin and usr/sbin. 

  

Important: move everything from the bin into your partitions on your 2nd drive before mounting. Don't forget to edit the fstab file. 

Thank you very much.