up2date openssh hangs - Re: duplicate packages after up2date failure

[Jim Cornette]

Alexander Lazarevich wrote:

>  This problem was previously discussed in post:
>
>  "duplicate packages after up2date failure" by Damian Menscher on Sun,
>  9 Oct 2005 16:53:17 -0500 (CDT).
>
>  We have the same problem on a FC4x86_64 machine. I've notice that
>  up2date of openssh causes a similar (unkillable) useradd process to
>  hang the machine. After a hard reboot, the up2date openssh seems to
>  have succeeded, but the old openssh is still around:
>
>  openssh.x86_64 4.2p1-fc4.1
>  installed openssh.x86_64 4.0p1-3
>  installed
>
>  Messy, but ssh seems works.
>
>  What I'd like to know is, for any future up2date's, is redhat going
>  to fix this FC4U2/up2date/useradd/64bit kernel problem. Or should we
>  just roll back to FC3x86_64, which doesn't have this problem (not
>  that I've heard of, we have a 64bitFC3 system that up2dates just
>  fine).
>
>  I agree with Damian in that up2date should install and clean each
>  package individually before moving onto the next.
>
>  Alex
>

I believe that rpm operates in the same method when updating groups of 
rpms. Yum and up2date seem to clear the database entries when the 
updating tasks complete. Any sudden interruption in any of the programs 
seems to result in multiple entries for programs replaced during a 
group  rpm upgrade.

Probably filing an RFE regarding updating the db per successfully 
completed operation might get some answers. I think the db being updated 
upon completion is due to resolved dep entries not being complete until 
all packages are installed. Also writing to the db so many times when 
the end result is the same probably saves on disk cycles and lowers the 
possibility the database will become corrupted.

Of course power loss without a battery backup, programs that peg the 
processor which need a hard kill and shutting down the computer before 
the update process is completed make individually cleaning per package 
install desirable.

Jim

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