Getting updated (was: Re: [plug] Woody on 7 CDs!? Why?)

[Leon Blackwell]

On Wed, Jul 24, 2002 at 12:07:43PM +0800, garry wrote:
> When compressing a file, there is a small overhead. If the file being 
> compressed is already optimally compressed or encrypted then you will have 
> the original file size PLUS the ovehead..

True, but rsync makes a number of decisions on the server to minimise
total traffic, so the overhead is reasonably small.  Also, when you
request multiple files, it can compress them together (somewhat) by
using the windowed symbols from the end of one file for the next.  The
real disadvantage to all this is that it puts more load on the server
than http, and so isn't likely to work if everyone starts using it.

For those looking for more information on apt-proxy and friends,
http://apt-proxy.sourceforge.net/ has a nice introduction, plus links to
the alternatives.


-- 
 Leon Blackwell                | Spoon-feeding, in the long run,
 http://www.lostrealm.com/     | teaches us nothing but the shape of
 jabber:lionfire at lostrealm.com | the spoon.
                               | -- E. M. Forster