Skype repo URL error

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1

There is an error reaching the URL for the skype repo. This is resulting in a long delay when dnf updates repo metadata until it times out:

Errors during downloading metadata for repository 'skype-stable':
  - Curl error (28): Timeout was reached for https://repo.skype.com/rpm/stable/repodata/repomd.xml 
[Operation too slow. Less than 1000 bytes/sec transferred the last 30 seconds]
Error: Failed to download metadata for repo 'skype-stable': Cannot download repomd.xml: Cannot download repodata/repomd.xml: All mirrors were tried

Is this repo dead, or is it a temporary Microsoft/Skype server issue?

2

It looks like that it is not temporary.

Download Skype for Desktop | Available for Windows, Mac and Linux

  • For Linux just schows a snap version … nothing else.

Test if the flatpak version still works. Which desktop are you using?

3

I did notice this, unfortunately. Strange to kill a repo unannounced though, isn’t it? Or was there a notice somewhere?

The fedora docs still reference the repo: Installing Skype on Fedora :: Fedora Docs

I use MATE, but not really into flatpaks…

EDIT: For testing, can confirm the flatpak works (runs as superuser!?!), though it required downloading an absurd >2GB of dependencies.

4

It is ugly, I know. The 2GB is the environment for gnome 4x I guess. Unfortunately the trend is going in the direction of snaps/flatpak.

Alternative would be https://web.skype.com/

Version F38 Last review: 2023-07-06 is the date of the Doc.
I found this https://computingforgeeks.com/how-to-install-latest-skype-on-centos-fedora/ but this is version 8.108.0.205-1. You can try if you still can work with it or eventually update.

If yes please give feedback so that we can update the manual.

5

The download link https://go.skype.com/skypeforlinux-64.rpm still works for now but I already have the more recent v8.109.0.209 RPM installed, and I don’t want to overwrite it in case I can’t get it back.

However, logging in to Skype (haven’t done that in years) shows a message that it is “outdated” and being phased out for the SNAP.

This post by a Microsoft employee confirms it:

we have decided to discontinue the distribution of Skype as DEB and RPM packages for Linux users, and instead focus on delivering Skype as a SNAP package.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/skype/forum/all/skype-for-linux-updates/da864865-d9e9-4819-8a5d-8de8934dd312

So, the main thing to do is remove the Skype repo.

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6

Ran into this issue today too. Kind of a bummer, as I’m also not a huge fan of flatpaks (even less so, snaps). I guess just another “browser only” service for now.

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7

Having the skype-stable.repo active is quite nasty and makes dnf very slooow.
To remove it use:

rm /etc/yum.repos.d/skype-stable.repo
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8

Or dnf config-manager --set-disabled skype-stable

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9

Yes I know. Orphaned repos I prefer to delete.
I had the Issue as you mentioned, searching and falling in a time out.

If this gets activated by coincidence again the system is very slow.

10

Added eol