There are multiple CPAN sites, which rsync from each other in a hierarchical way, so "network" is quite appropriate. And they retain all previous versions, so t

There are multiple CPAN sites, which rsync from each other in a hierarchical way, so "network" is quite appropriate. And they retain all previous versions, so they're an archive. Also, the intention was for it to contain all published modules, and it has indeed grown to be, I think, the largest repository of modules for any language. Comprehensive does not mean complete.