Description of Problem: The kernel package includes the following postinstall script: -- cd /boot ln -sf vmlinuz-2.4.9-13 vmlinuz ln -sf System.map-2.4.9-13 System.map ln -sf module-info-2.4.9-13 module-info -- The smp kernel includes no such similar script. Using GRUB to dereference the links on the UP kernel provides a worry-free kernel upgrade procedure, as long as GRUB is configured to use those links to find the kernel (It's not, but that gaffe is not within this scope). The SMP kernel provides no such links, and the user must work around this problem with each install, increasing the probability of a serious problem killing a system. Moreover, the user must do this with each system upgraded, a repetitive and exacting process that's ill-fitted for completion by a human instead of a machine. It's also a 3-second fix, you slacker! Here's a suggestion: cd /boot ln -sf vmlinuz-2.4.9-13smp vmlinuz-smp ln -sf System.map-2.4.9-13smp System.map-smp ln -sf module-info-2.4.9-13smp module-info-smp Here's a patch to the kernel spec: *** /usr/src/redhat/SPECS/kernel-2.4.spec~ Tue Oct 30 18:06:51 2001 --- /usr/src/redhat/SPECS/kernel-2.4.spec Mon Dec 3 05:58:56 2001 *************** *** 1697,1702 **** --- 1697,1711 ---- %post smp + cd /boot + %ifnarch ia64 %{all_ppc} + ln -sf vmlinuz-%{KVERREL}smp vmlinuz-smp + %endif + %ifarch %{all_ppc} + ln -sf vmlinux-%{KVERREL}smp vmlinux-smp + %endif + ln -sf System.map-%{KVERREL}smp System.map-smp + ln -sf module-info-%{KVERREL}smp module-info-smp [ -x /usr/sbin/module_upgrade ] && /usr/sbin/module_upgrade depmod -ae -F /boot/System.map-%{KVERREL}smp %{KVERREL}smp [ -x /sbin/mkkerneldoth ] && /sbin/mkkerneldoth *************** *** 1705,1710 **** --- 1714,1728 ---- fi %post enterprise + cd /boot + %ifnarch ia64 %{all_ppc} + ln -sf vmlinuz-%{KVERREL}enterprise vmlinuz-enterprise + %endif + %ifarch %{all_ppc} + ln -sf vmlinux-%{KVERREL}enterprise vmlinux-enterprise + %endif + ln -sf System.map-%{KVERREL}enterprise System.map-enterprise + ln -sf module-info-%{KVERREL}enterprise module-info-enterprise [ -x /usr/sbin/module_upgrade ] && /usr/sbin/module_upgrade depmod -ae -F /boot/System.map-%{KVERREL}enterprise %{KVERREL}enterprise [ -x /sbin/mkkerneldoth ] && /sbin/mkkerneldoth *************** *** 1713,1718 **** --- 1731,1745 ---- fi %post debug + cd /boot + %ifnarch ia64 %{all_ppc} + ln -sf vmlinuz-%{KVERREL}debug vmlinuz-debug + %endif + %ifarch %{all_ppc} + ln -sf vmlinux-%{KVERREL}debug vmlinux-debug + %endif + ln -sf System.map-%{KVERREL}debug System.map-debug + ln -sf module-info-%{KVERREL}debug module-info-debug [ -x /usr/sbin/module_upgrade ] && /usr/sbin/module_upgrade depmod -ae -F /boot/System.map-%{KVERREL}debug %{KVERREL}debug [ -x /sbin/mkkerneldoth ] && /sbin/mkkerneldoth Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): 2.4.9-13 How Reproducible: Always. Steps to Reproduce: 1. Install smp kernel with Initial Software Load 2. Upgrade to newer kernel (following http://www.redhat.com/support/docs/howto/kernel-upgrade but skippng lilo section as we're into the bronze age now, using GRUB magic) 3. reboot and stare in amazement until you realize what you did, at which time the ritual swearing begins. Actual Results: System can no longer find kernel to boot Expected Results: system booting happily, normally and healthily. Additional Information: Hey! I already gave ya a nice shiny Diff (you should sanity check that, as there was some blind sed magic in there) ! Whaddaya want for nothing?!? A rubber biscuit?!? Oh yeah. Additionally, the initrd isn't linked. This is fun for people using SCSI modules to boot their system, as it, again, leaves it unbootable after a happy kernel package upgrade. The thing is, with link set up correctly, using GRUB to boot the kernel makes kernel upgrades really easy and painless. Without the links, it's, well, pain.
The bug is the opposite :( Those symlinks are made at boot time depending on what kernel you are running; the fact that the UP kernel breaks that is a bug. As for easy-to-add-to-grub; well; rpm -i on a kernel rpm will automatically add that kernel to grub already......
Arjan, I need you to look at the spec file at line 1682 and tell me that the links are set after boot. I need you to also examine a smp system, after a fresh install, and suggest why the links are *not* set as you suggest. Am I missing something?
Thanks for the bug report. However, Red Hat no longer maintains this version of the product. Please upgrade to the latest version and open a new bug if the problem persists. The Fedora Legacy project (http://fedoralegacy.org/) maintains some older releases, and if you believe this bug is interesting to them, please report the problem in the bug tracker at: http://bugzilla.fedora.us/