Creating and Configuring a Local Repository in RHEL (Without Subscription)¶

This guide explains how to create and configure a local YUM/DNF repository on RHEL systems without an active Red Hat subscription.
The repository can be created using downloaded RPMs or RHEL ISO images.

1. Install Required Dependencies¶

Install the required tool to generate repository metadata:

dnf install -y createrepo

2. Obtain Repository Packages¶

You can obtain RPM packages in two ways:

Option 1: Download Packages Using `reposync`¶

If the system has temporary internet access:

reposync --reponame=<repository-name> -p /local-repo

Example:

reposync --reponame=baseos -p /local-repo

Option 2: Use RHEL DVD ISO Images (Offline Method)¶

If you have RHEL ISO images (recommended for offline environments), you can configure the local repository using those images.

3. Create Directory Structure for Local Repositories¶

Create directories to store RPM files:

mkdir -p /local-repo/baseos
mkdir -p /local-repo/appstream
mkdir -p /local-repo/highavailability

4. Copy RPM Files to Local Repository¶

4.1 Copy from External Media (USB / Mounted Disk)¶

If the RPMs are already available on external media:

rsync -avz /run/media/<user>/RHEL/BaseOS/* /local-repo/baseos
rsync -avz /run/media/<user>/RHEL/AppStream/* /local-repo/appstream
rsync -avz /run/media/<user>/RHEL/HighAvailability/* /local-repo/highavailability

4.2 Copy from RHEL ISO Image¶

Mount the RHEL ISO image:

mkdir -p /mnt/iso_image
mount rhel9.4.iso /mnt/iso_image

Verify contents:

ls -l /mnt/iso_image

You should see directories such as BaseOS and AppStream.

Copy the RPMs:

rsync -avz /mnt/iso_image/BaseOS/* /local-repo/baseos
rsync -avz /mnt/iso_image/AppStream/* /local-repo/appstream

⚠️ Note The HighAvailability repository is not included in standard RHEL ISO images. It must be downloaded separately if required.

5. Create Repository Metadata¶

Generate metadata so dnf can recognize the repositories:

createrepo /local-repo/baseos
createrepo /local-repo/appstream
createrepo /local-repo/highavailability

⚠️ If errors occur, verify that RPM files were copied correctly.

6. Configure Local Repository Files¶

Create a repository configuration file:

vi /etc/yum.repos.d/local.repo

Add the following content:

[local-baseos]
name=Local BaseOS Repository
baseurl=file:///local-repo/baseos
enabled=1
gpgcheck=0

[local-appstream]
name=Local AppStream Repository
baseurl=file:///local-repo/appstream
enabled=1
gpgcheck=0

[local-highavailability]
name=Local HighAvailability Repository
baseurl=file:///local-repo/highavailability
enabled=1
gpgcheck=0

🔹 gpgcheck=0 is recommended for offline/local repositories. If GPG keys are available, you may enable it.

7. Verify Repository Configuration¶

Check whether repositories are enabled:

dnf repolist

or

yum repolist

8. Clean DNF Cache¶

Clear existing cache and reload metadata:

dnf clean all
dnf makecache

9. Install Packages from Local Repository¶

Example: Install pcs package:

dnf install pcs

10. Verify PCS Installation¶

Check whether the service is installed and running:

systemctl status pcsd

Check available commands:

pcs --help

Conclusion¶

Configuring a local repository in RHEL without a subscription allows systems to operate fully in offline or restricted environments. Using ISO images or synced RPMs ensures consistent package availability and simplifies system management.