I'm currently using Arch Linux as my main operating system, and I've set up a secondary Arch installation in a virtual machine (VM). My Internet connection is limited to mobile data, which means I get only a few GBs per month. Each time I log into the VM—maybe once a month—I find it requires 2-3GB of updates, which is a bit much for my plan. I understand that it's a VM and updates aren't mandatory, but I want a secondary OS that has relatively new software but doesn't constantly drain my data for updates. Are there any distros that update less frequently or in a way that requires less data, like downloading only patches instead of the entire package?
4 Answers
Have you considered using a Distrobox container instead of a full VM? It might be more lightweight. You can also set up your main Arch system as a cache server for the packages so your VM pulls updates from that instead of downloading everything again. Also, using Flatpaks for certain applications on your main system could help keep things up-to-date without using too much bandwidth. Check out the Arch wiki on package proxy caching for more details!
You might want to try installing Debian Stable. It gets fewer upgrades than Arch, which could really reduce the bandwidth you’re using for updates.
Thank you for the suggestion, but I find Debian Stable has too old of software for my taste. I've thought about the unstable branch, though!
Check out the distro selection page in our wiki or the related search for more options. Just remember to take regular backups and to test stuff in a VM before diving in!
OpenWRT might be an option if you're considering using a different setup for your gaming rig or for light usage.
Maybe I’ll give OpenWRT a shot for my gaming setup, sounds interesting!
That's a great idea! I'll definitely look into using the Pacman cache from my main to the secondary Arch setup. Seems like a solid solution!