can't use pacman with axel

gugah · 2019-05-12 23:18:31

Hi all!

I used to use pacman with axel to manage downloads. This is how my /etc/pacman.conf looks like:

XferCommand = /usr/bin/axel -n 3 -v -a -o %o %u

After a recent update (shown below), pacman stopped working. The progress bar "advanced" for each download but it couldn't even sync the mirror's db.

[2019-05-10 23:51] [ALPM] upgraded axel (2.16.1-1 -> 2.17.1-1)

My workaround was to set XferCommand to use wget instead of axel but I'd really like to use axel or a similar alternative. Anyone experiencing the same problem?

edit: this is how pacman fails when trying to use axel

:: Synchronizing package databases...
Initializing download: http://mirror.archlinux.cl/core/os/x86_64/core.db
File size: 136801 bytes
Opening output file /var/lib/pacman/sync/core.db.part
Starting download

[ 98%] [.................................................................................................0 .] [ 343.3KB/s] [00:00]Initializing download: http://mirrors.evowise.com/archlinux/core/os/x86_64/core.db
File size: 136789 bytes
State file found, but no downloaded data. Starting from scratch.
Opening output file /var/lib/pacman/sync/core.db.part
Starting download

Last edited by gugah (2019-05-12 23:22:45)

jasonwryan · 2019-05-12 23:21:04

Post the output of `pacman -Syu --debug` with axel.

gugah · 2019-05-12 23:24:50

jasonwryan wrote:

Post the output of `pacman -Syu --debug` with axel.

debug: pacman v5.1.3 - libalpm v11.0.3
debug: config: attempting to read file /etc/pacman.conf
debug: config: new section 'options'
debug: config: HoldPkg: pacman
debug: config: HoldPkg: glibc
debug: config: xfercommand: /usr/bin/axel -n 3 -v -a -o %o %u
debug: config: arch: x86_64
debug: config: SigLevel: Optional
debug: config: SigLevel: TrustAll
debug: config: LocalFileSigLevel: Optional
debug: config: new section 'core'
debug: config file /etc/pacman.conf, line 79: including /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
debug: config: new section 'extra'
debug: config file /etc/pacman.conf, line 82: including /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
debug: config: new section 'community'
debug: config file /etc/pacman.conf, line 88: including /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
debug: config: new section 'multilib'
debug: config file /etc/pacman.conf, line 97: including /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
debug: config: finished parsing /etc/pacman.conf
debug: setup_libalpm called
debug: option 'logfile' = /var/log/pacman.log
debug: option 'gpgdir' = /etc/pacman.d/gnupg/
debug: option 'hookdir' = /etc/pacman.d/hooks/
debug: option 'cachedir' = /var/cache/pacman/pkg/
debug: registering sync database 'core'
debug: database path for tree core set to /var/lib/pacman/sync/core.db
debug: "/var/lib/pacman/sync/core.db" is not readable: No such file or directory
debug: setting usage of 15 for core repository
debug: adding new server URL to database 'core': http://mirror.archlinux.cl/core/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'core': http://mirrors.evowise.com/archlinux/core/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'core': http://br.mirror.archlinux-br.org/core/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'core': http://mirrors.advancedhosters.com/archlinux/core/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'core': http://mirror.upb.edu.co/archlinux/core/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'core': http://mirror.venturasystems.tech/archlinux/core/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'core': http://mirror.epiphyte.network/archlinux/core/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'core': http://mirror.math.princeton.edu/pub/archlinux/core/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'core': http://mirror.wdc1.us.leaseweb.net/archlinux/core/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'core': http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/archlinux/core/os/x86_64
debug: registering sync database 'extra'
debug: database path for tree extra set to /var/lib/pacman/sync/extra.db
debug: "/var/lib/pacman/sync/extra.db.sig" is not readable: No such file or directory
debug: sig path /var/lib/pacman/sync/extra.db.sig could not be opened
debug: missing optional signature
debug: setting usage of 15 for extra repository
debug: adding new server URL to database 'extra': http://mirror.archlinux.cl/extra/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'extra': http://mirrors.evowise.com/archlinux/extra/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'extra': http://br.mirror.archlinux-br.org/extra/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'extra': http://mirrors.advancedhosters.com/archlinux/extra/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'extra': http://mirror.upb.edu.co/archlinux/extra/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'extra': http://mirror.venturasystems.tech/archlinux/extra/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'extra': http://mirror.epiphyte.network/archlinux/extra/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'extra': http://mirror.math.princeton.edu/pub/archlinux/extra/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'extra': http://mirror.wdc1.us.leaseweb.net/archlinux/extra/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'extra': http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/archlinux/extra/os/x86_64
debug: registering sync database 'community'
debug: database path for tree community set to /var/lib/pacman/sync/community.db
debug: "/var/lib/pacman/sync/community.db.sig" is not readable: No such file or directory
debug: sig path /var/lib/pacman/sync/community.db.sig could not be opened
debug: missing optional signature
debug: setting usage of 15 for community repository
debug: adding new server URL to database 'community': http://mirror.archlinux.cl/community/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'community': http://mirrors.evowise.com/archlinux/community/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'community': http://br.mirror.archlinux-br.org/community/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'community': http://mirrors.advancedhosters.com/archlinux/community/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'community': http://mirror.upb.edu.co/archlinux/community/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'community': http://mirror.venturasystems.tech/archlinux/community/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'community': http://mirror.epiphyte.network/archlinux/community/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'community': http://mirror.math.princeton.edu/pub/archlinux/community/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'community': http://mirror.wdc1.us.leaseweb.net/archlinux/community/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'community': http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/archlinux/community/os/x86_64
debug: registering sync database 'multilib'
debug: database path for tree multilib set to /var/lib/pacman/sync/multilib.db
debug: "/var/lib/pacman/sync/multilib.db.sig" is not readable: No such file or directory
debug: sig path /var/lib/pacman/sync/multilib.db.sig could not be opened
debug: missing optional signature
debug: setting usage of 15 for multilib repository
debug: adding new server URL to database 'multilib': http://mirror.archlinux.cl/multilib/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'multilib': http://mirrors.evowise.com/archlinux/multilib/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'multilib': http://br.mirror.archlinux-br.org/multilib/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'multilib': http://mirrors.advancedhosters.com/archlinux/multilib/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'multilib': http://mirror.upb.edu.co/archlinux/multilib/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'multilib': http://mirror.venturasystems.tech/archlinux/multilib/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'multilib': http://mirror.epiphyte.network/archlinux/multilib/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'multilib': http://mirror.math.princeton.edu/pub/archlinux/multilib/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'multilib': http://mirror.wdc1.us.leaseweb.net/archlinux/multilib/os/x86_64
debug: adding new server URL to database 'multilib': http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/archlinux/multilib/os/x86_64
:: Synchronizing package databases...
debug: running command: /usr/bin/axel -n 3 -v -a -o /var/lib/pacman/sync/core.db.part http://mirror.archlinux.cl/core/os/x86_64/core.db
Initializing download: http://mirror.archlinux.cl/core/os/x86_64/core.db
File size: 136801 bytes
Opening output file /var/lib/pacman/sync/core.db.part
State file found: 0 bytes downloaded, 136801 to go.
Starting download

Connection 0 finished                                                                                                             
debug: XferCommand command returned non-zero status code (139)
debug: returning error 54 from _alpm_download : error invoking external downloader
debug: running command: /usr/bin/axel -n 3 -v -a -o /var/lib/pacman/sync/core.db.part http://mirrors.evowise.com/archlinux/core/os/x86_64/core.db
Initializing download: http://mirrors.evowise.com/archlinux/core/os/x86_64/core.db
File size: 136789 bytes
Opening output file /var/lib/pacman/sync/core.db.part
State file found: 0 bytes downloaded, 136789 to go.
Starting download

[ 99%] [..................................................................................................0.] [ 955.2KB/s] [00:00]debug: XferCommand command returned non-zero status code (139)
debug: returning error 54 from _alpm_download : error invoking external downloader
debug: running command: /usr/bin/axel -n 3 -v -a -o /var/lib/pacman/sync/core.db.part http://br.mirror.archlinux-br.org/core/os/x86_64/core.db
Initializing download: http://br.mirror.archlinux-br.org/core/os/x86_64/core.db
File size: 136801 bytes
Opening output file /var/lib/pacman/sync/core.db.part
State file found: 0 bytes downloaded, 136801 to go.
Starting download

Connection 0 finished                                                                                                             
debug: XferCommand command returned non-zero status code (139)
debug: returning error 54 from _alpm_download : error invoking external downloader
debug: running command: /usr/bin/axel -n 3 -v -a -o /var/lib/pacman/sync/core.db.part http://mirrors.advancedhosters.com/archlinux/core/os/x86_64/core.db
Initializing download: http://mirrors.advancedhosters.com/archlinux/core/os/x86_64/core.db
File size: 136794 bytes
Opening output file /var/lib/pacman/sync/core.db.part
State file found: 0 bytes downloaded, 136794 to go.
Starting download

[ 97%] [.................................................................................................0 .] [ 134.8KB/s] [00:00]debug: XferCommand command returned non-zero status code (139)
debug: returning error 54 from _alpm_download : error invoking external downloader
debug: running command: /usr/bin/axel -n 3 -v -a -o /var/lib/pacman/sync/core.db.part http://mirror.upb.edu.co/archlinux/core/os/x86_64/core.db
Initializing download: http://mirror.upb.edu.co/archlinux/core/os/x86_64/core.db
File size: 136794 bytes
Opening output file /var/lib/pacman/sync/core.db.part
State file found: 0 bytes downloaded, 136794 to go.
Starting download

Connection 0 finished                                                                                                             
debug: XferCommand command returned non-zero status code (139)
debug: returning error 54 from _alpm_download : error invoking external downloader
debug: running command: /usr/bin/axel -n 3 -v -a -o /var/lib/pacman/sync/core.db.part http://mirror.venturasystems.tech/archlinux/core/os/x86_64/core.db
Initializing download: http://mirror.venturasystems.tech/archlinux/core/os/x86_64/core.db
HTTP/1.1 500 Internal Server Error
debug: XferCommand command returned non-zero status code (256)
debug: returning error 54 from _alpm_download : error invoking external downloader
debug: running command: /usr/bin/axel -n 3 -v -a -o /var/lib/pacman/sync/core.db.part http://mirror.epiphyte.network/archlinux/core/os/x86_64/core.db
Initializing download: http://mirror.epiphyte.network/archlinux/core/os/x86_64/core.db
Unable to connect to server mirror.epiphyte.network:80: Name or service not known

debug: XferCommand command returned non-zero status code (256)
debug: returning error 54 from _alpm_download : error invoking external downloader
debug: running command: /usr/bin/axel -n 3 -v -a -o /var/lib/pacman/sync/core.db.part http://mirror.math.princeton.edu/pub/archlinux/core/os/x86_64/core.db
Initializing download: http://mirror.math.princeton.edu/pub/archlinux/core/os/x86_64/core.db
File size: 136801 bytes
Opening output file /var/lib/pacman/sync/core.db.part
State file found: 0 bytes downloaded, 136801 to go.
Starting download

Connection 0 finished                                                                                                             
debug: XferCommand command returned non-zero status code (139)

Allan · 2019-05-12 23:37:42

Running manually gives some hints....

$ /usr/bin/axel -n 3 -v -a -o core.db.part http://mirror.archlinux.cl/core/os/x86_64/core.db
Initializing download: http://mirror.archlinux.cl/core/os/x86_64/core.db
File size: 136801 bytes
Opening output file core.db.part
Starting download

[ 96%] [...............................................0 .] [  73.1KB/s] [00:00]
Segmentation fault (core dumped)

That last line looks bad!

gugah · 2019-05-13 01:15:55

Downgraded axel back to 2.16.1-1 for now. It's definitely an error in the new release.
I've been checking their github's Issue tracker but with a "seg fault" message there's not much I can find.

Last edited by gugah (2019-05-13 01:16:45)

loqs · 2019-05-13 01:20:43

Have you examined the backtrace from the core dump?

gugah · 2019-05-14 22:46:37

loqs wrote:

Have you examined the backtrace from the core dump?

Thanks didn't know about that tool! It appears that the main axel dev is aware of this segfault. There's a fix for it already that will be part of the next release (2.17.2). They are also requesting help to downstream the package to the Arch repos: https://github.com/axel-download-accele … issues/208

Last edited by gugah (2019-05-14 23:33:39)

gugah · 2019-05-22 03:07:19

New 2.17.3 release has a new bug and the devs are working on it. The workaround would be to downgrade to 2.16.1 or use a different XferCommand such as wget or curl.

Arch Linux

#1 2019-05-12 23:18:31

can't use pacman with axel

#2 2019-05-12 23:21:04

Re: can't use pacman with axel

#3 2019-05-12 23:24:50

Re: can't use pacman with axel

#4 2019-05-12 23:37:42

Re: can't use pacman with axel

#5 2019-05-13 01:15:55

Re: can't use pacman with axel

#6 2019-05-13 01:20:43

Re: can't use pacman with axel

#7 2019-05-14 22:46:37

Re: can't use pacman with axel

#8 2019-05-22 03:07:19

Re: can't use pacman with axel

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