FC4: Creating updates DVD as yum repository

[Paul Howarth]

Richard Conway wrote:
> Hi,
>  
> I'll start with my question, which is 'Is it possible to prepare a 
> DVD-based yum repository containing the downloaded FC4 updates'.
>  
> I've included some more stuff below in case you are interested why I 
> would want to and what I have tried so far...
>  
> I am preparing a standalone platform (no internet) with FC4.
>  
> Having installed from DVD I want to apply the latest updates.
>  
> I have taken the following approach:
> 1. Download all updates.
> 2. Remove old kernel packages from download.
> 3. Remove i386 packages that are covered by an equivalent i686 package.
> 4. Burn RPMs to DVD.
>  
> I have attempted installation as follows:
> - Login as root.
> - $ rpm -Fvh /media/cdrecorder/*.rpm
>  
> RPMs begin to be installed but eventually it falls over - can't remember 
> exact error. Anyway I can then individually install the RPM that fell 
> over without error, perhaps satisfying its dependencies at the! same 
> time. I can continue with this cycle of error/fix/continue and would 
> probably eventually get everything updated - but this is not a viable 
> approach.
>  
> Hence, my question - How can I prepare a yum repository on a DVD 
> containing the download updates? Or, is there another way of acheiving 
> my goal of installing the updates easily.

Add a step 3.5:

3.5 Create yum metadata for your packages by running "createrepo ." in 
the directory containing the RPM files.

Now create a local repo file, /etc/yum.repos.d/mylocal.repo

[localupdates]
name=Fedora Core $releasever - $basearch - Local Updates
baseurl=file:///media/cdrecorder
enabled=1
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-fedora

You should then be able to do a "yum update" using your local repo on 
DVD. If you have no Internet connection on the target machine, you'll 
need to disable all other repos. You'll also need to figure out how to 
create a local version of the [core] repository (possibly on the same 
DVD) because updates may add new dependencies on core packages.

Paul.