FreeBSD ftp mirror sites and pkg_add

In Arch Linux , package manager Pacman is using a configuration file
/etc/pacman.conf with its included files .


It is using a file such as the following ( some parts are deleted for
message ) :

( obtained from
http://www.archlinux.org/mirrorlist/all/ftp/
) :

---------------------------------

##
## Arch Linux repository mirrorlist
## Generated on 2011-11-13
##

## Any
#Server = ftp://mirrors.kernel.org/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch

## Australia
#Server = ftp://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.iinet.net.au/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://mirror.internode.on.net/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://mirror.optus.net/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch

...

## Canada
#Server = ftp://mirror.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://mirror.its.dal.ca/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://less.cogeco.net/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch

...

## Great Britain
#Server = ftp://mirror.lividpenguin.com/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://mirror.cinosure.com/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://mirrors.uk2.net/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch

...

## Turkey
#Server = ftp://ftp.linux.org.tr/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch

...

## United States
#Server = ftp://archlinux.supsec.org/pub/linux/arch/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://cake.lib.fit.edu/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://cosmos.cites.illinois.edu/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.archlinux.org/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.gtlib.gatech.edu/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://mirror.ancl.hawaii.edu/linux/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://mirror.us.leaseweb.net/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://locke.suu.edu/linux/dist/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
#Server = ftp://mirror.rit.edu/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch

---------------------------------

The advised action is to edit this file and activate nearest or
suitable mirrors by removing comment sign ( # ) in front of
the relevant mirror .

During package install , this file is used and traversed up to
an available mirror , when a mirror fails from beginning .

.................


In FreeBSD , pkg_add


http://svnweb.freebsd.org/base/head/usr.sbin/pkg_install/add/main.c?view=markup

the ONLY package site is taken by

getpackagesite(void)

from

if (getenv("PACKAGESITE"))

which it is ONLY ftp.FreeBSD.org .

When the statement

if ((packagesite = getpackagesite()) == NULL)

fails , it is necessary either to wait up to a working state of the
ftp.FreeBSD.org
or edit the "PACKAGESITE" environment variable up to a success which
is NOT an expected action from the beginners .


Instead of this , it is possible to use a pkg_add.conf
and insert into a list of ALL available ftp.*.FreeBSD.org sites

http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/mirrors-ftp.html

AND

OTHER mirror ftp sites synchronized by central FreeBSD ftp sites .

Every site will be commented out , but

ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org...

will be available .

For example :

---------------------------------

# From

# http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/mirrors-ftp.html

:

# The official sources for FreeBSD are available via anonymous FTP
# from a worldwide set of mirror sites.
# The site ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ is well connected and
# allows a large number of connections to it,
# but you are probably better off finding a closer mirror site
# (especially if you decide to set up some sort of mirror site).


# The adviced action is the following :


# Move the nearest mirror site link to top ,
# and second nearest mirror to second line ,
# up to mirrors suitable to use ,
# AND remove comment signs in front of them .

## Australia

#ftp://ftp.au.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/
#ftp://ftp2.au.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/

...

## Canada

#ftp://ftp.ca.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/
#ftp://ftp2.ca.freebsd.org/
#ftp://ftp3.ca.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/

...

## Turkey

#ftp://ftp.tr.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/
#ftp://ftp2.tr.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/

...

## United Kingdom

#ftp://ftp.uk.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/
#ftp://ftp2.uk.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/

...

## United States

#ftp://ftp1.us.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/
#ftp://ftp2.us.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/

...

ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/

---------------------------------

This feature and what to do advise will be stated in the release notes .

When pkg_add is started , it will load pkg_add.conf list
into an array , AND traverse this array from element one to
end , last being the ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/ .

If a mirror site is successful , the package will be installed from this
one ,
and the loop will be discontinued .

The suggested structure does NOT change anything from the new
user point of view .

It is very likely that , experienced users will adhere to
use nearest mirror usage advise to reduce load currently
carried by the default FreeBSD ftp site .

I think , the default ftp site is incurring cost for
internet band width usage .

Then any cost is saved may be transferred to projects to
improve FreeBSD features .

.................

I do NOT know such suggestions are irritative or useful ,
because sometimes it is possible to hear that

"if you do ( or can ) not supply a patch ,
then shut up , ... , shut up"


( where "shut up , ... , shut up" is from "Titanic is sinking" ) .


Thank you very much .


Mehmet Erol Sanliturk