Backup Software Sources

Solution 1:

The method to backup your sources list has already been described by garbagecollector (also note the additional directory as explained by Javier Rivera).

To backup the trusted keys added to your system you can use the apt-key command line program. I don't know if there is a way to do this from the GUI.

From a terminal you can run something like this:

sudo apt-key exportall > ~/repositories.key

Then on your other system you should be able to import that key file from Software Sources or you can use apt-key again:

sudo apt-key add /path/to/repositories.key

I only have one Ubuntu desktop system so I haven't tested this out, but I think it should work.

Solution 2:

From 10.04 the source list can be in different places, the file /etc/apt/sources.list as said before and all the files inside /etc/apt/sources.list.d/.

The keys are stored in a similar fashion, the file /etc/apt/trusted.gpg and the files inside /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/

Finally you will need the info in trustdb.gpg to be able to decrypt the keys.

You will need to copy all these files and dirs.

Edit: The best way to copy the keys is explained in another answer. So please copy only sources.list and all the files inside sources.list.d. I keep the info about the files placement in the case it proves useful to another person.