[plug] Mirrors - Cameron

[James Elliott]

Thanks Cameron

James

----- Original Message -----
From: "Cameron Patrick" <cameron at patrick.wattle.id.au>
To: <plug at plug.linux.org.au>
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 3:04 PM
Subject: Re: [plug] Mirrors


> G'day,
>
> On Fri, Feb 14, 2003 at 02:49:47PM +0800, James Elliott wrote:
>
> | How do mirrors work (not the glass ones but the ones we download from)?
>
> Every now and then (daily, weekly, monthly, wheneverly, depending on
> the mirror), the mirror sites download the latest files off the original
> server.  You can download freely off any site that mirrors whatever
> you're trying to download (mostly ... some mirrors are restricted to
> certain IPs, like mirror.aarnet.edu.au which is only available within
> Australia).
>
> | I gather the major downloads are not only stored on the source server
but
> | also on "mirrors" in other countries.
>
> That is correct.
>
> | 1.  Since we pay no more for Internet use if we download from within
> | Australia as distinct from overseas, why use mirrors? - what is the
> | advantage?
>
> It's faster, places less strain on the wet piece of string that runs
> under the ocean to connect us with the rest of the world, and places
> less strain on the bandwidth of the primary download site.
>
> Plus, those of us on ADSL or University connections /do/ pay more for
> connections outside WAIX or PARnet.  For example, we can download up to
> 4GB on our home ADSL connection before we get throttled back down to
> slightly-above-56k-modem speeds; most traffic within WA (i.e. WAIX)
> doesn't count towards this quota.  Likewise, at Uni, I am given a
> smallish quota of downloads outside PARnet (i.e. Murdoch+UWA+ECU+Curtin),
> after which I have to start paying for Internet access.
>
> | 2.  Who pays for the mirror sites if the downloads are free?
>
> That depends.  Generally large ISPs do, in an attempt to save themselves
> from needing bigger connections.  Iinet (ftp.iinet.net.au), Westnet
> (mirror.3fl.net), and various other big names around WA all host their
> own mirror sites.
>
> CP.
>
>