There should be a script at gentoo.org (or some other server) that will expand some URL, e.g. http://gentoo.org/distfiles/foobar.tgz into a full distfiles mirror URL, via a 3xx redirect, e.g. to http://gentoo.oregonstate.edu/distfiles/foobar.tgz This would allow one distfile URL to be included in the defaults that will automatically select a random mirror.
Opinions?
Personally, I would rather implement a DNS-based round-robin solution, similar to what we do for rsync. I'm actually already working with OSU and Indiana University to set up a proof-of-concept of this idea. The end result from a user's POV would be the same -- one URL would be entered as the GENTOO_MIRRORS variable (http://master.gentoo.org or something similar) and DNS would handle the rest. This would allow us to maintain server-side control over mirrors to easily yank problematic ones out of the rotation and we can also take advantage of some of the advanced features of UltraDNS. My $.02. --kurt
Any progress on this ?
http://distfiles.gentoo.org/ is a proof-of-concept of the DNS solution I was talking about. Currently, it has two mirrors: OSU and IU.
reassigning since this doesn't directly involve portage
corey -- think we can work on getting a few other mirrors involved in the distfiles.g.o round robin? Maybe gatech? (and I think kveton knows a guy at UCSB)
Hasn't this been resolved recently, or is it still being tested?
Corey has something up and working in beta right now. Not yet ready for public consumption.
Using distfiles.gentoo.org now for some time.
