pacman-mirrors
Manage pacman mirrorlist for faster downloads
TLDR
Generate a mirrorlist using the default settings
Get the status of the current mirrors
Display the current branch
Switch to a different branch
Generate a mirrorlist, only using mirrors in your country
SYNOPSIS
pacman-mirrors [options]
PARAMETERS
-h, --help
Show help message and exit.
-v, --version
Show version number and exit.
-g, --generate
Generate a mirrorlist based on current configuration.
-f [NUMBER], --fasttrack [NUMBER]
Select the NUMBER fastest mirrors.
-i, --interactive
Interactively choose mirrors from a list.
-c [COUNTRY], --country [COUNTRY]
Limit mirrors to the specified COUNTRY (comma separated).
-m [METHOD], --method [METHOD]
Sorting method: age, rate, score.
--api
Use the mirrorlist API for mirror selection.
--no-status
Disable mirror status check before generation.
--geoip
Filter mirrors based on GeoIP location.
--url [URL]
Use the specified URL as mirror pool.
-l, --list
List current mirrors in use.
--status
Show the status of the mirrors.
--set-branch [BRANCH]
Set the branch (stable, testing, unstable).
--get-branch
Get the current branch.
--set-mirror-status
Set mirror status check on mirrorlist.
--reset
Reset the configuration to default.
--config [CONFIG_FILE]
Use custom configuration file. Default: /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
DESCRIPTION
pacman-mirrors is a command-line tool for managing the mirror list used by pacman, the Arch Linux package manager. It automatically generates a ranked mirror list based on connection speed and other criteria to improve download performance. It dynamically adjusts the mirror list to use the fastest and most reliable mirrors available, ensuring efficient package updates and installations. The tool can sort mirrors by various parameters like latency and score. It can target mirrors in specific countries or continents. pacman-mirrors provides options to backup the current configuration before changes are applied.
Note: Regularly updating the mirror list is crucial for maintaining a healthy and responsive Arch Linux system. Incorrect or outdated mirror lists can lead to slow download speeds, package update failures, and even broken installations.
CAVEATS
Running pacman-mirrors without appropriate options may result in a poorly optimized mirror list. It's important to understand the available options and choose them according to network conditions and desired performance. Always update pacman's database after changing the mirrorlist using pacman -Syy.
CONFIGURATION FILE
pacman-mirrors's main configuration file is located at /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist. This file defines the mirrors to be used by pacman. You can manually edit this file, but it's generally recommended to use pacman-mirrors commands to manage the list.
MIRROR RANKING
pacman-mirrors ranks mirrors based on criteria such as latency and download speed. The tool pings each mirror and measures the response time, sorting them from fastest to slowest. This ensures that pacman uses the quickest mirrors for package downloads.
HISTORY
The pacman-mirrors command was created to simplify the process of managing pacman's mirrorlist in Arch Linux.
Over time, it evolved to incorporate automated mirror selection based on various factors, providing users with a more streamlined and efficient package management experience.