Overview
axel downloads files rapidly through multiple simultaneous connections and offers the ability to resume downloads even if the connection is interrupted. It is useful for efficiently downloading large files.
Key Features
- Download acceleration through multiple connections
- Support for resuming interrupted downloads
- HTTP, HTTPS, FTP protocol support
- Concise command-line interface
Key Options
The main options for axel are used to control download speed, number of connections, output filename, and more.
Download Control
Generated command:
Try combining the commands.
Description:
`axel` Executes the command.
Combine the above options to virtually execute commands with AI.
Installation
axel is not included by default in most Linux distributions, so it needs to be installed via a package manager.
Debian/Ubuntu Based
sudo apt update && sudo apt install axelInstall axel using the apt package manager.
CentOS/RHEL Based
sudo yum install epel-release -y && sudo yum install axel -y
# Or
sudo dnf install axel -yInstall axel using the yum or dnf package manager. The EPEL repository may be required.
Usage Examples
Demonstrates various ways to download files using axel.
Basic File Download
axel https://example.com/large_file.zipDownloads a file from the specified URL. axel automatically attempts multiple connections.
Download with Specified Number of Connections
axel -n 10 https://example.com/another_file.isoDownloads a file using 10 simultaneous connections.
Save File with a Different Name
axel -o my_download.tar.gz https://example.com/source.tar.gzSaves the downloaded file as 'my_download.tar.gz'.
Download with Max Speed Limit
axel -s 512K https://example.com/video.mp4Limits the download speed to a maximum of 512 kilobytes (512K) per second.
Resume Download
axel https://example.com/interrupted_download.binResumes a previously interrupted download. axel automatically attempts to resume when run again with the same URL.
Tips & Precautions
Useful tips and points to consider when using axel.
Performance Optimization
- Adjust the value for the `-n` option considering your network environment and server load. Too many connections can overload the server or lead to being blocked.
- For downloading large files, axel can be more efficient than `wget` or `curl`. The resume feature is particularly useful in unstable network environments.
Precautions
- Some web servers may limit or block multiple connections. In such cases, axel might not work correctly, or your IP could be blocked.
- If the file being downloaded gets corrupted, axel automatically checks integrity unless the `-k` option is used, but this cannot always be trusted. For important files, it's advisable to verify their integrity using hash values after downloading.