How to Build a Yum Repository [Updated]

yum install yum-utils createrepo vsftpd

Create the directory: /var/ftp/pub/yum/*OSName*/*RELEASE*/*PATCH*/base/*ARCH*

examples:

/var/ftp/pub/yum/centos/6/6/base/i386
/var/ftp/pub/yum/centos/6/6/base/x86_64
/var/ftp/pub/yum/RHEL/7/1/base/x86_64

mkdir -p /var/ftp/pub/yum/centos/6/6/base/x86_64

Option 1:  From Install CD

Required:  Installation Media

cp -ar /*CDMOUNTPOINT*/Packages/* /var/ftp/pub/yum/centos/6/6/base/x86_64
cp /*CDMOUNTPOINT*/repodata/*comps*.xml /opt/yum/rhel6.3/repodata/comps.xml

Option 2:  From an Internet Repo

Required:  Internet Connection

If you do it this way, you are grabbing the latest patches from a repository on the internet.

reposync --gpgcheck -l -p /etc/yum.repos.d/redhat-rhui.repo --download_path=/var/ftp/pub/yum/RHEL/7/1/base/x86_64 --downloadcomps --download-metadata

Source:  Link Link Link 

Server Config

service vsftpd start

*If running iptables, you will have to allow it through the firewall

cd /var/ftp/pub/yum/centos/6/6/base/x86_64
createrepo -v .

vim /etc/yum.reposb.d/custom.repo

[name]
name=Centos $releasever Base Updates 6.6
baseurl=ftp://*ip-of-the-computer*/pub/centos/6/6/base/x86_64 enable=1 gpgcheck=0 (this can be changed to 1 once the certs are installed on the system)

yum clean all
yum repolist

Your repo should now be listed

Couple of Notes:
SELinux and the firewall was turned off while doing this

Note:  Some systems may require you to run yum-arch /var/ftp/pub/yum/centos

Tested In: CentOS 4.3, 6.6, RHEL 6.4 (just change version numbers above to match your version of the OS)

Troubleshooting:

repomd.xml: [Errno 14] PYCURL ERROR 9 - "Server denied you to change to the given directory" Trying other mirror."

After building your own yum repo you get the error: "repomd.xml: [Errno 14] PYCURL ERROR 9 - "Server denied you to change to the given directory" Trying other mirror."

You setup a server to be a repo server.  You've installed ftp and everything seems to be correct.  You've also checked the permissions on all the files and they are correct at 755.  Always test the ftp address in a browser.  This error is deceving and it has nothing to do with repomd.xml.  This has to do with the ftp address in your repo being wrong.

For instance:

Using ftp the path should be:

ftp://x.x.x.x/pub/...../.../../... (anything after pub can be whatever you created)

The key here is don't forget to pub!

Additional info: Link

How to Create your own Yum Repo Package Group

The big part was figuring out the xml syntax for it.

<group>
<id>groupidname</id>
<description>Description of what this group does</description>
<default>true</default>
<uservisible>yes</uservisible>
<packagelist>
<packagereq type="mandatory">What you want yum to search for </packagereq>
</packagelist>
</group>

Once created, run:

createrepo -g yumgroups.xml /*LOCATION OF REPODATA*/

For more information on a yum repo see http://roadzy.blogspot.com/2012/02/how-to-build-yum-directory-in-centos-43.html

Tested on CentOS 4.3