Mint team is looking for beta Testers for new CDN delivery system.

[kc1di]

The Following was posted on the LM forum from Clem.

Fastly Repository · Issue #658 · linuxmint/linuxmint

Hi everyone, We're currently testing the Fastly CDN, which has the potential to really boost the performance of our repositories. How to test Edit /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositor...

github.com

those here that use Mint may be interested.

 

[Condobloke]

Good find @kc1di

My Software sources now looks like the below...

 

[kc1di]

yep I'm using it also. Working fast and well.

 

[Condobloke]

One day, the base will change as well.

 

[KGIII]

I doubt it'll make much of a difference for me. I'll save the bandwidth for the rest of you!

 

[Condobloke]

Thank you !

 

[KGIII]

I do appreciate a good CDN. Use of a CDN is why my Linux Tips site should load reasonably quickly anywhere on the globe. It means you're accessing a local cache of the site rather than visiting the site's actual server in NYC, USA.

It's an additional expense, but one that I think is worth it.

I can see justification for doing this for this application. This was previously dealt with by picking a mirror that was in your geographic region, or at least one that responded quickly. A CDN should automate that, though that much bandwidth through a CDN is going to be expensive. As they're a non-profit, maybe they're getting the service gratis.

 

[wizardfromoz]

Dave, thanks for sharing, but just a heads up that the title could be misleading.

It's not about Beta Testing a distro release, but rather about trying a CDN - Content Delivery Network , here a difference to the usual download (update) mirror servers.

That being said, I will give it a try on my tomorrow.

Cheers

Wiz

 

[kc1di]

Dave, thanks for sharing, but just a heads up that the title could be misleading.

It's not about Beta Testing a distro release, but rather about trying a CDN - Content Delivery Network , here a difference to the usual download (update) mirror servers.

That being said, I will give it a try on my tomorrow.

Cheers

Wiz

Thanks Chris, Changed the tittle
Also be aware if you have a local repository enabled you will have to change that to the original before making the changes in the blog. But since changing here yesterday it's been working great.

 

[WinterOwl]

I tested it yesterday, both http and https mirror. Everything works fine.

 

[wizardfromoz]

Also be aware if you have a local repository enabled you will have to change that to the original before making the changes in the blog.

Just to qualify that, I have run experiments (stirring wizard's cauldron )

Once you have changed to the default and used the commands to add fastly to your sources list, you can come back and choose a local mirror for the base (Ubuntu) component. Brian @Condobloke may be interested in this.

I conducted my tests on Linux Mint 21.1 'Vera', and I ran the time command each time for my updates. I then used Timeshift to restore to the previous and alter settings again, and run updates.

The times for my tests were as follows:

• 2m36s with both mirrors local Aussie
• 2m29s with fastly for Mint and UK server (default) for base (Ubuntu)
• 2m21s with fastly for Mint and a local Aussie server for base (Ubuntu)

So 7 seconds up to 15 seconds improvement, once you introduce the fastly CDN element. Not huge, but perhaps valuable, and it may well improve.

I also ran the same tests on a LInux Mint 20.0 'Ulyana' and that produced similar outcomes, so I expect we will find it works for all Minties from Ulyana to Virginia.

HTH

Wizard

 

[kc1di]

I had similar response times here also but about a 10 sec improvement over all. In any event not earth shattering but an improvement.