Hello,

I am attempting to download Audacity into/onto my computer. But the first step is to "select a mirror". Please excuse my ignorance but what's a mirror, and why do I need one?

Amber
x

http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/audacit...se_mirror=voxel

Aha, choose the one that's closest to you. They're just different servers in different places that hold the same stuff. I think there's usually one in Kent.

Many thanks Oddball. Yes, there is one in Kent shown in the list. I am tempted to ask why are they called mirrors if they're servers, but my tecky knowledge is so limited I probably wouldn't understand the answer!

I don't actually know either!

Mirror
1. A surface capable of reflecting sufficient undiffused light to form an image of an object placed in front of it. Also called 'looking glass'.
2. <hardware, storage> Writing duplicate data to more than one device (usually two hard disks), in order to protect against loss of data in the event of device failure. This technique may be implemented in either hardware (sharing a disk controller and cables) or in software. It is a common feature of RAID systems. Several operating systems support software disk mirroring or disk-duplexing, e.g. Novell NetWare.

Walking Dictionary

Ooooo. So it's like a backup. Clever. I remeber we did a bit of this in GCSE ICT, we had to study a business which had servers in the UK and in Canada. It was because, if there was a powercut in that area of the UK, the data would still be accessible, as the States and Canada are unlikely to have a powercut at the same time etc.

See, I knew I wouldn't understand.
Many thanks anyway though, Walking Car Dictionary.


Ah, I see Oddball understands. But there again he's not blonde and middle-aged!

Audacity is available from a computer in the USA. To get data from the USA to the UK requires it to be sent across the transatlantic, which costs money.

To deal with this - a copy of Audacity is sent across the Atlantic to the 'mirror' in Kent. You can then get it from the mirror in Kent, which is a lot cheaper.

How about that?

Internet users rarely think about downloads costing money, but someone somewhere has to pay for the cable going across the transatlantic and the cables going around the country. Part of your monthly Internet fee goes on this, and by using mirrors - getting Audacity, and other programs, from servers nearer to home - we can all save money . Good to see you Amber, by the way; hope you're keeping well.

Hi YAP,

That's a truly remarkable skill you have there. Being able to translate tecky information into Amber-speak!
Thank you. I understand now, and you're right, it's not something that i'd considered before.
Hope you are keeping well by the way.



Ambs
x