diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index defaf23..314d2b5 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -20,8 +20,9 @@
 ## APT Cache Options
 cache_timeout: 600
 
-# Defines that the role will be deployed on a host machine
-is_metal: true
+# Set the package install state for distribution packages
+# Options are 'present' and 'latest'
+repo_server_package_state: "latest"
 
 repo_worker_connections: 1024
 repo_server_name: openstack-slushee
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/package-state-9a2f60adb4ab68cd.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/package-state-9a2f60adb4ab68cd.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a426be6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/package-state-9a2f60adb4ab68cd.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+---
+features:
+  - The repo_server role now supports the ability to configure whether
+    apt/yum tasks install the latest available package, or just ensure
+    that the package is present. The default action is to ensure that
+    the latest package is present. The action taken may be changed to
+    only ensure that the package is present by setting
+    ``repo_server_package_state`` to ``present``.
+upgrade:
+  - The repo_server role always checks whether the latest package is
+    installed when executed. If a deployer wishes to change the check to
+    only validate the presence of the package, the option
+    ``repo_server_package_state`` should be set to ``present``.
diff --git a/tasks/install_apt.yml b/tasks/install_apt.yml
index 93482f2..b2dcdd7 100644
--- a/tasks/install_apt.yml
+++ b/tasks/install_apt.yml
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 - name: Install repo server packages
   apt:
     pkg: "{{ item }}"
-    state: latest
+    state: "{{ repo_server_package_state }}"
   register: install_packages
   until: install_packages|success
   retries: 5
diff --git a/tasks/install_yum.yml b/tasks/install_yum.yml
index c130371..421cbeb 100644
--- a/tasks/install_yum.yml
+++ b/tasks/install_yum.yml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 - name: Install repo server packages
   yum:
     pkg: "{{ item }}"
-    state: latest
+    state: "{{ repo_server_package_state }}"
   register: install_packages
   until: install_packages|success
   retries: 5
diff --git a/tasks/repo_cacher.yml b/tasks/repo_cacher.yml
index 005b301..93d3ed6 100644
--- a/tasks/repo_cacher.yml
+++ b/tasks/repo_cacher.yml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 - name: Install repo caching server packages (yum)
   yum:
     pkg: "{{ item }}"
-    state: latest
+    state: "{{ repo_server_package_state }}"
     enablerepo: "epel-testing"
   register: install_packages
   until: install_packages|success
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 - name: Install repo caching server packages (apt)
   apt:
     pkg: "{{ item }}"
-    state: latest
+    state: "{{ repo_server_package_state }}"
   register: install_packages
   until: install_packages|success
   retries: 5