Ubuntu
apt package

How I can speed up downloading packages list when making update?

Asked by YAFU

Hello.
I've been seeing the package lists in "/var/lib/apt/lists/" and apparently each list does not have a hash or checksum to control. Is that so?
If there was a way to control each package list (where the hash of the list changes when it is modified) each time you do "apt-get update" then only would be downloaded the package lists with differences after control of hash, rather than re-download each list.
I have a slow connection and having to wait for the "apt-get update" is often endless. Much more using multiarch now on my 64bit system where you must download the list of 32 bit packages too.
So, is there any way to accelerate download the package list?

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N1ck 7h0m4d4k15 (nicktux) said : 		#1

Hello ,
If you run in terminal
+++++++++++++++++
sudo apt-get update
+++++++++++++++++

you will see
ign:
get:

the ign means ignore , when a list has nothing new to offer.
the get means that the specific list has something to offer so update it.

You understand that apt-get is "clever" and not updating same lists all the time , only those who have something new to offer.

Now about the internet speed
If you want a custom badwitch for specific applications (e.g: apt-get update) check out trickle.
Read the manpage here : http://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/lucid/man1/trickle.1.html

Thanks

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YAFU (yafu) said : 		#2

Thank you NikTh.
Are you sure about that?
Every time I do "apt-get update" even if it consecutive times, it takes the same eternity every time. And at the end apt-get reports that have downloaded the same amount in MB if you have done "update" consecutively.
Where is the hash of each list to control? Or is it that apt-get controls hash of "each packet" on each list? If it's the latter, I do not see really "clever".

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YAFU (yafu) said : 		#3

Sorry, with "packet" I meant package.

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N1ck 7h0m4d4k15 (nicktux) said : 		#4

On 09/02/2012 05:45 PM, YAFU wrote:

  YAFU posted a new comment:
Thank you NikTh. Are you sure about that? Every time I do "apt-get
update" even if it consecutive times, it takes the same eternity every
time. And at the end apt-get reports that have downloaded the same
amount in MB if you have done "update" consecutively. Where is the hash
of each list to control? Or is it that apt-get controls hash of "each
packet" on each list? If it's the latter, I do not see really "clever".

Hmmm , I really don't know where is the hash of sources list. Maybe you
have something is sources.list that delays the all procedure ?
Can you run an
+++++++++++++
sudo apt-get update
+++++++++++++

and give the results here ?

The "cleverness" of apt is that not update all the repositories each
time , if have nothing to offer. It just (ign)ore them.

Thanks

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