Re: APT : Packages file to large to download everytime.
On Tue, Jun 05, 2001 at 12:06:06PM +0530, Viral wrote:
> Hi,
>
> This has been brought up many times before. The APT packages file is just
> too large to download everytime during an apt-get update.
>
> I believe rsync is too costly a solution, as it would tax a server when
> hundreds of people are doing apt-get update.
>
> I think it would be a good idea to use a patch file. As in, every time
> the Packages file is changed, a diff could be made available. So, everday,
> a file called Packages-`date -I` could be released.
> Hence, everytime the Packages file is updated, a suitable patch could be
> released. Patches upto say 30 revisions could be kept, and if one was way
> out of sync, then the whole Packages file could be downloaded.
>
Maybe a package serial number could be great, something like DNS version
number... Then, diff files could be easily downloaded starting from
the last updated version plus one and up to the latest one...
> Also, it would be nice if the Packages file was signed, or some trust
> mechanism was available.
>
This is also a good idea imho.
> I wouldn't mind working on integrating these things into apt, if people
> generally tend to agree upon them as a good idea.
>
> viral
>
> Please cc: me replies as I'm not on debian-devel
>
> --
> There's someone in my head but its not me.
--
Francesco P. Lovergine
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