Description of problem: 
When you install the kernel rpm without having a /etc/fstab and /etc/mtab yet, the post-install 
script has problems: 
warning: can't open /etc/mtab: No such file or directory 
warning: can't open /etc/mtab: No such file or directory 
awk: cmd. line:2: fatal: cannot open file `/etc/fstab' for reading (No such file or directory) 
ls: : No such file or directory 
/sbin/mkinitrd: line 434: [: : integer expression expected 
awk: cmd. line:2: fatal: cannot open file `/etc/fstab' for reading (No such file or directory) 
awk: cmd. line:2: fatal: cannot open file `/etc/fstab' for reading (No such file or directory) 
ext2fs_check_if_mount: No such file or directory while determining whether /dev/loop2 is 
mounted. 
warning: can't open /etc/fstab: No such file or directory 
awk: cmd. line:2: fatal: cannot open file `/etc/fstab' for reading (No such file or directory) 
/sbin/new-kernel-pkg: line 63: [: ==: unary operator expected 
 
Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): 
tested with kernel-2.4.18-19.8.0.i686.rpm + needed rpms to satisfy the dependencies of this 
kernel package from redhat 8.0 + updates 
 
How reproducible: 
every time. 
I can provide you with a script if you wish. 
 
Steps to Reproduce: 
1. start the installation of a new rootfilesystem in a directory (for example for creating a  
bootable cd): ROOT =/tmp/root , mkdir -p $ROOT/var/lib/rpm ; rpm --initdb --root=${ROOT}  
2. install all rpms needed to satisfy the dependencies of kernel  
3. forget to initialize the /etc/fstab and /etc/mtab 
4. install the kernel rpm  
     
Actual results: 
A warning of rpm telling me that the kernel rpm needs the /etc/mtab and /etc/fstab files. 
 
Expected results: 
Errors in the post-install script (see description) 
 
Additional info: 
I've set the severity to low because normal users will never notice this.