24-7-solutions.net:
  frequency        = "daily"
  dst_ftp          = "ftp://mirrors.24-7-solutions.net/pub/CPAN/"
  dst_http         = "http://mirrors.24-7-solutions.net/pub/CPAN/"
  dst_location     = "New York, New York, United States, North America
+ (40.70519 -74.01136)"
  dst_organisation = "24/7 Solutions Ltd"
  dst_timezone     = "-5"
  dst_bandwidth    = "100 Mb/s"
  dst_contact      = "24-7-solutions.net'mirror"
  dst_src          = "ftp.funet.fi"

8086.net:
  frequency        = "daily"
  dst_ftp          = "ftp://ftp.mirror.8086.net/sites/CPAN/"
  dst_http         = "http://www.mirror.8086.net/sites/CPAN/"
  dst_rsync        = "rsync://rsync.mirror.8086.net/CPAN/"
  dst_location     = "London, United Kingdom, Europe (51.50595 -0.1268
+9)"
  dst_organisation = "8086 Limited"
  dst_bandwidth    = "100 Mb/s"
  dst_contact      = "8086.net)support"
  dst_src          = "ftp.funet.fi"

adwired.ch:
  frequency        = "daily"
  dst_ftp          = "ftp://ftp.adwired.ch/CPAN/"
  dst_location     = "Zürich, Switzerland, Europe (47.3735 8.5382)"
  dst_organisation = "Adwired AG"
  dst_timezone     = "+1"
  dst_bandwidth    = "100 Mb/s"
  dst_contact      = "adwired.ch)daniel.kuebler"
  dst_src          = "ftp.funet.fi"
[download]

mirror.ac.za:
  frequency        = "12 Hourly"
  dst_ftp          = "ftp://cpan.mirror.ac.za/"
  dst_http         = "http://cpan.mirror.ac.za/"
  dst_rsync        = "mirror.ac.za::cpan"
  dst_location     = "Cape Town, South Africa, Africa (33.55 18.27)"
  dst_organisation = "TENET"
  dst_timezone     = "+2"
  dst_bandwidth    = "STM-1"
  dst_contact      = "tenet.ac.za,aa"
  dst_src          = "rsync://www.cpan.org/CPAN/"

# dst_dst          = "ftp://cpan.mirror.ac.za/"
# dst_contact      = "mailto:tenet.ac.za,aa
# dst_src          = "rsync://www.cpan.org/CPAN/"

is.co.za:
  frequency        = "daily"
  dst_ftp          = "ftp://ftp.is.co.za/pub/cpan/"
  dst_http         = "http://mirror.is.co.za/pub/cpan/"
  dst_rsync        = "ftp.is.co.za::IS-Mirror/ftp.cpan.org/"
  dst_location     = "Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, Africa (27.
+997053 -26.143972)"
  dst_organisation = "Internet Solutions"
  dst_timezone     = "+2"
  dst_bandwidth    = "50MB"
  dst_contact      = "is.co.za%ftpadmin"
  dst_src          = "rsync.nic.funet.fi"
  dst_notes        = "Limit to 4 simultaneous connections."

# dst_dst          = "ftp://ftp.is.co.za/pub/cpan/"
# dst_contact      = "mailto:is.co.za%ftpadmin
# dst_src          = "rsync.nic.funet.fi"

saix.net:
  frequency        = "daily"
  dst_ftp          = "ftp://ftp.saix.net/pub/CPAN/"
  dst_location     = "Parow, Western Cape, South Africa, Africa (-33.9
+064 18.5631)"
  dst_organisation = "South African Internet eXchange (SAIX)"
  dst_timezone     = "+2"
  dst_bandwidth    = "T3"
  dst_contact      = "saix.net%ftp"
  dst_src          = "ftp.funet.fi"

# dst_dst          = "ftp://ftp.saix.net/pub/CPAN/"
# dst_contact      = "mailto:saix.net%ftp
# dst_src          = "ftp.funet.fi"
[download]

sub read_mirrored_by {
    my $local = shift or return;
    my(%all,$url,$expected_size,$default,$ans,$host,$dst,$country,$con
+tinent,@location);
    my $fh = FileHandle->new;
    $fh->open($local) or die "Couldn't open $local: $!";
    local $/ = "\012";
    while (<$fh>) {
        ($host) = /^([\w\.\-]+)/ unless defined $host;
        next unless defined $host;
        next unless /\s+dst_(dst|location)/;
        /location\s+=\s+\"([^\"]+)/ and @location = (split /\s*,\s*/, 
+$1) and
            ($continent, $country) = @location[-1,-2];
        $continent =~ s/\s\(.*//;
        $continent =~ s/\W+$//; # if Jarkko doesn't know latitude/long
+itude
        /dst_dst\s+=\s+\"([^\"]+)/  and $dst = $1;
        next unless $host && $dst && $continent && $country;
        $all{$continent}{$country}{$dst} = CPAN::Mirrored::By->new($co
+ntinent,$country,$dst);
        undef $host;
        $dst=$continent=$country="";
    }
    $fh->close;
    $CPAN::Config->{urllist} ||= [];
    my(@previous_urls);
    if (@previous_urls = @{$CPAN::Config->{urllist}}) {
        $CPAN::Config->{urllist} = [];
    }
    
    print qq{

Now we need to know where your favorite CPAN sites are located. Push
a few sites onto the array (just in case the first on the array won\'t
work). If you are mirroring CPAN to your local workstation, specify a
file: URL.

First, pick a nearby continent and country (you can pick several of
each, separated by spaces, or none if you just want to keep your
existing selections). Then, you will be presented with a list of URLs
of CPAN mirrors in the countries you selected, along with previously
selected URLs. Select some of those URLs, or just keep the old list.
Finally, you will be prompted for any extra URLs -- file:, ftp:, or
http: -- that host a CPAN mirror.
[download]

 

# dst_dst          = "ftp://ftp.is.co.za/pub/cpan/"
# dst_contact      = "mailto:is.co.za%ftpadmin
# dst_src          = "rsync.nic.funet.fi"
[download]

So for now I can just use an older CPAN MIRRORED.BY file from my older boxes to get my installs running ok. Once the mirrors are configured with the FirstTime.pm init file, I (hopefully) won't have further problems with the CPAN mirrors issue.

( I am same as posted above) Instead of selecting "Yes" for the manual setup, select "no". CPAN will auto configure skipping the mirrors continent question. Then use CPAN to update itself.

 There's a new CPAN.pm version (v1.9402) available!
  [Current version is v1.7602]
  You might want to try
    install Bundle::CPAN
    reload cpan
  without quitting the current session. It should be a seamless upgrad
+e
  while we are running...
[download]

This will get you past the problems with the continent selection.

This will get you past the problems with the continent selection.

Could have simply downloaded http://search.cpan.org/CPAN/authors/id/D/DA/DAGOLDEN/CPAN-1.94_64.tar.gz, installed it manually, and been finished hours ago :)