How To Download a RPM Package Using yum Command Without Installing On Linux

Q. I would like to only download the packages via yum and not install/update them. How do I download a RPM package using yum command under CentOS Enterprise Linux server 5.x or RHEL 5.x systems?

A. You need to install plugin called yum-downloadonly. This plugin adds a --downloadonly flag to yum so that yum will only download the packages and not install/update them. Following options supported by this plugin:
[a] --downloadonly : don't update, just download a rpm file
[b] --downloaddir=/path/to/dir : specifies an alternate directory to store packages such as /tmp
Please note following instructions are only tested on CentOS server but should work with RHN and RHEL without any problem.

How do I install yum-downloadonly plugin?

Type the following command to install plugin, enter:
# yum install yum-downloadonly
Sample output:

Loading "fastestmirror" plugin
Loading "security" plugin
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * base: centos.mirrors.tds.net
 * updates: mirror.myriadnetwork.com
 * addons: mirrors.gigenet.com
 * extras: holmes.umflint.edu
Setting up Install Process
Parsing package install arguments
Resolving Dependencies
--> Running transaction check
---> Package yum-downloadonly.noarch 0:1.1.10-9.el5.centos set to be updated
--> Finished Dependency Resolution

Dependencies Resolved

=============================================================================
 Package                 Arch       Version          Repository        Size
=============================================================================
Installing:
 yum-downloadonly        noarch     1.1.10-9.el5.centos  base              9.0 k

Transaction Summary
=============================================================================
Install      1 Package(s)
Update       0 Package(s)
Remove       0 Package(s)         

Total download size: 9.0 k
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Downloading Packages:
(1/1): yum-downloadonly-1 100% |=========================| 9.0 kB    00:00
Running rpm_check_debug
Running Transaction Test
Finished Transaction Test
Transaction Test Succeeded
Running Transaction
  Installing: yum-downloadonly             ######################### [1/1] 

Installed: yum-downloadonly.noarch 0:1.1.10-9.el5.centos
Complete!

How do I download a RPM package only from RHN or CentOS mirror, without installing it?

Download httpd package but don't install/update, enter:
# yum update httpd -y --downloadonly
By default package will by downloaded and stored in /var/cache/yum/ directory. But, you can specifies an alternate directory to store packages such as /opt, enter:
# yum update httpd -y --downloadonly --downloaddir=/opt

If the package is already Installed on system then use this......... 

# yum install  httpd --downloadonly --downloaddir=/mnt --installroot=/tmp