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@gpatel-fr
Thank you very much for the detailed reply and advice!
I will definitely raise this topic at the Q&A this Saturday — I'll talk about the unstable access from Russia to system-image.ubports.com, cdimage.ubports.com and the Installer, and ask about the possibility of official or community mirrors.
If you or anyone else has any additional thoughts on this before Saturday, I’d be glad to read them. -
@sysadmin is changing dns improve things ?
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@domubpkm
No, changing DNS unfortunately does not help at all.
The problem is not at the DNS level — it's deeper (routing, Cloudflare, or regional filtering). Only a VPN actually fixes access to UBports resources.
On a PC or laptop it's easy to use any VPN (WireGuard, OpenVPN, Amnezia, etc.).
But on Ubuntu Touch there is currently no reliable working VPN client.
For example, Amnezia works perfectly on my Android phone.
On Ubuntu Touch I’ve already ported a WireGuard fork (it was my first test application when I was learning how to develop for UT). Now I’m finishing it because I need it for my corporate work VPN.
If anyone knows of any working VPN solution on Ubuntu Touch right now, please share — it would help a lot of people. -
@sysadmin You could route wifi on the UT device through phone (ahem, Android or Apple) running a VPN as a workround. I know it will be difficult in Russia at the moment, those in charge may even block mirrors, official or community to get you using their apps...
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@MrT10001
You do realize that these are just workarounds, right?
We really want it to simply work without any VPNs, proxies, tethering or other complicated schemes. -
Patches that implement repository switching mechanism for system updates have been suggested a few months ago but gained no attention. Same with mirror hosting proposals.
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@sysadmin I know, but we all know the situation is complicated at the moment. I hope it gets better for all in the future. Work around have to do...
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Patches that implement repository switching mechanism for system updates have been suggested a few months ago but gained no attention. Same with mirror hosting proposals.
strictly speaking no patch is really necessary to switch repos, since none of the systems involved (ubport.com, gitlab.com, github.com) has dnssec enabled, so if the device is tricked into following a different server, it will work just as well. By definition if the server don't use dnssec, there is no way for the client to test it.
Lying DNS servers are evil only if the users don't know. Many Linux users already use fully knowingly lying DNS servers (PiHole for example)
Concretly, the lying DNS server could be setup at local Wifi level by each user wanting to use a mirror.
So the only hard requirement is an agreement for mirroring since this consumes bandwidth, and possibly some Api for the store (not sure about that).
Where are the mirror hosting proposals you are mentioning ? I follow this forum since nov 2025 and I don't recall having seen something like it.
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K Keneda moved this topic from General on
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@sysadmin
Well, actually VPN doesn't fix access to UBports resources. I tried three different ones - doesn't help at all. And by the way, original WireGuard has been successfully blocked in Russia for quite a while - the protocol is too obvious for DPI. Will have to make do with Android for now, not Ubuntu Touch. :))))))
And you obviously don't quite understand what you're saying: "But on Ubuntu Touch there is currently no reliable working VPN client." IN ORDER TO HAVE UBUNTU TOUCH ON ONE'S PHONE, ONE HAS TO INSTALL IT ON THE PHONE USING UBPORTS INSTALLER ON PC WITH THE PHONE CONNECTED TO PC. AND THE INSTALLER (ON THE PC) CAN'T DOWNLOAD ANY FILES FOR WHATEVER REASON! EITHER WITH VPN OR WITHOUT IT! :)))))) -
@shcarl276 they are working on a solution, been discussed by the developers in the latest questions and answers video on youtube. from what i understood, all they need is a host
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@shcarl276
Hello.
Some people have managed to install UT from Russia.
There’s a Telegram group that might be able to help you in the meantime
https://t.me/UBports_Ru -
Vlad-Nirky
I know that "some people have managed to install UT from Russia", but a functional system is characterized first of all by satisfying the needs of the overwhelming majority, not "some people". The fact that this technical issue can be discussed/addressed only in Telegram groups and not via normal Support (online forms) points to the fact that non-profit projects like Ubuntu Touch don't always stand up to the standards of commercial enterprises....And, honestly...one shouldn't expect them to. :)))))) -
@shcarl276 UBports doesn't have support, exactly because it's not a business; it does not deliver a service. What we have, as you noticed, is places where users try to help users. Places like this, and Telegram, and Matrix.
I have to disagree that
a functional system is characterized first of all by satisfying the needs of the overwhelming majority
I don't think that is true in general.
More specifically: Ubuntu Touch is not made for the overwhelming majority. It's made for the adventurous, the tinkerers, those who do not wish to join the mainstream, and those who wish to get away from Big Tech. We will in all likelyhood always be a minority. And that's fine. -
Ubuntu Touch is not made for the overwhelming majority. It's made for the adventurous, the tinkerers, those who do not wish to join the mainstream,
this reminds me of a cherished memory.
It was a long time ago (but in this galaxy) I was in a store taking a look at the Android shelf. I heard suddently a loud cry saying 'no, not here, that's the phones for cave men', and saw a middle-aged guy pulling his young boy out of the fatal attraction of the phones for the overwhelming majority, toward (probably) the phones appropriate for the refined ubermenschen (I did not investigate but it was certainly the Apple phones shelf).
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@shcarl276 said:
I know that "some people have managed to install UT from Russia", but a functional system is characterized first of all by satisfying the needs of the overwhelming majority, not "some people". The fact that this technical issue can be discussed/addressed only in Telegram groups and not via normal Support (online forms) points to the fact that non-profit projects like Ubuntu Touch don't always stand up to the standards of commercial enterprises...A great many commercial companies offer their services only in a very limited part of the world, for example, only in the European Union and North America.
A great many commercial companies take weeks or even months to respond to their customers’ support requests, and very often their response consists of pointing out that the requested service is not part of their contractual obligations, or of offering the service at a price that the customer cannot or will not pay.By comparison, the level of assistance provided by the community UBports over the past decade through various channels (Telegram, forums, Matrix) and in dozens of
languages – in the absence of any commercial relationship and therefore outside any contractual obligation – strikes me as being of a very high standard in terms of relevance and effectiveness.And all this help is provided free of charge.
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@Moem
First of all, did you notice what I've said in my previous post? I said that nobody should expect non-profit project for enthusiasts to provide support on the same level as commercial enterprise.
Secondly, you didn't quite get what I was saying about "overwhelming majority". I didn't mean THE WHOLE POPULATION OF EARTH!! What I meant is the overwhelming majority of Russian users, who are simultaneously "the adventurous, the tinkerers, those who do not wish to join the mainstream...and bluh, bluh, bluh.." :)))
It doesn't change though the very meaning of "functional system". Even if you decide to give someone a bicycle to ride for free, it is expected that the bicycle is in working condition. Otherwise, what's the point? -
@libremax You can talk all you want comparing non-profit projects to commercial enterprise. It doesn't cancel the fact that the installer doesn't work in Russia, because the mirrors for whatever reason are inaccessible. Besides, I have said that one shouldn't expect the same level of service from non-profit projects, didn't I? However, functionality of the system does imply functionality for users worldwide.
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@shcarl276 Your belief that commercial services are generally better is mistaken, and your biased comparison with the volunteer "services" provided by the UBports community only serves to confuse the issue.
I am convinced that UBports, as a community, wants its "services" to be easily accessible to everyone in every country around the world, including countries that block or restrict access to its "services".
However, there is no reason to consider this a standard requirement. The actions needed to circumvent the blocks put in place by various countries require the allocation of resources (human, material, etc.).
And so, setting aside all considerations of feasibility, it ultimately comes down to a choice of allocating resources to this issue rather than to another.
A choice, not an obligation.
P.S.: On a personal note, I really hope a solution will be found, especially since so many users in Russia are affected.
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@libremax Wow! Did you go to the same school of public speaking as Donald Trump? You could surely put up some performance on the podium next to him! :)))
First of all, where exactly in my previous post I made a statement that commercial services are "generally better"?
If anyone is confused here about the issue, it's you, not me.
It doesn't really matter what you're convinced about. What matters is how it actually works! Or to be precise how it doesn't. :))))
Did I say anywhere that I "require" something from UBports? Don't make up stuff, which I never actually said.
However, just for the sake of the argument... let's say you want to order something on Amazon. Amazon does have a list of locations where they DO NOT deliver. And whenever anyone connects to Amazon from those locations, Amazon DOES inform them in very clear terms that goods are NOT delivered to those specific locations. Fair enough. Now, let's say you found something on Amazon, and you can't order it, and nobody bothers to explain why...I don't know what you're convinced about (and honestly I don't care), but in the standard business practice (and not only in business) this is called "malfunction of service" or in other words SERVICE THAT IS NOT FULLY FUNCTIONAL.
The same goes for things that are non-profit. Let's say that you set up a charity which aim is to provide people with free bicycle service, RIDE-FOR-A-DAY or something. Now, you give people from some parts of the city normal functioning bikes, and you give people from other parts of the city bicycles with only one pedal. :)))) In theory, it's possible to ride a bike with just one pedal...In practice, however, it's worse than a bad comedy.
And, by the way, I tried installing Ubuntu Touch on three (!) different machines, with three different VPNs (which circumvent the usual restrictions imposed by Russian state). Two of them under Windows, and one with Linux OS. Complete failure in all three cases. Albeit faithfully following all recommendations I could find on Ubuntu Touch site.
It's not that I desperately WANT or NEED to install Ubuntu Touch, and it is certainly not an obligation on the part of this community of enthusiasts TO MAKE SURE that I have it on my phone. But, if it doesn't work the way it supposed to work according to the way it is DESCRIBED on the website (that IS ACCESSIBLE from Russia by the way!)...then it is a service (PAID OR FREE) THAT IS NOT FULLY FUNCTIONAL!!!! That's all. -
Gentlefolks,
It seems that tension is rising for no good reason. Let's leave this be before things get out of hand.
I will repeat what I've said elsewhere: I will bring this subject to the table in the next meeting of the Board of Trustees. That's what I can do and I'll do that.
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