arbitration of multiple master_sites

[markd at macports.org]

>>> So if we had this master_sites keyword in port foo:
>>>
>>> master_sites \
>>>      sourceforge \                 (ping resp t9)
>>>      ftp://example1.org \    (ping resp t4)
>>>      http://example2.org \  (ping resp t7)
>>>      freebsd                           (ping resp t1)
>>
>> Actually, the mirror lists get expanded first and pinging is then
>> started on all hosts regardless if they come from a mirror list or were
>> directly given in the Portfile. The only exception is the fallback
>> mirror group named "macports", it will always be last.
>
>Just to be completely clear, 'macports' is an ordinary mirror group like
>any other. The reason it is tried last is that it is listed in a
>separate fallback_mirrors list that is tried after master_sites. If for
>some reason you listed 'macports' in master_sites, svn.macports.org
>would be pinged and could potentially sort to any position in the list.

Joshua,

Thanks for the detailed explanation.  It is very clear now.

Mark