Linux: Install Skype 4.0 but keep 2.2

linuxskypeUbuntu

Skype 4.0 for Linux has been released. I would like to test the new version but keep the old 2.2 around just in case. I cannot find the 2.2 installation .deb, even though I thought that I did save one (I usually do save installation files).

EDIT: Is there any way to "export" a .deb package from the currently-installed Skype?

Best Answer

it's completely unnecessary to run a virtual machine or a chroot just for skype.

if you download the statically linked (not requiring system dependancies) skype distributable, you can run both Skype 4.0 and Skype 2.2 on the same system.

install skype 4.0 using the deb, and download the statically linked version of skype 2.2 and extract it to /opt and then add /opt/skype-VERSION to your $PATH in ~/.bashrc

rename the skype executable in /opt/skype-VERSION to something like skype-2.2

and once you've done all of that, you should be able to run skype-2.2 and skype for either version.

here's Skype 2.2 static: http://download.skype.com/linux/skype_static-2.2.0.35.tar.bz2

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