How to Install APT-Fast on Ubuntu 22.04 | 20.04

APT-Fast is a powerful, alternative package management tool for Ubuntu and other Debian-based systems that aims to improve the efficiency and speed of package downloads and updates. It works as a wrapper for the traditional apt-get or apt package management tools while leveraging advanced download managers such as Axel or aria2 to significantly speed up package installations and updates.

Some key features and differences that make APT-Fast stand out are:

• Parallel Downloads: APT-Fast can download multiple package files simultaneously, taking advantage of your full network bandwidth and reducing overall download times.
• Multiple Mirrors: By utilizing multiple mirror sources, APT-Fast ensures a faster and more reliable download experience, avoiding potential bottlenecks or server issues.
• Flexible Configuration: APT-Fast provides several configuration options, allowing users to customize the tool to their preferences and network capabilities.
• Compatible with Existing Tools: As a wrapper for existing package management tools, APT-Fast retains compatibility with the traditional apt-get or apt commands, making it easy to integrate into existing workflows.

In summary, APT-Fast is an excellent choice for users looking to optimize their package management experience on Ubuntu. This guide will demonstrate how to install APT-Fast on Ubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish or Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa using the command-line terminal and its official Launchpad PPA. Additionally, we will provide some basic configuration examples to help you get started with this powerful tool.

Section 1: Installing APT-Fast on Ubuntu

To install APT-Fast on Ubuntu, follow these steps:

Step 1: Adding the LaunchPAD PPA

First, open a terminal window (Ctrl+Alt+T) and enter the following command to add the LaunchPAD PPA repository:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:apt-fast/stable -y

This command adds the APT-Fast stable repository to your system, allowing you to download and install the software.

Step 2: Updating the Package List

Next, update your package list with the following command:

sudo apt update

This ensures that your system is aware of the new APT-Fast repository and can fetch the latest version of the software.

Step 3: Installing APT-Fast

Now, it’s time to install APT-Fast. To do this, run the following command in your terminal:

sudo apt install apt-fast

During the installation process, you will encounter several prompts to configure APT-Fast according to your preferences.

Choosing the Package Manager

The first prompt will ask you to choose between “apt-get,” “apt,” or “aptitude” as your package manager. Most users will select the first two options, but for the sake of this guide, we will choose “apt.” Make your selection and proceed.

Example of prompt configuring APT-FAST on Ubuntu:

Setting the Maximum Number of Connections

The second prompt will request that you select the maximum number of connections. You can leave it as the default value of 5 or change it to 10 or 20, depending on your network capabilities and preferences. Don’t worry if you’re unsure about this choice; the guide will demonstrate how to change this setting later on.

Example of prompt to set the maximum amount of connections for APT-Fast on Ubuntu:

Downloading Packages Before Confirmation

The final prompt during the first-time installation of APT-Fast is related to downloading installable packages before the package manager confirmation. Essentially, this option suppresses APT-Fast’s confirmation dialogue. This choice is user-defined, so select your preference and click “OK” to proceed.

Example of prompt for suppressing APT-Fast dialogue on Ubuntu:

Following these steps and making the appropriate selections, you’ll have successfully installed and configured APT-Fast on your system. The next sections of the guide will cover how to use and modify APT-Fast settings for optimal performance.

Section 2: Configuring APT-Fast

Once APT-Fast is installed, you can customize its settings to suit your needs.

Step 1: Editing the APT-Fast Configuration File

To edit the configuration file, open it using a text editor like nano:

sudo nano /etc/apt-fast.conf

Example of APT-Fast Configuration file once opened on Ubuntu:

Step 2: Setting the Maximum Number of Connections

In the configuration file, find the _MAXNUM variable and set it to your desired number of connections. For example, to set the maximum number of connections to 10, you would use:

_MAXNUM=10

Step 3: Choosing the Download Manager

If you want to switch between Axel and aria2, find the DOWNLOADBELOW line in the configuration file and change the download manager accordingly. For example, if you want to use aria2, your configuration line would look like this:

DOWNLOADBELOW="aria2c -c -s ${_MAXNUM} -x ${_MAXNUM} -k 1M -q --file-allocation=none"

And if you prefer to use Axel, change the line to:

DOWNLOADBELOW="axel -n ${_MAXNUM}"

Save the changes and exit the text editor once you’ve selected them.

Step 4: Configuring Mirrors

APT-Fast can utilize multiple mirrors to speed up package downloads. To configure the mirrors, you’ll need to edit the /etc/apt-fast.list file. Use a text editor like nano to open the file:

sudo nano /etc/apt-fast.list

Inside this file, you can add or modify the list of mirrors. For example, you can add the following line to use a mirror from the United States:

deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ $RELEASE main restricted universe multiverse

Replace $RELEASE with your Ubuntu version codename, like jammy for Ubuntu 22.04. Save the changes and exit the text editor.

Example of mirrors configuration section with APT-Fast on Ubuntu:

Section 3: Using APT-Fast

APT-Fast is designed to work seamlessly with your existing APT commands. Here are some examples of how to use APT-Fast in place of APT:

Example 1: Basic Commands

To update the package list using APT-Fast, run:

sudo apt-fast update

To install a package, such as htop, you would use:

sudo apt-fast install htop

Example 2: Updating the System

To update the system packages using APT-Fast, run:

sudo apt-fast upgrade

This command updates all installed packages on your system to their latest versions.

Example of upgrading prompt with APT-Fast on Ubuntu:

Example 3: Upgrading the System

If you need to perform a distribution upgrade (e.g., from Ubuntu 20.04 to 22.04), use the following command:

sudo apt-fast dist-upgrade

Keep in mind that upgrading the distribution can take a while and should be done with caution. Make sure to back up your data before proceeding.

Conclusion

APT-Fast is a powerful and convenient tool that can significantly speed up package downloads and updates on Ubuntu. Following this guide, you’ve successfully installed and configured APT-Fast using LaunchPAD PPA. Now you can enjoy faster package management on your Ubuntu system.

Additional Resources and Links

To further enhance your knowledge and understanding of APT-Fast and related tools, I’ve compiled a list of useful resources and links:

1. APT-Fast GitHub Repository: The official APT-Fast GitHub repository contains the latest source code, documentation, and issue tracking. Visit the repository at https://github.com/ilikenwf/apt-fast.
2. Axel Download Manager: To learn more about the Axel download manager, visit its official GitHub repository at https://github.com/axel-download-accelerator/axel.
3. aria2 Download Manager: To explore the features and capabilities of the aria2 download manager, visit the official website at https://aria2.github.io/.
4. Ubuntu Package Management: To dive deeper into Ubuntu package management, consult the official Ubuntu documentation at https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PackageManager.