simple redhat9 rpm install destroys whole OS
 

Hello guys.

i tried to install a simple game, the rpm failed me on my glibc beeing out of date.

so i used redhat network to download the new packages.

glibc-
and glibc-common-

i tried to install them the usual way, then after a while of seeming to go ok, it failed with a segmentation fault.

i tried rpm -q glibc
but rpm would not execute, net even rpm --help

each time i tried i have a segmentation fault.

so i decided to try re booting.

the system got to the part where it enters runlevel 5, and i got a

init 1: respawning too fast suspended for 5 minutes
init 2: respawning too fast suspended for 5 minutes
init 3: respawning too fast suspended for 5 minutes
init 4: respawning too fast suspended for 5 minutes
init 5: respawning too fast suspended for 5 minutes

then 5 mins later, the same error message.

i had to format and re-install my whole system.

is linux reealy this unstable ????

i need to update my graphics library but scared the same will happen again. what went wrong ?

A huge number of programs use glibc, including rpm. If the upgrade for glibc messes up then many programs will not run. Since rpm will not run with a broken glibc you cannot use rpm to fix the problem. The best solution is to restore glibc from backup, probably booting from a rescue system.

Upgrading glibc can be very tricky and is not to be undertaken lightly..

i hear alot of problems with rpms and red hat

waaw that sucks A$$ !!!!

how do i make sure the installation does not mess up ?

what do you mean by tricky ?
that red hat update thing tells me to update glibc.
so i let it, and its all automated.

there is no space for user inervention and therefore no user error.

so, what are you meant to do to upgrade glibc ????

well, ive done a complete re-install, but when it happens next time what do i do ?

say the rescue disk mounts my system as /mnt/RescueSystem.

how do i remove that glibc, and replace the old one ???

(what exactly is the glibc package ?
i assume its a graphics library ?)

for all intents and purposes, you cant upgrade your glibc w/o upgrading every other package on your system.

The glibc is the GNU C Library. Most programs that are written in "C" use it.

And since so many programs are written in C (most), they all need to be kept at the same version.

if that is true, then why does red-hat network just put it on there update program knwoing then when it detects its out of date, and downloads it automatically, and installs it, nothing will work, or even boot.

its like a time bomb for noob linux users.

thnkyou redhat ;)

i will reealy enjoy re downloading Java SDK (60 meg) on my 56kbps modem :)

ive looked round search engins, many people have this problem...
they install it, not knowing what it is, but that red flashing " ! " things says it needs to be updated. so they follow, thinking there keeping there system secure and healthy !

Yeah, its pretty stupid.

When will Redhat adopt APT officially?

Debian users have been able to upgrade their GlibC for years, because of the advanced tracking capabilities of apt-get.


But then again, with Slack, you just format and install the new disc. :)

so, how do i install this new glibc ???

would i have to create a new install disk ?

Upgrading glibc on a wing and a prayer
 

This method of upgrading glibc either works easily or causes you to have to restore your entire system. You take your chances.

The last time I upgraded glibc to version 2.2.5 I did it this way:

I backed up my entire system to a spare HD partition. I have a rescue CD available.

I upgraded the gcc compiler using the command line rpm command with --nodeps so that rpm would not object to the old glibc.

Then I issued the following commands:

rpm -U glibc.version#.rpm
ldconfig
shutdown -r now

humm, i'm running RH9 and did all the updates w/o any issues....

even upgraded the kernel.

don't froget to build new startup floppy after kernel upgrade...