Methods and apparatus to propagate an update between nodes in a distributed environment are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a first virtual appliance configured to install an update using an update file from a first update repository, the first update repository located apart from the first virtual appliance, the first virtual appliance configured to form a second update repository at the first virtual appliance, the second update repository to include a copy of the update file from the first update repository. The example apparatus also includes a second virtual appliance, the second virtual appliance formed as a replica of the first virtual appliance, the second virtual appliance to install the update using the copy of the update file from the second update repository.