Dnf by default does not choose the fastest mirror, but this can be changed by editing the dnf.conf file.

The dnf.conf file is in /etc/dnf/dnf.conf.

Edit the file

sudo nano /etc/dnf/dnf.conf

Once the file opens the content should look something like this.

[main]
gpgcheck=1
installonly_limit=3
clean_requirements_on_remove=True
best=False
skip_if_unavailable=TrueCode language: PHP (php)

Let’s add fastmirror to the config and enable it.

Add below the line skip_if_unavaiable=True the following.

fastestmirror=1

The dnf.conf should look like this.

[main]
gpgcheck=1
installonly_limit=3
clean_requirements_on_remove=True
best=False
skip_if_unavailable=True
fastestmirror=1Code language: PHP (php)

Save the file.

Run the following command.

sudo dnf clean all

Now fastmirror is enabled you can download anything, for this example I will download Zeal an offline document browser.

sudo dnf install zeal

There is the output.

[darryl@linuxvm ~]$ sudo dnf install zeal
[sudo] password for darryl: 
determining the fastest mirror (94 hosts).. done.--  B/s |   0  B     --:-- ETA
Fedora 32 openh264 (From Cisco) - x86_64        2.2 kB/s | 5.1 kB     00:02    
Fedora Modular 32 - x86_64                      1.1 MB/s | 4.9 MB     00:04    
Fedora Modular 32 - x86_64 - Updates            896 kB/s | 3.5 MB     00:04    
Fedora 32 - x86_64 - Updates                    2.1 MB/s |  18 MB     00:08    
Fedora 32 - x86_64                              3.7 MB/s |  70 MB     00:19    
Dependencies resolved.
================================================================================
 Package               Arch   Version                             Repo     Size
================================================================================
Installing:
 zeal                  x86_64 0.6.1-5.fc32                        fedora  473 k
Installing dependencies:
 pcre2-utf16           x86_64 10.35-3.fc32                        updates 212 k
 qt-settings           noarch 32.0-3.fc32                         fedora  9.3 k
 qt5-qtbase            x86_64 5.14.2-5.fc32                       updates 3.4 M
 qt5-qtbase-common     noarch 5.14.2-5.fc32                       updates  11 k
 qt5-qtbase-gui        x86_64 5.14.2-5.fc32                       updates 5.8 M
 qt5-qtdeclarative     x86_64 5.14.2-1.fc32                       updates 3.9 M
 qt5-qtlocation        x86_64 5.14.2-2.fc32                       updates 3.0 M
 qt5-qtsensors         x86_64 5.14.2-1.fc32                       updates 228 k
 qt5-qtwayland         x86_64 5.14.2-3.fc32                       updates 1.1 M
 qt5-qtwebchannel      x86_64 5.14.2-1.fc32                       updates  97 k
 qt5-qtwebkit          x86_64 5.212.0-0.46.alpha4.fc32            updates  13 M
 qt5-qtx11extras       x86_64 5.14.2-1.fc32                       updates  35 k
 xcb-util-image        x86_64 0.4.0-14.fc32                       fedora   19 k
 xcb-util-keysyms      x86_64 0.4.0-12.fc32                       fedora   14 k
 xcb-util-renderutil   x86_64 0.3.9-15.fc32                       fedora   17 k
 xcb-util-wm           x86_64 0.4.1-17.fc32                       fedora   31 k
Installing weak dependencies:
 gstreamer1-plugins-good-qt
                       x86_64 1.16.2-2.fc32                       fedora   46 k
 libyui-mga-qt         x86_64 1.0.3-0.20.gitb508e88.20140119.fc32 fedora   42 k
 libyui-qt             x86_64 2.47.1-17.fc32                      fedora  321 k
 libyui-qt-graph       x86_64 2.44.6-7.fc32                       fedora   57 k

Transaction Summary
================================================================================
Install  21 Packages

Total download size: 32 M
Installed size: 106 M
Is this ok [y/N]: 
Code language: JavaScript (javascript)

You can now successfully have Dnf downloading packages from the mirror with the lowest latency.

You can join the Reddit discussion here.

I compiled a list of software and services that I use to improve my workflow, here is the link to the list.

Darryl Dias

I’m Darryl. I’m a 3D Artist, Programmer and Linux enthusiast. On this site I share my insights, tips and tricks, tutorials, methods and best practices.