up2date client should support a flag that lets you restrict -u to a given set of channel(s): [root@minbar rhn]# up2date --show-channels redhat-linux-i386-7.2 skunkworks-i386-7.2 rhn-satellite-i386-7.2 [root@minbar rhn]# up2date -u -c skunkworks-i386-7.2 -c rhn-satellite-i386-7.2 This would only pull from skunkworks and satellite, and not the base (so it is an inclusive operation with none defaulting to be included unless specified, if any -c exists). Or any other flag/scheme, the important functionality being only upgrading packages in specific channels while allowing dependencies be pulled all channels.
I think we are going to need to always include the base channel, but allow selected child channels to be included. It doesnt really make since otherwise (use channel X at this point, but channel B at that point, and both at this other point elsewhere...) All the rules we tell child channel makers seem to blow up at that point as well (basically, you can have deps on the base channel stuff) The intent seems to be to allow all packages of a channel downloaded at once, which is kind of a orthogonal problem and probabaly best as a seperate RFE.