Install a newer local repo version on an older version of RHEL6

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Just wondering this.

Is it possible to have a RHEL6.3/6.4 and use a RHEL 6.9 install ISO to create a local repo on that system?

One would have access to newer packages, however I'm not sure if it would break alot of stuff.

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Hi Christopher,

Well, I think you assume the right thing - it most probably will break a lot of stuff. Why not simply upgrade to RHEL version 6.9 ? Or even better, why not install the latest RHEL edition 7.3 instead ? It not only brings along newer packages, it also contains many improvements under the hood. Even though nearly everything is possible, how would you want to upgrade the packages from the local repository when newer versions are getting released ? You would have to stick with those versions that are included in the RHEL 6.9 installation media .... which additionally makes the system vulnerable to security issues. In the end there are only downsides and no notable advantages at all.

It is definitely possible. However, given that the versions are so far apart, as soon as you attempt to install or update one package you are likely to get a cascading need to install many other packages for dependencies.

What is the purpose of this exercise? Do you have a non-internet connected system that needs newer patches or do you just want to limit the latest packages for that system to those provided by 6.9?

I actually doubt that there would be much that actually breaks. Most updated packages provided by Red Hat will contain security fixes, bug fixes and some feature enhancements but should continue to support the same features and functions of the older versions.

We have a RHEL6.4 system in our dev environment, and working with a developer on this. We need to install certain packages in order to get an application to work correctly. Many of those packages aren't with the install DVD/ISO. We don't have access to a RH Satellite/Capsule, and was wondering about setting up a local repo from a newer version of RHEL6, however I wasn't sure, and wanted to ask.

You know the old saying..."the only stupid question is the one that isn't asked."

So you're really just building it out? In that case you're not likely to break anything. Do you know anything about creating repositories? If not go ahead and download the latest ISO and mount it for a repository.

If so, and if you have a RHEL6 system connected to the internet, run a 'reposync' to get all of the very latest packages and then burn those to a couple DVDs and migrate that to your dev environment for use.

This is in our dev environment, which has NO connections to any other internal network or the Internet, which is its own vCenter.

This gives everyone a safe place to test and develop without harming anything in production.

I've made another post where I was asking about Containers/Atomic as I'm trying to speed up the process when it comes to spinning up a RHEL VM with the correct packages that satisfy developer needs in our isolated developer environment.

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