diff --git a/docs/ahriman.core.database.migrations.rst b/docs/ahriman.core.database.migrations.rst
index 08054327..4b90cc56 100644
--- a/docs/ahriman.core.database.migrations.rst
+++ b/docs/ahriman.core.database.migrations.rst
@@ -132,6 +132,14 @@ ahriman.core.database.migrations.m015\_logs\_process\_id module
    :no-undoc-members:
    :show-inheritance:
 
+ahriman.core.database.migrations.m016\_archive module
+-----------------------------------------------------
+
+.. automodule:: ahriman.core.database.migrations.m016_archive
+   :members:
+   :no-undoc-members:
+   :show-inheritance:
+
 Module contents
 ---------------
 
diff --git a/docs/ahriman.core.housekeeping.rst b/docs/ahriman.core.housekeeping.rst
index 7a80d7c6..5b69d920 100644
--- a/docs/ahriman.core.housekeeping.rst
+++ b/docs/ahriman.core.housekeeping.rst
@@ -4,6 +4,14 @@ ahriman.core.housekeeping package
 Submodules
 ----------
 
+ahriman.core.housekeeping.archive\_rotation\_trigger module
+-----------------------------------------------------------
+
+.. automodule:: ahriman.core.housekeeping.archive_rotation_trigger
+   :members:
+   :no-undoc-members:
+   :show-inheritance:
+
 ahriman.core.housekeeping.logs\_rotation\_trigger module
 --------------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/docs/configuration.rst b/docs/configuration.rst
index cf5600fd..9a6dc20e 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.rst
+++ b/docs/configuration.rst
@@ -97,6 +97,13 @@ libalpm and AUR related configuration. Group name can refer to architecture, e.g
 * ``sync_files_database`` - download files database from mirror, boolean, required.
 * ``use_ahriman_cache`` - use local pacman package cache instead of system one, boolean, required. With this option enabled you might want to refresh database periodically (available as additional flag for some subcommands). If set to ``no``, databases must be synchronized manually.
 
+``archive`` group
+-----------------
+
+Describes settings for packages archives management extensions.
+
+* ``keep_built_packages`` - keep this amount of built packages with different versions, integer, required. ``0`` (or negative number) will effectively disable archives removal.
+
 ``auth`` group
 --------------
 
diff --git a/package/share/ahriman/settings/ahriman.ini b/package/share/ahriman/settings/ahriman.ini
index 40b8acb0..d983b3dd 100644
--- a/package/share/ahriman/settings/ahriman.ini
+++ b/package/share/ahriman/settings/ahriman.ini
@@ -44,9 +44,11 @@ triggers[] = ahriman.core.report.ReportTrigger
 triggers[] = ahriman.core.upload.UploadTrigger
 triggers[] = ahriman.core.gitremote.RemotePushTrigger
 triggers[] = ahriman.core.housekeeping.LogsRotationTrigger
+triggers[] = ahriman.core.housekeeping.ArchiveRotationTrigger
 ; List of well-known triggers. Used only for configuration purposes.
 triggers_known[] = ahriman.core.gitremote.RemotePullTrigger
 triggers_known[] = ahriman.core.gitremote.RemotePushTrigger
+triggers_known[] = ahriman.core.housekeeping.ArchiveRotationTrigger
 triggers_known[] = ahriman.core.housekeeping.LogsRotationTrigger
 triggers_known[] = ahriman.core.report.ReportTrigger
 triggers_known[] = ahriman.core.upload.UploadTrigger
diff --git a/package/share/ahriman/settings/ahriman.ini.d/00-housekeeping.ini b/package/share/ahriman/settings/ahriman.ini.d/00-housekeeping.ini
index 2fdc2990..a677f3fa 100644
--- a/package/share/ahriman/settings/ahriman.ini.d/00-housekeeping.ini
+++ b/package/share/ahriman/settings/ahriman.ini.d/00-housekeeping.ini
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+[archive]
+; Keep amount of last built packages in archive. 0 means keep all packages
+keep_built_packages = 1
+
 [logs-rotation]
 ; Keep last build logs for each package
 keep_last_logs = 5
diff --git a/src/ahriman/application/handlers/tree_migrate.py b/src/ahriman/application/handlers/tree_migrate.py
index 100a79ad..628bda0f 100644
--- a/src/ahriman/application/handlers/tree_migrate.py
+++ b/src/ahriman/application/handlers/tree_migrate.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import argparse
 
 from ahriman.application.handlers.handler import Handler, SubParserAction
 from ahriman.core.configuration import Configuration
+from ahriman.core.utils import walk
 from ahriman.models.repository_id import RepositoryId
 from ahriman.models.repository_paths import RepositoryPaths
 
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ class TreeMigrate(Handler):
         target_tree.tree_create()
         # perform migration
         TreeMigrate.tree_move(current_tree, target_tree)
+        TreeMigrate.fix_symlinks(current_tree)
 
     @staticmethod
     def _set_service_tree_migrate_parser(root: SubParserAction) -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
@@ -66,6 +68,22 @@ class TreeMigrate(Handler):
         parser.set_defaults(lock=None, quiet=True, report=False)
         return parser
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def fix_symlinks(paths: RepositoryPaths) -> None:
+        """
+        fix packages archives symlinks
+
+        Args:
+            paths(RepositoryPaths): new repository paths
+        """
+        archives = {path.name: path for path in walk(paths.archive)}
+        for symlink in walk(paths.repository):
+            if symlink.exists():  # no need to check for symlinks as we have just walked through the tree
+                continue
+            if (source_archive := archives.get(symlink.name)) is not None:
+                symlink.unlink()
+                symlink.symlink_to(source_archive.relative_to(symlink.parent, walk_up=True))
+
     @staticmethod
     def tree_move(from_tree: RepositoryPaths, to_tree: RepositoryPaths) -> None:
         """
@@ -77,6 +95,7 @@ class TreeMigrate(Handler):
         """
         # we don't care about devtools chroot
         for attribute in (
+            RepositoryPaths.archive,
             RepositoryPaths.packages,
             RepositoryPaths.pacman,
             RepositoryPaths.repository,
diff --git a/src/ahriman/core/alpm/repo.py b/src/ahriman/core/alpm/repo.py
index e7810b33..fa657458 100644
--- a/src/ahriman/core/alpm/repo.py
+++ b/src/ahriman/core/alpm/repo.py
@@ -31,20 +31,21 @@ class Repo(LazyLogging):
 
     Attributes:
         name(str): repository name
-        paths(RepositoryPaths): repository paths instance
+        root(Path): repository root
         sign_args(list[str]): additional args which have to be used to sign repository archive
         uid(int): uid of the repository owner user
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, name: str, paths: RepositoryPaths, sign_args: list[str]) -> None:
+    def __init__(self, name: str, paths: RepositoryPaths, sign_args: list[str], root: Path | None = None) -> None:
         """
         Args:
             name(str): repository name
             paths(RepositoryPaths): repository paths instance
             sign_args(list[str]): additional args which have to be used to sign repository archive
+            root(Path | None, optional): repository root. If none set, the default will be used (Default value = None)
         """
         self.name = name
-        self.paths = paths
+        self.root = root or paths.repository
         self.uid, _ = paths.root_owner
         self.sign_args = sign_args
 
@@ -56,28 +57,36 @@ class Repo(LazyLogging):
         Returns:
             Path: path to repository database
         """
-        return self.paths.repository / f"{self.name}.db.tar.gz"
+        return self.root / f"{self.name}.db.tar.gz"
 
-    def add(self, path: Path) -> None:
+    def add(self, path: Path, remove: bool = True) -> None:
         """
         add new package to repository
 
         Args:
             path(Path): path to archive to add
+            remove(bool, optional): whether to remove old packages or not (Default value = True)
         """
+        command = ["repo-add", *self.sign_args]
+        if remove:
+            command.extend(["--remove"])
+        command.extend([str(self.repo_path), str(path)])
+
+        # add to repository
         check_output(
-            "repo-add", *self.sign_args, "-R", str(self.repo_path), str(path),
+            *command,
             exception=BuildError.from_process(path.name),
-            cwd=self.paths.repository,
+            cwd=self.root,
             logger=self.logger,
-            user=self.uid)
+            user=self.uid,
+        )
 
     def init(self) -> None:
         """
         create empty repository database. It just calls add with empty arguments
         """
         check_output("repo-add", *self.sign_args, str(self.repo_path),
-                     cwd=self.paths.repository, logger=self.logger, user=self.uid)
+                     cwd=self.root, logger=self.logger, user=self.uid)
 
     def remove(self, package: str, filename: Path) -> None:
         """
@@ -88,13 +97,14 @@ class Repo(LazyLogging):
             filename(Path): package filename to remove
         """
         # remove package and signature (if any) from filesystem
-        for full_path in self.paths.repository.glob(f"{filename}*"):
+        for full_path in self.root.glob(f"**/{filename}*"):
             full_path.unlink()
 
         # remove package from registry
         check_output(
             "repo-remove", *self.sign_args, str(self.repo_path), package,
             exception=BuildError.from_process(package),
-            cwd=self.paths.repository,
+            cwd=self.root,
             logger=self.logger,
-            user=self.uid)
+            user=self.uid,
+        )
diff --git a/src/ahriman/core/database/migrations/m016_archive.py b/src/ahriman/core/database/migrations/m016_archive.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fa6a064f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ahriman/core/database/migrations/m016_archive.py
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2021-2025 ahriman team.
+#
+# This file is part of ahriman
+# (see https://github.com/arcan1s/ahriman).
+#
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+import argparse
+
+from dataclasses import replace
+from sqlite3 import Connection
+
+from ahriman.application.handlers.handler import Handler
+from ahriman.core.alpm.pacman import Pacman
+from ahriman.core.configuration import Configuration
+from ahriman.models.package import Package
+from ahriman.models.pacman_synchronization import PacmanSynchronization
+from ahriman.models.repository_paths import RepositoryPaths
+
+
+__all__ = ["migrate_data"]
+
+
+def migrate_data(connection: Connection, configuration: Configuration) -> None:
+    """
+    perform data migration
+
+    Args:
+        connection(Connection): database connection
+        configuration(Configuration): configuration instance
+    """
+    del connection
+
+    config_path, _ = configuration.check_loaded()
+    args = argparse.Namespace(configuration=config_path, architecture=None, repository=None, repository_id=None)
+
+    for repository_id in Handler.repositories_extract(args):
+        paths = replace(configuration.repository_paths, repository_id=repository_id)
+        pacman = Pacman(repository_id, configuration, refresh_database=PacmanSynchronization.Disabled)
+
+        # create archive directory if required
+        if not paths.archive.is_dir():
+            with paths.preserve_owner(paths.root / "archive"):
+                paths.archive.mkdir(mode=0o755, parents=True)
+
+        move_packages(paths, pacman)
+
+
+def move_packages(repository_paths: RepositoryPaths, pacman: Pacman) -> None:
+    """
+    move packages from repository to archive and create symbolic links
+
+    Args:
+        repository_paths(RepositoryPaths): repository paths instance
+        pacman(Pacman): alpm wrapper instance
+    """
+    for source in repository_paths.repository.iterdir():
+        if not source.is_file(follow_symlinks=False):
+            continue  # skip symbolic links if any
+
+        filename = source.name
+        if filename.startswith(".") or ".pkg." not in filename:
+            # we don't use package_like method here, because it also filters out signatures
+            continue
+        package = Package.from_archive(source, pacman)
+
+        # move package to the archive directory
+        target = repository_paths.archive_for(package.base) / filename
+        source.rename(target)
+
+        # create symlink to the archive
+        source.symlink_to(target.relative_to(source.parent, walk_up=True))
diff --git a/src/ahriman/core/housekeeping/__init__.py b/src/ahriman/core/housekeeping/__init__.py
index 23ffa301..4b03cb59 100644
--- a/src/ahriman/core/housekeeping/__init__.py
+++ b/src/ahriman/core/housekeeping/__init__.py
@@ -17,4 +17,5 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
+from ahriman.core.housekeeping.archive_rotation_trigger import ArchiveRotationTrigger
 from ahriman.core.housekeeping.logs_rotation_trigger import LogsRotationTrigger
diff --git a/src/ahriman/core/housekeeping/archive_rotation_trigger.py b/src/ahriman/core/housekeeping/archive_rotation_trigger.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1db2202f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ahriman/core/housekeeping/archive_rotation_trigger.py
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2021-2025 ahriman team.
+#
+# This file is part of ahriman
+# (see https://github.com/arcan1s/ahriman).
+#
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+from collections.abc import Callable
+from functools import cmp_to_key
+
+from ahriman.core import context
+from ahriman.core.alpm.pacman import Pacman
+from ahriman.core.configuration import Configuration
+from ahriman.core.triggers import Trigger
+from ahriman.core.utils import package_like
+from ahriman.models.package import Package
+from ahriman.models.repository_id import RepositoryId
+from ahriman.models.result import Result
+
+
+class ArchiveRotationTrigger(Trigger):
+    """
+    remove packages from archive
+
+    Attributes:
+        keep_built_packages(int): number of last packages to keep
+        paths(RepositoryPaths): repository paths instance
+    """
+
+    CONFIGURATION_SCHEMA = {
+        "archive": {
+            "type": "dict",
+            "schema": {
+                "keep_built_packages": {
+                    "type": "integer",
+                    "required": True,
+                    "coerce": "integer",
+                    "min": 0,
+                },
+            },
+        },
+    }
+
+    def __init__(self, repository_id: RepositoryId, configuration: Configuration) -> None:
+        """
+        Args:
+            repository_id(RepositoryId): repository unique identifier
+            configuration(Configuration): configuration instance
+        """
+        Trigger.__init__(self, repository_id, configuration)
+
+        section = next(iter(self.configuration_sections(configuration)))
+        self.keep_built_packages = max(configuration.getint(section, "keep_built_packages"), 0)
+        self.paths = configuration.repository_paths
+
+    @classmethod
+    def configuration_sections(cls, configuration: Configuration) -> list[str]:
+        """
+        extract configuration sections from configuration
+
+        Args:
+            configuration(Configuration): configuration instance
+
+        Returns:
+            list[str]: read configuration sections belong to this trigger
+        """
+        return list(cls.CONFIGURATION_SCHEMA.keys())
+
+    def archives_remove(self, package: Package, pacman: Pacman) -> None:
+        """
+        remove older versions of the specified package
+
+        Args:
+            package(Package): package which has been updated to check for older versions
+            pacman(Pacman): alpm wrapper instance
+        """
+        packages: dict[tuple[str, str], Package] = {}
+        # we can't use here load_archives, because it ignores versions
+        for full_path in filter(package_like, self.paths.archive_for(package.base).iterdir()):
+            local = Package.from_archive(full_path, pacman)
+            packages.setdefault((local.base, local.version), local).packages.update(local.packages)
+
+        comparator: Callable[[Package, Package], int] = lambda left, right: left.vercmp(right.version)
+        to_remove = sorted(packages.values(), key=cmp_to_key(comparator))
+        for single in to_remove[:-self.keep_built_packages]:
+            self.logger.info("removing version %s of package %s", single.version, single.base)
+            for archive in single.packages.values():
+                for path in self.paths.archive_for(single.base).glob(f"{archive.filename}*"):
+                    path.unlink()
+
+    def on_result(self, result: Result, packages: list[Package]) -> None:
+        """
+        run trigger
+
+        Args:
+            result(Result): build result
+            packages(list[Package]): list of all available packages
+        """
+        ctx = context.get()
+        pacman = ctx.get(Pacman)
+
+        for package in result.success:
+            self.archives_remove(package, pacman)
diff --git a/src/ahriman/core/repository/executor.py b/src/ahriman/core/repository/executor.py
index 41755e79..27535d4a 100644
--- a/src/ahriman/core/repository/executor.py
+++ b/src/ahriman/core/repository/executor.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
-import shutil
+import shutil  # shutil.move is used here to ensure cross fs file movement
 
 from collections.abc import Iterable
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -41,6 +41,101 @@ class Executor(PackageInfo, Cleaner):
     trait for common repository update processes
     """
 
+    def _archive_remove(self, description: PackageDescription, package_base: str) -> None:
+        """
+        rename package archive removing special symbols
+
+        Args:
+            description(PackageDescription): package description
+            package_base(str): package base name
+        """
+        if description.filename is None:
+            self.logger.warning("received empty package name for base %s", package_base)
+            return  # suppress type checking, it never can be none actually
+
+        if (safe := safe_filename(description.filename)) != description.filename:
+            (self.paths.packages / description.filename).rename(self.paths.packages / safe)
+            description.filename = safe
+
+    def _package_build(self, package: Package, path: Path, packager: str | None,
+                       local_version: str | None) -> str | None:
+        """
+        build single package
+
+        Args:
+            package(Package): package to build
+            path(Path): path to directory with package files
+            packager(str | None): packager identifier used for this package
+            local_version(str | None): local version of the package
+
+        Returns:
+            str | None: current commit sha if available
+        """
+        self.reporter.set_building(package.base)
+
+        task = Task(package, self.configuration, self.architecture, self.paths)
+        patches = self.reporter.package_patches_get(package.base, None)
+        commit_sha = task.init(path, patches, local_version)
+        built = task.build(path, PACKAGER=packager)
+
+        package.with_packages(built, self.pacman)
+        for src in built:
+            dst = self.paths.packages / src.name
+            shutil.move(src, dst)
+
+        return commit_sha
+
+    def _package_remove(self, package_name: str, path: Path) -> None:
+        """
+        remove single package from repository
+
+        Args:
+            package_name(str): package name
+            path(Path): path to package archive
+        """
+        try:
+            self.repo.remove(package_name, path)
+        except Exception:
+            self.logger.exception("could not remove %s", package_name)
+
+    def _package_remove_base(self, package_base: str) -> None:
+        """
+        remove package base from repository
+
+        Args:
+            package_base(str): package base name:
+        """
+        try:
+            with self.in_event(package_base, EventType.PackageRemoved):
+                self.reporter.package_remove(package_base)
+        except Exception:
+            self.logger.exception("could not remove base %s", package_base)
+
+    def _package_update(self, filename: str | None, package_base: str, packager_key: str | None) -> None:
+        """
+        update built package in repository database
+
+        Args:
+            filename(str | None): archive filename
+            package_base(str): package base name
+            packager_key(str | None): packager key identifier
+        """
+        if filename is None:
+            self.logger.warning("received empty package name for base %s", package_base)
+            return  # suppress type checking, it never can be none actually
+
+        # in theory, it might be NOT packages directory, but we suppose it is
+        full_path = self.paths.packages / filename
+        files = self.sign.process_sign_package(full_path, packager_key)
+
+        for src in files:
+            dst = self.paths.archive_for(package_base) / src.name
+            src.rename(dst)  # move package to archive directory
+            if not (symlink := self.paths.repository / dst.name).exists():
+                symlink.symlink_to(dst.relative_to(symlink.parent, walk_up=True))  # create link to archive
+
+        self.repo.add(self.paths.repository / filename)
+
     def process_build(self, updates: Iterable[Package], packagers: Packagers | None = None, *,
                       bump_pkgrel: bool = False) -> Result:
         """
@@ -55,21 +150,6 @@ class Executor(PackageInfo, Cleaner):
         Returns:
             Result: build result
         """
-        def build_single(package: Package, local_path: Path, packager_id: str | None) -> str | None:
-            self.reporter.set_building(package.base)
-            task = Task(package, self.configuration, self.architecture, self.paths)
-            local_version = local_versions.get(package.base) if bump_pkgrel else None
-            patches = self.reporter.package_patches_get(package.base, None)
-            commit_sha = task.init(local_path, patches, local_version)
-            built = task.build(local_path, PACKAGER=packager_id)
-
-            package.with_packages(built, self.pacman)
-            for src in built:
-                dst = self.paths.packages / src.name
-                shutil.move(src, dst)
-
-            return commit_sha
-
         packagers = packagers or Packagers()
         local_versions = {package.base: package.version for package in self.packages()}
 
@@ -80,16 +160,21 @@ class Executor(PackageInfo, Cleaner):
                 try:
                     with self.in_event(single.base, EventType.PackageUpdated, failure=EventType.PackageUpdateFailed):
                         packager = self.packager(packagers, single.base)
-                        last_commit_sha = build_single(single, Path(dir_name), packager.packager_id)
+                        local_version = local_versions.get(single.base) if bump_pkgrel else None
+                        commit_sha = self._package_build(single, Path(dir_name), packager.packager_id, local_version)
+
                         # update commit hash for changes keeping current diff if there is any
                         changes = self.reporter.package_changes_get(single.base)
-                        self.reporter.package_changes_update(single.base, Changes(last_commit_sha, changes.changes))
+                        self.reporter.package_changes_update(single.base, Changes(commit_sha, changes.changes))
+
                         # update dependencies list
                         package_archive = PackageArchive(self.paths.build_root, single, self.pacman, self.scan_paths)
                         dependencies = package_archive.depends_on()
                         self.reporter.package_dependencies_update(single.base, dependencies)
+
                         # update result set
                         result.add_updated(single)
+
                 except Exception:
                     self.reporter.set_failed(single.base)
                     result.add_failed(single)
@@ -107,19 +192,6 @@ class Executor(PackageInfo, Cleaner):
         Returns:
             Result: remove result
         """
-        def remove_base(package_base: str) -> None:
-            try:
-                with self.in_event(package_base, EventType.PackageRemoved):
-                    self.reporter.package_remove(package_base)
-            except Exception:
-                self.logger.exception("could not remove base %s", package_base)
-
-        def remove_package(package: str, archive_path: Path) -> None:
-            try:
-                self.repo.remove(package, archive_path)  # remove the package itself
-            except Exception:
-                self.logger.exception("could not remove %s", package)
-
         packages_to_remove: dict[str, Path] = {}
         bases_to_remove: list[str] = []
 
@@ -136,6 +208,7 @@ class Executor(PackageInfo, Cleaner):
                 })
                 bases_to_remove.append(local.base)
                 result.add_removed(local)
+
             elif requested.intersection(local.packages.keys()):
                 packages_to_remove.update({
                     package: properties.filepath
@@ -152,11 +225,11 @@ class Executor(PackageInfo, Cleaner):
 
         # remove packages from repository files
         for package, filename in packages_to_remove.items():
-            remove_package(package, filename)
+            self._package_remove(package, filename)
 
         # remove bases from registered
         for package in bases_to_remove:
-            remove_base(package)
+            self._package_remove_base(package)
 
         return result
 
@@ -172,27 +245,6 @@ class Executor(PackageInfo, Cleaner):
         Returns:
             Result: path to repository database
         """
-        def rename(archive: PackageDescription, package_base: str) -> None:
-            if archive.filename is None:
-                self.logger.warning("received empty package name for base %s", package_base)
-                return  # suppress type checking, it never can be none actually
-            if (safe := safe_filename(archive.filename)) != archive.filename:
-                shutil.move(self.paths.packages / archive.filename, self.paths.packages / safe)
-                archive.filename = safe
-
-        def update_single(name: str | None, package_base: str, packager_key: str | None) -> None:
-            if name is None:
-                self.logger.warning("received empty package name for base %s", package_base)
-                return  # suppress type checking, it never can be none actually
-            # in theory, it might be NOT packages directory, but we suppose it is
-            full_path = self.paths.packages / name
-            files = self.sign.process_sign_package(full_path, packager_key)
-            for src in files:
-                dst = self.paths.repository / safe_filename(src.name)
-                shutil.move(src, dst)
-            package_path = self.paths.repository / safe_filename(name)
-            self.repo.add(package_path)
-
         current_packages = {package.base: package for package in self.packages()}
         local_versions = {package_base: package.version for package_base, package in current_packages.items()}
 
@@ -207,8 +259,8 @@ class Executor(PackageInfo, Cleaner):
                     packager = self.packager(packagers, local.base)
 
                     for description in local.packages.values():
-                        rename(description, local.base)
-                        update_single(description.filename, local.base, packager.key)
+                        self._archive_remove(description, local.base)
+                        self._package_update(description.filename, local.base, packager.key)
                     self.reporter.set_success(local)
                     result.add_updated(local)
 
@@ -216,12 +268,13 @@ class Executor(PackageInfo, Cleaner):
                     if local.base in current_packages:
                         current_package_archives = set(current_packages[local.base].packages.keys())
                     removed_packages.extend(current_package_archives.difference(local.packages))
+
                 except Exception:
                     self.reporter.set_failed(local.base)
                     result.add_failed(local)
                     self.logger.exception("could not process %s", local.base)
-        self.clear_packages()
 
+        self.clear_packages()
         self.process_remove(removed_packages)
 
         return result
diff --git a/src/ahriman/models/package.py b/src/ahriman/models/package.py
index 4a74a893..d5f98399 100644
--- a/src/ahriman/models/package.py
+++ b/src/ahriman/models/package.py
@@ -520,8 +520,7 @@ class Package(LazyLogging):
         else:
             remote_version = remote.version
 
-        result: int = vercmp(self.version, remote_version)
-        return result < 0
+        return self.vercmp(remote_version) < 0
 
     def next_pkgrel(self, local_version: str | None) -> str | None:
         """
@@ -540,7 +539,7 @@ class Package(LazyLogging):
         if local_version is None:
             return None  # local version not found, keep upstream pkgrel
 
-        if vercmp(self.version, local_version) > 0:
+        if self.vercmp(local_version) > 0:
             return None  # upstream version is newer than local one, keep upstream pkgrel
 
         *_, local_pkgrel = parse_version(local_version)
@@ -561,6 +560,19 @@ class Package(LazyLogging):
         details = "" if self.is_single_package else f""" ({" ".join(sorted(self.packages.keys()))})"""
         return f"{self.base}{details}"
 
+    def vercmp(self, version: str) -> int:
+        """
+        typed wrapper around :func:`pyalpm.vercmp()`
+
+        Args:
+            version(str): version to compare
+
+        Returns:
+            int: negative if current version is less than provided, positive if greater than and zero if equals
+        """
+        result: int = vercmp(self.version, version)
+        return result
+
     def view(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
         """
         generate json package view
diff --git a/src/ahriman/models/repository_paths.py b/src/ahriman/models/repository_paths.py
index 7e8ae558..c14f57a4 100644
--- a/src/ahriman/models/repository_paths.py
+++ b/src/ahriman/models/repository_paths.py
@@ -85,6 +85,16 @@ class RepositoryPaths(LazyLogging):
                 return Path(self.repository_id.architecture)  # legacy tree suffix
         return Path(self.repository_id.name) / self.repository_id.architecture
 
+    @property
+    def archive(self) -> Path:
+        """
+        archive directory root
+
+        Returns:
+            Path: archive directory root
+        """
+        return self.root / "archive" / self._suffix
+
     @property
     def build_root(self) -> Path:
         """
@@ -227,7 +237,7 @@ class RepositoryPaths(LazyLogging):
         set owner of path recursively (from root) to root owner
 
         Notes:
-            More likely you don't want to call this method explicitly, consider using :func:`preserve_owner`
+            More likely you don't want to call this method explicitly, consider using :func:`preserve_owner()`
             as context manager instead
 
         Args:
@@ -249,6 +259,23 @@ class RepositoryPaths(LazyLogging):
             set_owner(path)
             path = path.parent
 
+    def archive_for(self, package_base: str) -> Path:
+        """
+        get path to archive specified search criteria
+
+        Args:
+            package_base(str): package base name
+
+        Returns:
+            Path: path to archive directory for package base
+        """
+        directory = self.archive / "packages" / package_base[0] / package_base
+        if not directory.is_dir():  # create if not exists
+            with self.preserve_owner(self.archive):
+                directory.mkdir(mode=0o755, parents=True)
+
+        return directory
+
     def cache_for(self, package_base: str) -> Path:
         """
         get path to cached PKGBUILD and package sources for the package base
@@ -320,6 +347,7 @@ class RepositoryPaths(LazyLogging):
 
         with self.preserve_owner():
             for directory in (
+                    self.archive,
                     self.cache,
                     self.chroot,
                     self.packages,
diff --git a/tests/ahriman/conftest.py b/tests/ahriman/conftest.py
index 706c6354..2911fe3b 100644
--- a/tests/ahriman/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/ahriman/conftest.py
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 import datetime
 import pytest
 
+from dataclasses import replace
 from pathlib import Path
 from pytest_mock import MockerFixture
+from sqlite3 import Cursor
 from typing import Any, TypeVar
 from unittest.mock import MagicMock, PropertyMock
 
@@ -11,12 +13,14 @@ from ahriman.core.alpm.remote import AUR
 from ahriman.core.auth import Auth
 from ahriman.core.configuration import Configuration
 from ahriman.core.database import SQLite
+from ahriman.core.database.migrations import Migrations
 from ahriman.core.repository import Repository
 from ahriman.core.spawn import Spawn
 from ahriman.core.status import Client
 from ahriman.core.status.watcher import Watcher
 from ahriman.models.aur_package import AURPackage
 from ahriman.models.build_status import BuildStatus, BuildStatusEnum
+from ahriman.models.migration import Migration
 from ahriman.models.package import Package
 from ahriman.models.package_description import PackageDescription
 from ahriman.models.package_source import PackageSource
@@ -48,7 +52,9 @@ def anyvar(cls: type[T], strict: bool = False) -> T:
         T: any wrapper
     """
     class AnyVar(cls):
-        """any value wrapper"""
+        """
+        any value wrapper
+        """
 
         def __eq__(self, other: Any) -> bool:
             """
@@ -271,16 +277,23 @@ def configuration(repository_id: RepositoryId, tmp_path: Path, resource_path_roo
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def database(configuration: Configuration) -> SQLite:
+def database(configuration: Configuration, mocker: MockerFixture) -> SQLite:
     """
     database fixture
 
     Args:
         configuration(Configuration): configuration fixture
+        mocker(MockerFixture): mocker object
 
     Returns:
         SQLite: database test instance
     """
+    original_method = Migrations.perform_migration
+
+    def perform_migration(self: Migrations, cursor: Cursor, migration: Migration) -> None:
+        original_method(self, cursor, replace(migration, migrate_data=lambda *args: None))
+
+    mocker.patch.object(Migrations, "perform_migration", side_effect=perform_migration, autospec=True)
     return SQLite.load(configuration)