Version: #1 SMP Tue Aug 18 15:51:54 EDT 2009
Release: 2.6.18-164.el5

While running "yum update"
After Transaction summary shows download size. I answer the question:"Is this ok [y/N]: y" and process freezes on next line?
I have tried yum clean all and retried same result? I have allowed it to continue for several , many, minutes but must CTRL Z to stop process then kill remaining yum processes.
I have also deleted and rebuilt the rpm database.

I have two machines doing the same thing, all help is apprecaited.

plenty of diskspace + memory available?

does yum -y update behave differently?

do you have any non-redhat repos added?

Is there any irregularity with the network connectivity?

Shouldn't be the case, but are there any other rpm processes running?

It may be worth trying strace. strace -f yum -y update

plenty of diskspace + memory available? -YES

does yum -y update behave differently? - SAME

do you have any non-redhat repos added? - NO

Is there any irregularity with the network connectivity? - I AM INVESTIGATING FTP FROM MACHINE NOW, THIS NETWORK IS HEAVILY FIREWALLED

Shouldn't be the case, but are there any other rpm processes running? - NO

It may be worth trying strace. strace -f yum -y update - TRIED STRACE -F YUM -Y UPDATE YUM TO CUT DOWN ON OUTPUT THIS TIMES OUT USUALLY STRACE REPORTS "NO PACKAGE MATCHING YUM" AND TIME OUT AGAIN.

Perhaps you are using the location-aware update service and your firewall is not open to *all* the appropriate servers?

http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/docs/DOC-11215
http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/docs/DOC-16881

1 members found this post helpful.

That was it: Location Aware Updates must be UNCHECKED at RH Systems Details site. So that we return to the same site always not to the mirrors site which arbitrarily redirects to sites with different IP addresses.
This is all of course due to the strictness of our firewalls.

Thank you all for your assistance in resolving this issue.