How do I make a repository?

There are a few things that I want to include in my Ubuntu-based distro, but they aren't in the Ubuntu repositories. It's things like Rosegarden, the latest LilyPond, OpenOffice.org 3, XBMC, and VirtualBox Open. Some things are because I want to keep up with the latest version (like LilyPond, Rosegarden, and OOo), and some are because I have custom setup instructions (like VBO). How would I go about making a deb repository so the update manager can automatically update these?:confused:

Basically what I want to know is if I need any special software server-side so apt can read it. I also need to know about the file hierarchy, and if there are any special configuration files I need.

There is software to make setting up a Debian/Ubuntu repository easy(or at least easier than doing it manually). You can get it from the Ubuntu repositories with sudo apt-get install reprepro. This article contains the information to setup everything using the software.Setting up your own APT repository with upload support

Thank you! That's exactly what I needed! :D