If you’re an Arch Linux user, you’ve probably experienced the frustration of slow package downloads. The culprit? You might be using a mirror server that’s geographically distant or simply overloaded. After years of managing Arch systems, I’ve learned that optimizing your mirror list is one of the simplest ways to dramatically improve your system update experience.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through several proven methods to identify and configure the fastest Arch Linux mirrors for your location, potentially cutting your download times by 50% or more.
Why Mirror Selection Matters
Arch Linux uses a global network of mirror servers to distribute packages. When you run pacman -Syu, your system connects to these mirrors to download updates. However, not all mirrors are created equal. Factors affecting mirror speed include:
- Geographic proximity to your location
- Server load and bandwidth capacity
- Synchronization frequency with the main repositories
- Network routing between you and the mirror
Using a suboptimal mirror can turn a 30-second update into a 5-minute ordeal. Let’s fix that.
Method 1: Using Reflector (Recommended)
Reflector is the most popular and automated solution for optimizing your Arch mirror list. It queries the official mirror status page, filters mirrors based on your criteria, and automatically updates your mirrorlist.
Installing Reflector
sudo pacman -S reflector
Basic Usage
To find the 10 fastest HTTPS mirrors that have synchronized within the last 12 hours:
sudo reflector --latest 10 --protocol https --sort rate --save /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
Let me break down these options:
--latest 10: Tests only the 10 most recently synchronized mirrors--protocol https: Filters for secure HTTPS connections--sort rate: Sorts mirrors by download speed--save: Writes the results directly to your mirrorlist file
Advanced Reflector Configuration
For location-specific optimization, add country filters:
sudo reflector --country 'United States,Canada' --latest 15 --protocol https --sort rate --save /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
I recommend setting up Reflector to run automatically. Create a systemd timer that updates your mirrors weekly:
sudo systemctl enable reflector.timer
sudo systemctl start reflector.timer
Edit /etc/xdg/reflector/reflector.conf to customize your preferences:
--save /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
--protocol https
--country 'Your Country'
--latest 10
--sort rate
Method 2: Manual Mirror Testing with Rankmirrors
For those who prefer more control, the rankmirrors utility (part of the pacman-contrib package) allows manual mirror testing.
Installation
sudo pacman -S pacman-contrib
Using Rankmirrors
First, back up your current mirrorlist:
sudo cp /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist.backup
Uncomment all mirrors in the file (or the ones you want to test), then run:
rankmirrors -n 6 /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist.backup > /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
The -n 6 flag tells rankmirrors to output the 6 fastest mirrors. Be aware that this process tests each mirror individually, so it can take several minutes depending on how many mirrors you’re testing.
Method 3: Using Rate-Mirrors (Fastest Option)
rate-mirrors is a newer tool written in Rust that’s significantly faster than traditional options. It performs concurrent testing and can complete mirror ranking in seconds rather than minutes.
Installation from AUR
yay -S rate-mirrors-bin
Or using paru:
paru -S rate-mirrors-bin
Usage
To test and rank Arch Linux mirrors:
rate-mirrors --protocol https arch | sudo tee /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
You can also specify your country for more relevant results:
rate-mirrors --protocol https --country US arch | sudo tee /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
From my testing, rate-mirrors typically completes its analysis in 10-15 seconds, making it ideal for quick optimizations.
Best Practices and Tips
Based on my experience managing multiple Arch systems, here are some recommendations:
Always backup your mirrorlist before making changes. A simple sudo cp /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist.backup can save you headaches if something goes wrong.
Prefer HTTPS mirrors for security. While slightly slower than HTTP, the encryption protects package authenticity and prevents man-in-the-middle attacks.
Keep multiple mirrors in your list. If your primary mirror goes down, pacman will automatically try the next one. I typically maintain 5-7 mirrors.
Re-test periodically. Mirror performance changes over time due to server maintenance, bandwidth adjustments, and network conditions. I recommend re-ranking your mirrors monthly or whenever you notice slow downloads.
Consider geographic diversity. While local mirrors are usually fastest, including one or two mirrors from nearby countries provides redundancy.
Verifying Your Changes
After updating your mirrorlist, refresh your package database:
sudo pacman -Syy
The -yy flag forces a refresh even if the database appears up-to-date. Then run a test update to verify improved speeds:
sudo pacman -Syu
You should notice significantly faster download speeds if you previously had a suboptimal mirror configuration.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Mirror is out of sync: If you encounter errors about missing packages, your mirror might be out of sync with the main repositories. Run your mirror optimization tool again, focusing on recently synchronized mirrors.
Reflector fails to connect: Check your internet connection and verify that you have the correct country code. You can find valid country codes in the Reflector documentation.
All downloads are still slow: This might indicate an issue with your internet connection rather than mirror selection. Test your general internet speed and consider network-level troubleshooting.
Conclusion
Optimizing your Arch Linux mirrors is a simple maintenance task that yields immediate benefits. Whether you choose the automated convenience of Reflector, the speed of rate-mirrors, or the manual control of rankmirrors, you’ll enjoy faster updates and a smoother Arch experience.
I’ve personally been using Reflector with automatic weekly updates on my main machines, and it’s eliminated the mirror performance issues I used to encounter regularly. For my testing systems where I experiment more frequently, rate-mirrors provides the quick optimization I need without waiting.
- Design
