New GNU Mirror in the UK (ftp.gnu.org.uk)

[Admin]

As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the free software ecosystem, we recently applied to host an official mirror for ftp.gnu.org.uk – and we're happy to announce that the process is underway!

The GNU Project (see gnu.org) is one of the most important foundations of the free software movement. Since its creation in 1983, GNU has been developing a complete free operating system and many essential tools that power much of today's Linux infrastructure.

Our mirror is currently being synced via rsync, and will serve users via a high-speed 1 Gbit/s uplink from a UK-based server running on NVMe SSDs. This should ensure fast and reliable downloads for users across Europe and beyond.

We are also sponsoring the domain gnu.org.uk, which redirects to gnu.org, to help improve accessibility and visibility for the project.

🖥 Current Server Status

The mirror hosted by tux.re on our server in our london, the service is now online and operational. As of today, approximately 30% of the archive has been synchronized via rsync and is already being served from our infrastructure in the UK.

We're running this service on a high-performance NVMe setup with a 1 Gbit/s uplink, ensuring fast and reliable downloads for users in Europe and beyond.

🔄 What's Next?

We are currently working on enabling anonymous FTP access to the archive.

    Note: Anonymous FTP is not yet available, but you can already browse and download the mirror via HTTPS:

👉 https://ftp.gnu.org.uk

This will soon allow users to access the archive via FTP as well – ideal for automation, legacy systems, or advanced workflows.

We're proud to support GNU and the broader free software community.

Feel free to leave feedback or ask questions here in the forum.

—
tux.re network team

[Admin]

The GNU FTP archive at ftp.gnu.org.uk is a vital resource for accessing free software developed and maintained by the GNU Project. This archive serves as an official distribution point for a wide array of GNU software and associated resources. It is frequently used by developers, system administrators, and anyone interested in the free software movement.

📁 Key Directories and Their Contents

    gnu/
    The heart of the archive. This directory contains official GNU software releases, including popular tools like GCC, Emacs, Bash, Coreutils, and many others essential to GNU/Linux systems.

We are proud to sponsor and host a UK-based mirror of this archive. Our mirror runs on NVMe storage, features a 1 Gbit/s uplink, and is kept up to date via rsync, ensuring fast and reliable access to this critical repository of free software.

Feel free to explore it at ftp.gnu.org.uk, and let us know if you have feedback or questions!

[Admin]

Dear Community,

We're excited to announce that our server ftp.gnu.org.uk has been added to the GNU mirror list! 🎊



This means we're now part of the global infrastructure that helps ensure free software is available and accessible to everyone — and we're genuinely proud of that.

A huge thank-you to the GNU team led by Dr. Richard Stallman (stallman.org), whose decades of work have made an incredible impact on the IT world.
Without GNU, much of the foundation for modern open-source software simply wouldn't exist.

It's an honor for us to contribute in our own small way by hosting this important project.

Best regards,

Admin

[Admin]

Introduction

The GNU Project is one of the cornerstones of the free software movement. Initiated in 1983 by Richard Stallman, the goal of the GNU Project is to create a complete, free operating system — the GNU system — composed entirely of free software. This software guarantees essential user freedoms: to run, study, modify, and share the code.

One of the most prominent results of this effort is the GNU/Linux operating system — a combination of GNU system tools and the Linux kernel. To support the distribution of these tools, the GNU Project maintains public servers, including the widely used ftp.gnu.org. In this article, we explore what GNU software is, what qualifies as part of the GNU system, and what you'll find inside the /gnu directory on the GNU FTP server.
What Is GNU Software?

GNU software includes all programs officially developed or maintained under the GNU Project. It must meet the Free Software Definition as established by the Free Software Foundation (FSF). This means it grants users four essential freedoms:

    The freedom to run the program for any purpose.

    The freedom to study how the program works and modify it.

    The freedom to redistribute exact copies.

    The freedom to distribute modified versions.

Key Characteristics of GNU Software

    Source Code Availability
    GNU software is almost always distributed as source code, often accompanied by build scripts (configure, Makefile, etc.) to ensure it compiles easily across platforms.

    Copyleft Licensing (GPL)
    Most GNU packages are licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), which ensures derivative works remain free and open under the same license.

    Modular Organization
    GNU software is split into standalone packages — such as text editors, compilers, debuggers, utilities, and libraries — that can be used independently or together.

What's in the /gnu Directory?

The /gnu directory on ftp.gnu.org (and its mirrors) is the primary location where GNU releases are stored and distributed. It contains all official GNU software packages and their release archives.
Structure of /gnu

A typical listing might look like this:

/gnu/
  bash/
  coreutils/
  emacs/
  gcc/
  make/
  gawk/
  ...

Each subdirectory represents a single software package and includes:

    Source tarballs (.tar.gz, .tar.xz, .tar.bz2)

    Cryptographic signatures (.sig, .asc) for verifying downloads

    Older versions (in old/ or releases/ subfolders)

    Documentation like README, NEWS, and installation instructions

Common Examples

    /gnu/bash/ – The GNU Bourne-Again SHell, a popular command shell.

    /gnu/coreutils/ – Contains basic file, shell, and text utilities like ls, cp, mv, etc.

    /gnu/emacs/ – A powerful, extensible text editor.

    /gnu/gcc/ – The GNU Compiler Collection, supporting C, C++, Fortran, Ada, and more.

    /gnu/gdb/ – The GNU Debugger.

    /gnu/librejs/ – A browser extension that detects nonfree JavaScript.

Each of these is a self-contained project with its own release cycle and maintainers but follows the GNU guidelines and philosophy.
Why It Matters for Mirror Operators

Mirror operators who choose to replicate the /gnu directory play a key role in the free software ecosystem. By mirroring GNU software, they:

    Help distribute software to a wider global audience.

    Reduce load on the main ftp.gnu.org server.

    Provide redundancy in case of outages or regional access issues.

Mirroring is typically done using rsync, for example:

rsync -av --delete rsync://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/ /your/local/mirror/gnu/

This ensures that your local mirror stays up to date with the latest software versions and security patches.
Further Resources

    GNU Project Homepage: https://www.gnu.org

    List of GNU Packages: https://www.gnu.org/software/software.html

    GNU FTP Mirroring Info: https://www.gnu.org/prep/ftp.html

    Free Software Definition: https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html

Conclusion

The /gnu directory on the GNU FTP servers is far more than just a software archive. It represents decades of community-driven development and commitment to digital freedom. Every piece of software in that directory is a building block of the GNU system — and of a broader vision where users are in control of their technology. Whether you're a developer, sysadmin, or just someone who values open systems, accessing or mirroring /gnu connects you directly to that mission.

[Admin]

Dear community,

We would like to sincerely apologize for the unexpected outage of our UK mirror earlier in June 2025. The downtime lasted longer than planned, and we understand the inconvenience this may have caused for users who rely on our services to access GNU software and updates.

The outage was related to a major system migration: our mirror infrastructure has now been migrated to OpenBSD. This change is aimed at significantly improving the security, maintainability, and long-term stability of the service.

The UK mirror is expected to be fully available again later today or by tomorrow at the latest.

We truly appreciate your patience during this transition and are confident that this migration will result in a more stable and secure mirror service moving forward.

If you have any questions or encounter any issues related to the migration, please feel free to contact us.

Thank you for your continued support!

[Admin]

Hi everyone,
just a quick heads-up: A new Debian 13 (Trixie) server running a pure GNU/Linux setup will soon be going live at OVH's London data center. 🎉
The focus is on stability, privacy, and free software – fully aligned with the GNU philosophy.

Technical details coming soon – the server will be used for mirror.