How do I set up a local CPAN mirror?

Question

What do I need to set up and maintain a local CPAN mirror? What scripts and best practices should I be aware of?

Answer 1

The most likely scenario for running a CPAN mirror is so that your network of 50 machines can all be updated from it locally, instead of hitting the network 50 times.

I'd argue that using CPAN in the traditional manner is a poor way to keep a network of servers up to date.

I run a network of RedHat machines. I package all CPAN modules intended for use in production into RPMs (mostly using the cpanflute2 tool from RPM::Specfile) and deploy them that way, thereby ensuring proper dependency tracking which you don't really get from CPAN itself in any sane way.