bash: apt-get not found?

[mdigitale]

Hello,

Please excuse my n00bie question. I have some experience using Linux, but mostly Ubuntu -- this is my first time using Debian. I am trying to install software by way of apt-get or dpkg, but in both instances (when I invoke their binaries) I get:

bash: x command not found, where x is the binary name.

As I understand from reading other posts, these binaries should be located at /usr/bin ? I do not see them there. I have tried the commands using both user and root access. Same result (which makes sense if the binaries don't exist)

Why would Debian come without these [core?] components installed? Moreover, how can I install them manually? Debian -- Details of package apt in etch looks like a place where I can download apt-get, however it is provided in a .deb format (instead of .tar.gz) and iirc you need dpkg to install .deb files?

Please help me out of this "circular dependency" nightmare.

Goal: Be able to use apt-get and dpkg from command line

Thanks,

Mike

PS. Why aren't these utilities installed by default?

[devils casper]

Hi and Welcome !

apt-get and dpkg are pre-installed in Debian. Both are default package managers and available in even Debian Minimal install.

Does your machine has internet access?
Execute this

su -
apt-get update

Post exact error message here, if any.

[mdigitale]

Hi and Welcome !

apt-get and dpkg are pre-installed in Debian. Both are default package managers and available in even Debian Minimal install.

Does your machine has internet access?
Execute this

su -
apt-get update

Post exact error message here, if any.

Thank you for the fast response!

Yes, my machine does have internet access (I've used wget a few times today already)

When I execute the command you requested I get:


[root@server mike]# apt-get update
bash: apt-get: command not found
[root@server mike]#

Thank you!

[mdigitale]

I'm still perplexed by this situation. After reading other threads I've come to the conclusion that there should also be a command called "deb" -- this also cannot be found.

I guess what I'm looking for is a place where I can download (in a standard tar.gz format) either the deb program, the apt-get tool, or dpkg tool. Once I have one of these, it should be trivial to obtain whatever else I need.

I'm still curious why these tools [which in my opinion are critical for extended operation] were not installed.

Thanks,
Mike / First time Debian user

[jledhead]

it sounds like your install is messed up in some way. debian without dpkg is like redhat without rpm. without dpkg I don't know how much of anything could get installed.

also apt-get is installed by default. if you install a minimum install and deselect all extras apt-get is still installed. if this is a new install and you haven't done much I would think about reinstalling. dpkg and apt tools are both in /usr/bin

[devils casper]

Type apt- and hit TAB key twice. Does it list any command(s)?
Execute this too :

ls /usr/bin/apt*