From Bugzilla Helper: User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux i686; en-US; rv:1.4) Gecko/20030703 Description of problem: Virgin severn: # rpm -hiv kernel-2.4.20-9.athlon.rpm Preparing... ########################################### [100%] package kernel-2.4.21-20.1.2024.2.1.nptl (which is newer than kernel-2.4.20-9) is already installed The kernel packages are supposed to live parallel to each-other, not upgrade each-other and it has always been possible to install an older kernel without --force. Not any more, apparently. Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): How reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce: Repeat command. Additional info:
Use the --oldpackage flag.
--force works, --oldpackage probably works too, but that's not the point; the point is that the hitherto behaviour of kernel packages was correct and that is now broken.
Actually I think you have always needed --oldpackage or equivalent to install an older kernel. I have just checked RH7.1 which is as far back as I can easily go, and that requires extra options to install a kernel older than the current one.
Use --oldpackage.