Description of problem: Up2date fails with "fatal installation error" "rpm unpack error installing Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): RHEL WS 3.0 How reproducible: 3/7 machines Steps to Reproduce: 1. Install operating system 2. run up2date 3. get really bummed out when up2date closes and files have been moved but not replaced 4. try and sort things out 5. get really bummed out because the log files aren't as helpful as they should be Second tier support suggested that the alsa drivers were causing the problem. One of the machines did not have a soundcard or the alsa drivers installed. When up2date fails with the unpack error it is an immediate failure and nothing proceeds. The packages that are removed are not replaced, therefore leave major black hole sin the OS. Looking deepere into Up2date/RPM this is a major flaw and this has happened on 3 machines in the last 2 weeks. Actual results: reinstall of machine Expected results: well, seeing as how were paying to use up2date I would expect it to not render the machine unusable. Additional info: Please provide additional training for the tier 1 support in what I was told Manila. Nothing against the guys but a bit above basic knowledge of Linux is expected, even from tier 1 support. I was very disappointed in the support that was offered from tier 1 support, this creates a very poor image for redhat.
This looks like something for which you would be best off going through support (https://www.redhat.com/apps/support/).
Both level 1 support (Manila) and level 2 support (N.C) both of which advised me that I should open a bug report ?? Two common factors of the problem are that two of the machines had alsa drivers installed. The third machine did not.
This has happened again, this time a problem with pvm unpacking during up2date. up2date runs, removes/repackages items. It then begins installs, makes it half way through and fails on a package (this time pvm) and shuts down. What it has not completed at this point is installing initscripts so as was the case this time, NFS and SSH did not start on a reboot. This left the machine useless. This seems to be a bug (or more of poor approach) to up2date. If this is not a bug please advies who to contact that will respond to the inefficiencies of up2date should a package fail to install and halt the entire process.