From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Mon Sep 8 14:27:51 2008 Return-Path: <owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG> Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id EDB87106567B for <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org>; Mon, 8 Sep 2008 14:27:51 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from jerrymc@gizmo.acns.msu.edu) Received: from gizmo.acns.msu.edu (gizmo.acns.msu.edu [35.8.1.43]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id B31BA8FC24 for <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org>; Mon, 8 Sep 2008 14:27:51 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from jerrymc@gizmo.acns.msu.edu) Received: from gizmo.acns.msu.edu (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by gizmo.acns.msu.edu (8.13.6/8.13.6) with ESMTP id m88ERVeS097779; Mon, 8 Sep 2008 10:27:31 -0400 (EDT) (envelope-from jerrymc@gizmo.acns.msu.edu) Received: (from jerrymc@localhost) by gizmo.acns.msu.edu (8.13.6/8.13.6/Submit) id m88ERUU3097778; Mon, 8 Sep 2008 10:27:30 -0400 (EDT) (envelope-from jerrymc) Date: Mon, 8 Sep 2008 10:27:30 -0400 From: Jerry McAllister <jerrymc@msu.edu> To: Randy Pratt <bsd-unix@embarqmail.com> Message-ID: <20080908142730.GC97697@gizmo.acns.msu.edu> References: <4b2381fb0809060359u53f85d06u4696d527063c5e4d@mail.gmail.com> <48C26870.7050100@gmail.com> <4b2381fb0809062307x4b7ef550lfba5d74e9057dccf@mail.gmail.com> <200809071022.37765.jmc-freebsd2@milibyte.co.uk> <20080907070603.57644dc0.bsd-unix@embarqmail.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit In-Reply-To: <20080907070603.57644dc0.bsd-unix@embarqmail.com> User-Agent: Mutt/1.4.2.2i Cc: James Strother <jstrother9109@gmail.com>, Mike Clarke <jmc-freebsd2@milibyte.co.uk>, freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: switching discs during install X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions <freebsd-questions.freebsd.org> List-Unsubscribe: <http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions>, <mailto:freebsd-questions-request@freebsd.org?subject=unsubscribe> List-Archive: <http://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-questions> List-Post: <mailto:freebsd-questions@freebsd.org> List-Help: <mailto:freebsd-questions-request@freebsd.org?subject=help> List-Subscribe: <http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions>, <mailto:freebsd-questions-request@freebsd.org?subject=subscribe> X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:27:52 -0000 On Sun, Sep 07, 2008 at 07:06:03AM -0400, Randy Pratt wrote: > On Sun, 7 Sep 2008 10:22:37 +0100 > Mike Clarke <jmc-freebsd2@milibyte.co.uk> wrote: > > > On Sunday 07 September 2008, James Strother wrote: > > > > > That said, I still think that as long as the freebsd foundation > > > distributes CD images it would be worthwhile to make them as > > > effective as possible. Actually, even if the install were moved to a > > > DVD, the ordered install I proposed would still improve the > > > situation. When the packages are haphazardly ordered on the disc, > > > the CD/DVD reader is forced to perform a large number of seeks that > > > dramatically reduces data throughput. When they are read in order, > > > read rates should be much better. > > > > They might not be as haphazard as you suggest. ISTR once reading that > > the CDs were arranged with the most popular packages on the first CD so > > that you would only need to download disk 2 (and 3) if you wanted some > > of the less common packages. With your suggested layout it's quite > > likely that a package which most of the others depend on would be right > > down at the bottom of the list with the result that you'd invariably > > need to download all 3 CD images. > > > > I think the best way to avoid the need for frequent CD switching would > > be for sysinstall to sort the list of selected packages into CD order > > before installing them. I imagine this would require some changes to > > pkg_add to prevent it from installing dependencies and I expect the > > possible benefits would not be considered to be sufficient to justify > > the effort. > > Another way to avoid switching CDs is to select an FTP server for > installing packages. This also avoids downloading bits you don't > need or want. I think the OP mentioned having a difficult or slow internet connection as being part of the reason for the question/comment. Although I enjoy having a 100MB line to my office into a 10GB backbone, still not all people are that fortunate and I don't even have a good line at home where I am still stuck with dialup (so I drag my machine in to the office for installs). ////jerry > > There is another discussion: > > http://docs.freebsd.org/cgi/mid.cgi?1220762797.29265.43.camel > > which would address the disk swapping by removing all the packages > from disc1 and providing a DVD of packages that could be used > after installation. > > HTH, > > Randy > > > > -- > _______________________________________________ > freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list > http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions > To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-questions-unsubscribe@freebsd.org" >