RH9 Install Problems 040416a (gs response)

[Rick Stevens]

Gene Sears (MUMC) wrote:
> Hi Stuart,
> 
> snip
> 
> ) >
> ) see comments below about other editors, if you need them... I hate EMACS
> ) as well, but
> ) that's an entirely different flamewar :-)
> 
> OK
> 
> )
> 
> snip
> 
> ) >
> ) but is less common now, particularly with Linux boxes. If you mean the
> ) command-line
> ) approach when you say 'this level of software' - well in many ways
> ) that's the nature of the beast.
> ) The command line is the center of the linux Universe...
> 
> I won't respond to that now, I said it would be a fair trial.
> 
> )
> 
> snip
> 
> ) >
> ) Actually as I see it -your linux system is actually installed correctly
> ) - there are two remaining issues
> ) - the up2date thing, which will pretty much stop working at the end of
> ) April anyway (RH9 hits end of life then),
> ) and X.
> ) You appear to have a fully functional command line and the other items
> ) ought to be fixable. It depends on
> ) whether you still feel inclined to struggle with them!!
> 
> Sure, maybe this is like owning a 1950s MG or eating Tequila worms.  After
> you struggle through a few in-the-rain refusals to run, you tell people you
> like standing in the rain with the bonnet up.  I won't try to discuss the
> worms any further.  Maybe I got that out of my system for a while.
> 
> )
> ) >  None of the foregoing is intended to be a reflection on you.  Your
> ) >suggestions have all made sense to me, the fact that so far I
> ) haven't been
> ) >able to bring any of them to fruition is not your fault.
> ) >
> ) >
> ) Thanks. But I still want them to work. I hope your experience thus far
> ) hasn't put you off completely.
> )
> 
> snip
> 
> ) That really depends on whether you want to pay for it...
> ) RHEL is a purchase-only option - you pay for the RHN and Support
> ) contracts that come with it,
> ) although I have a copy and RHN subscriptions through work, so no support
> ) contract (boo hoo).
> ) The binary versions of the software are not available for download,
> ) although the source rpms are.
> 
> I'd have to be a LOT HAPPIER than I am now to put any cash in this!
> 
> )
> 
> snip
> 
> )
> ) Fedora is more or less what RH10 would have been if they had decided to
> ) go that route.
> ) It is freely downloadable in binary form and contains almost exactly the
> ) same software as RHEL3 does
> ) - some of it in later, more 'bleeding edge' versions. the kernels for
> ) Fedora are usually more
> ) recent than those for RHEL. Fedora Core2 is due out shortly (the Roadmap
> ) suggests May 17 for
> ) the final release version. I'm looking forward to it. Some of the
> ) additions look quite exciting. )
> ) <note to self> Get out more.</note to self>
> 
> Get out more what, Oh' you mean OUT.  Is the something really out there, or
> is that just a metaphor for the other side of the door?
> 
> ) see http://fedora.redhat.com for details.
> )
> ) As a home user, I would probably plump for Fedora, as opposed to RHEL,
> ) especially if you are
> ) simply trying it out. Besdies, RHEL is *expensive* for home use...
> )
> 
> If RH9 gets better I may go there...
> 
> snip
> ) >
> ) yes, I see it. the rpm -Fvh didn't work then?
> ) you _were_ in the same directory as the up2date-...rpm files, weren't you?
> 
> Seems like RHN said do it as root from /root, so, probably not.  I'll try it
> from the /spool/ folder.

The top-level directory (NEVER say "folder" to Linux people ;-)) that
up2date feeds is /var/spool/up2date.  If you want to update RPMs fetched
via up2date, as root:

	# cd /var/spool/up2date
	# rpm -Fvh *.rpm

or

	# rpm -Fvh /var/spool/up2date/*.rpm

The option "v" means be verbose.  The "h" means to print hash characters
as the update proceeds.  The main controlling letter is:

"-F"	"Freshen".  This means "update ONLY if an older version of the
RPM has been installed".

"-U"	"Update".  This means "replace older versions with this new one,
and if an old one doesn't exist, install this one."  This is a subtle
behaviour that many people don't expect, so be careful.

"-i"	"install".  Install this RPM if some version of it hasn't been
installed yet.  It will not install if a newer version has already been
installed or if it conflicts with something else already installed.

WARNING:  Never "rpm -Uvh" any kernel RPMs unless you want to lose your
current kernel.  Only use "rpm -ivh" on kernel RPMs.  This has bitten
many, many people.
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- Rick Stevens, Senior Systems Engineer     rstevens at vitalstream.com -
- VitalStream, Inc.                       http://www.vitalstream.com -
-                                                                    -
-                       When in doubt, mumble.                       -
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