I am trying to update my linux server (2.4.21-20.EL server) with updates. I think the /var/lib/rpm/Packages file is corrupt, as it won't get any updates. When I run yum update all it does is "Downloading needed headers No Packages available for Update No actions to take" I've tried rebuilding the Packages file, which apparently is successful, but the file size is much smaller than the previous one and I know this machine needs the updates, as it hasn't been updated in a year or two. Is there a way to force yum to update (which it doesn't look like there is), or some other alternative? I really need to get this machine upgraded!

Thanks!

have you tried
yum update yum
?

Hi yogaboy.

I tried that, but it only did yum. Thanks for the tip, though! Any other thoughts?

What repositories are you using. Have a look in /etc/yum.repos.d

well, if yum updated itself then it's not a problem with yum itself, so what billymayday suggests is your next best option. You might also try running

yum clean all

before you're next attempt to update. You could try getting hold of the default repo files for your distro and putting them in the repos dir. Which distro is it?

Yogaboy.

I logged in and looked at /etc and did as billymayday suggested. There isn't any file called yum.repos.d. I did the yum clean all and then repeated the process. Now I'm getting a message that says: "Your GPG keyring does not contain the Red Hat, Inc public key. Your Update Agent options specify the you want to use GPG. To install the key, run the following as root: rpm --impport /usr/share/info/rhn/RPM-GPG-KEY". This returns an empty line. So now...? Thanks for the help!

ok, you need to have a read of this page about the keys
http://www.redhat.com/security/team/key/

it's not needed but you should use it.

Check /etc/yum.conf to see where it points to for repo files. If you don't have anything then add these lines
# PUT YOUR REPOS HERE OR IN separate files named file.repo
in /etc/yum.repos.d

and mkdir /etc/yum.repos.d

then you'll need to find the default .repo files for your distro somewhere, and add them to that dir. I had a quick look but couldn't find any.

Hope this helps

Well, I'm sorry to say that I've tried this and it didn't work. But thanks for trying. I think I might hvae to reinstall.