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Advice for Running Mirrors

 [image of the typing GNU]

Table of Contents


Mirroring the GNU Web Server

Mirroring the GNU Web server requires roughly 2.5GB of disk space (as of 25 June 2003).

All the cross-references between our web pages use absolute file names (starting with /). We chose this convention because some browsers get confused by relative file names in links; in addition, counting the number of times to use ../ in a relative file name is not reliable.

The absolute file names assume that the root web directory is the top-level GNU directory. If your mirror server is not dedicated to the GNU project alone, that will not be true. Here are ways you can compensate for that:


Once your mirror site is operating, you will need to update the contents regularly. Due to resource and security concerns, we no longer offer direct rsync or FTP service to update mirrors.

If you would like to use rsync (which is advisable) or FTP, there is a reliable third party site, ibiblio.org, that is offering access to the www.gnu.org contents via both of these methods. They update directly from us on a regular basis and you may access them with:

[Thanks to John Reuning and ibiblio for providing this service for us. Please see the section below for some tips on updating your mirror from ibiblio]


We currently do not have an adequate service to assist mirrors in updating directly from us. If you would like to try, the following methods may suit your needs:

[Note]: If anyone is succesfully using other methods for mirroring www.gnu.org, and can give us input as to what methods you are using, please contact webmasters@gnu.org.


Mirroring the GNU FTP Server

Mirroring the GNU FTP server requires roughly 20GB disk space (as of 29 June 2003).

Due to resource and security concerns, we no longer offer direct rsync or FTP service to update mirrors. If you would like to use rsync (which is advisable) or FTP, there is a reliable third party site, ibiblio.org, that is offering access to the ftp.gnu.org contents via both of these methods. They update directly from us on a regular basis and you may access them with:

[Thanks to John Reuning and ibiblio for providing this service for us. Please see the section below for some tips on updating your mirror from ibiblio]

ftp.funet.fi also offers rsync (and ftp) access to the GNU FTP server. rsync://ftp.funet.fi/ftp/pub/mirrors/ftp.gnu.org/pub/gnu/.


We currently do not have an adequate service to assist mirrors in updating directly from us. If you would like to try, the following methods may suit your needs:


Tips on Updating Your Mirror from Ibiblio


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