Extremely slow pypi package retrieval with i.e. pip

Finding python packages using tools such as pip or easy_install takes very long, up to ten minutes, on my local desktop running Ubuntu 12.10. The same procedures are lightning fast on my cloud servers.

Things ruled out:

• The download of the package itself is fast enough
• regular DNS lookups fast enough
• when put a super-simple pypi mirror in between, with the 'simple pypi' interface, it is much faster.
• the pip log does not show anything useful, just long listings of urls visited.
• --use-mirrors doesn't help from mhausler's answer

Could it have something to do with the parsing of the listings?

I would be thankful for any tips on how to properly diagnose this, or what the problem could be.

Solution 1:

The main pypi index may be down or having problems.

Try executing

pip install --use-mirrors

to automatically use backup mirrors.

See pip install --help for details.

Solution 2:

yes, the main pypi server is slow.

pickup another mirror server on http://www.pypi-mirrors.org/, then

pip install django -i http://g.pypi.python.org/simple/

replace the url with your fastest mirror.

also you can save the setting by using pip.conf, check http://www.pip-installer.org/en/latest/configuration.html for detail