http://kali.localmsp.org/kali/

The upstream repository for Kali 2016.2 is unusable multiple times per day, every day, for undetermined but significant periods of time.

It appears that when the repository is undergoing upgrades (the Archive-Update-in-Progress-kali.localmsp.org file is present in /kali) all packages are absent but the default directory structure remains. For example, /kali/pool/main/g/ exists but the dir is empty. A screenshot depicting this is attached.

This is a major blocker for automated builds and any apt update/upgrade/install activities happening during these repo upgrades.

A cursory internet search for "kali.localmsp.org" shows multiple separate complaints such as ticket 0003576 on this tracker, all are dismissed with suggestions to check the OP's local network connection because the repo works by the time others get around to checking an hour+ later, by which time the repo has finished the upgrade and packages are available again.

I have verified this daily for the past 10 days, and today I have asked a friend on the opposite coast (US) to check and they experienced the same thing - empty repo dirs causing apt to fail.

Please contact the kali.localmsp.org maintainer and ask them to use rsync with the --delete flag, or otherwise fix whatever is causing this downtime as this is a poor user experience at seemingly random intervals.