Description of problem:
Component: pirut
Summary: TB0e4166fe config.py:755:_getsysver:TypeError: rpmdb open failed

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/sbin/pup", line 617, in ?
    main()
  File "/usr/sbin/pup", line 609, in main
    pup = PackageUpdater(not options.autoapply, options.config)
  File "/usr/sbin/pup", line 84, in __init__
    GraphicalYumBase.__init__(self, False, config)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.4/site-packages/pirut/__init__.py", line 137, in __init__
    plugin_types=(yum.plugins.TYPE_CORE,))
  File "/usr/lib/python2.4/site-packages/yum/__init__.py", line 118, in doConfigSetup
    errorlevel=errorlevel)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.4/site-packages/yum/__init__.py", line 164, in _getConfig
    self._conf = config.readMainConfig(startupconf)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.4/site-packages/yum/config.py", line 685, in readMainConfig
    yumvars['releasever'] = _getsysver(startupconf.installroot, startupconf.distroverpkg)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.4/site-packages/yum/config.py", line 755, in _getsysver
    idx = ts.dbMatch('provides', distroverpkg)
TypeError: rpmdb open failed

Local variables in innermost frame:
installroot: /
ts: <rpmUtils.transaction.TransactionWrapper instance at 0x146eb290>
distroverpkg: redhat-release


Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):


How reproducible:
Each time I try to update packages.

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Login.
2. Click on Software Updater.
3. Enter password.
  
Actual results:
A dialog box containing the description of the problem appears and I cannot update any packages.

Expected results:
Package updater list.

Additional info:
[gerardo@mx29idme ~]$ cat /etc/redhat-release 
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client release 5.2 (Tikanga)
[gerardo@mx29idme ~]$ uname -a
Linux mx29idme 2.6.18-92.1.13.el5 #1 SMP Thu Sep 4 03:51:21 EDT 2008 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
[gerardo@mx29idme ~]$