Ubuntu
update-manager package

Please allow upgrade from local ISP archives

Asked by R (Chandra) Chandrasekhar

Binary package hint: update-manager

When I tried upgrading Kubuntu from 7.10 to 8.04 in Australia, it disables my local ISP's K/Ubuntu archives and uses the national archive for Australia.

It then reports this:
------------
Failed to fetch http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/hardy/Release.gpg Connection failed
Failed to fetch http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/hardy/main/i18n/Translation-en_AU.bz2 Connection failed
Failed to fetch http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/hardy/restricted/i18n/Translation-en_AU.bz2 Could not connect to au.archive.ubuntu.com:80 (211.29.132.173), connection timed out
Failed to fetch http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/hardy/universe/i18n/Translation-en_AU.bz2 Could not connect to au.archive.ubuntu.com:80 (211.29.132.173), connection timed out
Failed to fetch http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/hardy/multiverse/i18n/Translation-en_AU.bz2 Could not connect to au.archive.ubuntu.com:80 (211.29.132.173), connection timed out
Failed to fetch http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/hardy-updates/Release.gpg Could not connect to au.archive.ubuntu.com:80 (211.29.132.173), connection timed out
Failed to fetch http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/hardy-updates/main/i18n/Translation-en_AU.bz2 Connection failed
------------

I think the Australian archive was being hammered and could not respond fast enough.

I have an ISP, iiNeT, in Australia, who have updated their archive. It has Hardy, is fast, and free (not counted in my download quota). The update manager had commented out those iiNeT entries. Instead, if it had changed the "gutsy" to "hardy" and tried my local ISP's archives, it would not have failed and I would be reporting success rather than failure.

I suggest testing the local archives to see if they are up-to-date and then to proceed with them, if they are available. I am happy to work with you to help achieve this if you are willing to put the effort into it.

Many thanks.

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Solved
For:
Ubuntu update-manager Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Solved by:
Luke Faraone
Solved:
Last query:
Last reply:

This question was originally filed as bug #222496.

Revision history for this message
Luke Faraone (lfaraone) said : 		#1

Please read http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/mirror and specifically http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/mirror/3 to get your mirror registered.

Revision history for this message
Luke Faraone (lfaraone) said : 		#2

There are preexisting processes for this.

Revision history for this message
Best Luke Faraone (lfaraone) said : 		#3

Register mirrors via https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+newmirror

Revision history for this message
R (Chandra) Chandrasekhar (chandra) said : 		#4

Thanks, ffm.

I have emailed my ISP, giving them the above link, and requesting them to register using it. I will revert as matters develop.

Revision history for this message
R (Chandra) Chandrasekhar (chandra) said : 		#5

Thanks ffm, that solved my question.

Revision history for this message
R (Chandra) Chandrasekhar (chandra) said : 		#6

I have got a response from my ISP that they are a mirror for Ubuntu but not an official mirror. Indeed the customer service rep has replied:
------ Quote ------

I have spoken with my supervisor at length about the possibility of becoming a registered Ubuntu mirror. Unfortunately <ISPNameHere> is only an unofficial mirror for Ubuntu, and we do not meet the standards required to become an official mirror.

------ Unquote -----

That said, my experience has been that my ISP is a more reliable mirror than the official Australian mirror. I spent more than three hours today trying both a network update from Dapper to Hardy and also a fresh install from CD of Hardy on another PC and failed both times because the installation hangs up. The most likely reason is that the

http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/

official mirror(s) could not be reached and gave "Failed" messages with apt-get update/apt-get upgrade and the upgrade script.

I have a suggestion for future versions of Ubuntu.

Both on CD and for network upgrades, upgrade location is roughly known, because the timezone question has already been asked or is known from the existing setup. Can the update or install process pause and ask the user whether he or she would like to choose the (possibly unofficial) mirror before the update/upgrade or network installation proceeds. Only relevant mirrors/unofficial mirrors relevant to that country need be shown because the location is already known.

I have experienced only delays and more delays with the official Australian mirror(s) for reasons unknown to me.

Please do not dismiss this suggestion out of hand; it is a serious issue that has gobbled up many hours of my time, and which merits future attention.

Thank you.

Chandra