Monday, November 16, 2009

Speed Up Your Ubuntu Downloads By Changing Your Repository

If your Karmic updates are running slower than normal it is probably because of the influx of new users is hammering the main Ubuntu servers. You can dramatically increase the speed of your Ubuntu package downloads by changing your software repository. The packages from these mirrors is exactly the same as the main Ubuntu servers but don't suffer from server overload.

Go to software sources System>Administration>Software Sources
Screenshot-Software Sources-1

Select "Other..." from the pull down menu under Download from:
Screenshot-Software Sources

You can select a new mirror from the list on the left or run the a server test by selecting Select Best Server from the upper right corner.
Screenshot-Choose a Download Server

A series of test will be preformed to find the best mirror for your location.
Screenshot-testing-download-servers

When the test is done, it will highlight the faster mirror available to you.
Screenshot-Choose a Download Server-1
Click Choose Server and allow your sources to be reloaded.

Now you have the fastest mirror available to you. Enjoy the increase in your speed!



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4 comments:

SigmaBeta said...

Northeastern University is fastest for you, huh? I didn't know you were in the Boston area.

redDEAD said...

I'm located in Chicago. My IL mirror is http://www.anl.gov/

Mairuzu said...

You, sir, are brilliant! I didn't even know about this fine little option and it's certainly easier than writing a bash script to figure it out! :)

redDEAD said...

Mariruzu,

I'm not brilliant, if I was I would have figured it out 3 years ago when I started using Ubuntu. I feel dumb, it took me installing Debian to figure this out.