[chef] Yum package Resource and Red Hat Network Threshold

[Martin Eigenbrodt < >]

I run chef-client frequently (ever 2 minutes or so) on a REL Linux box and I 
stumbled upon a  " error because RHN has detected an abuse of service from 
this system" (See
https://access.redhat.com/knowledge/solutions/8165 for complete Error ;
Message).
This happens in a simple package resource ('package "unzip" ').
It looks like the yum provider maintains a cache 
(http://www.rubydoc.info/github/opscode/chef/master/Chef/Provider/Package/Yum/YumCache)
  which is invalidated on every chef run and thus hits
the network.
Is there a way to avoid hitting the RHN every time? Checking if a package is 
already installed should be a local operation.
My use case for frequent runs is continuous deployment.  I guess I could 
implement a semi push model by having the build server flip a flag and poll 
the flag with "chef free" cron job,
that in turn starts chef-client; But I'd like to avoid this if possible.

Regards,

Martin