Re: Suggestion: Add option to use GNU mirrorlist for downloading sources

Am 18.11.25 um 22:58 schrieb Bruce Dubbs ([email protected] via
lfs-support Mailing List):
> On 11/18/25 3:25 PM, "Glitch (and Gummi)" ([email protected] via
> lfs-support Mailing List) wrote:
>> Hi there,
>> I recently had an exchange with a sysadmin from the FSF after I was
>> having trouble connecting to the GNU FTP server to download the
>> required packages for LFS. Apparently they were having problems with
>> DDoSes on their server, so they implemented a block on IP addresses
>> that made several requests in a short time. Unfortunately, as I was
>> downloading a large amount of packages from their server at the time
>> (as you do for LFS), I got caught in this ban and was no longer able
>> to connect.
>>
>> I eventually resolved this by `sed`ing the wget-list to point to a
>> mirror of the GNU FTP instead. As mentioned in the beginning, I
>> additionally emailed GNU directly about this and got in touch with one
>> of their sysadmins, who suggested I point to `ftpmirror.gnu.org` to
>> automatically get redirected to the fastest mirror. I have done this
>> when downloading subsequent source packages and it seems to work well.
>>
>> Interestingly, the sysadmin mentioned that he wanted to send a
>> suggestion to LFS, that they add a note advising users to point to
>> `ftpmirror.gnu.org` if they are having trouble connecting to the main
>> GNU FTP server. I agree that this would be useful advice, so I took
>> the liberty of writing out this suggestion myself. I don't know how
>> many people are experiencing connection issues with downloading
>> sources, but I could imagine adding a little note in the download
>> instructions could save some users a lot of hassle.
> 
> See the 'Important' note at
> https://rivendell.linuxfromscratch.org/lfs/view/development/chapter03/introduction.html
I've read the articles mentioned in the note and I think that the
problem with AI-bots cannot be solved by technical measures alone.

It's about time that governments and lawmakers wake up and issue
legislation that makes disrespect of "robots.txt" etc. a serious
offense.  AI-companies should be held liable for not just peanuts like a
few million dollars (or whatever) but for half of their profits.  *That*
would make them change their minds about ruining the internet and
free-feeding on other peoples labor.

Lawmakers and bureaucrats all over the world are masters in thinking up
all sorts of crap to make people's lifes more complicated and miserable.
 Grabbing the AI-gangs where it hurts would be something useful for change.

Rainer

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