Convert CAB to DEB

Understanding CAB and DEB file formats

CAB (Cabinet) files are compressed archive files developed by Microsoft, commonly used for software installation packages on Windows systems. They can contain multiple files and support lossless data compression.

DEB files are Debian software package archives used in Debian-based Linux distributions such as Ubuntu. These files contain executable files, libraries, and metadata required for software installation and management via package managers like dpkg or apt.

Why convert CAB to DEB?

Converting a CAB file to a DEB file is typically necessary when you want to install Windows-packaged software on a Linux system, or when repackaging drivers or utilities for cross-platform deployment. This process involves extracting the contents of the CAB file and repackaging them into the DEB format with the appropriate control files and structure.

How to convert CAB to DEB

There is no direct one-click converter for CAB to DEB, as the formats serve different ecosystems. The process involves manual extraction and repackaging:

1. Extract the CAB file: Use a tool like cabextract (available on Linux) to extract the contents.
   cabextract yourfile.cab
2. Prepare the DEB package structure: Create a directory structure for the DEB package, including DEBIAN and usr or opt folders as needed.
3. Create control files: Inside the DEBIAN folder, create a control file with package metadata (name, version, architecture, etc.).
4. Copy extracted files: Place the extracted files in the appropriate directories within your package structure.
5. Build the DEB package: Use the dpkg-deb tool:
   dpkg-deb --build your-package-folder

Best software for CAB to DEB conversion

• cabextract – For extracting CAB files on Linux.
• dpkg-deb – For building DEB packages from a prepared directory structure.
• Alien – Can convert some package formats, but does not support CAB to DEB directly. Manual repackaging is recommended.

Summary

While there is no automated tool for direct CAB to DEB conversion, you can manually extract CAB files and repackage them as DEB using cabextract and dpkg-deb. This process is best suited for advanced users familiar with Linux packaging standards.