https://bugzilla.fedora.us/show_bug.cgi?id=181
Downstream reference

Description of problem:
1. Create alternote rpm --root and install GPG keys there.
2. As root, rpm -K a package signed by an author not within that alternate
--root keyring.

[root@laptop warren]# rpm --root /var/fedora/rpm -K
cryptplug-0.3.15-0.fdr.2.rh90.src.rpm
rpmdb: unable to join the environment
error: db4 error(11) from dbenv->open: Resource temporarily unavailable
error: cannot open Packages index using db3 - Resource temporarily unavailable (11)
error: cannot open Packages database in /var/fedora/rpm/var/lib/rpm
rpmdb: unable to join the environment
error: db4 error(11) from dbenv->open: Resource temporarily unavailable
error: cannot open Packages database in /var/fedora/rpm/var/lib/rpm
cryptplug-0.3.15-0.fdr.2.rh90.src.rpm: (SHA1) DSA sha1 md5 (GPG) NOT OK (MISSING
KEYS: GPG#6b5305f6)

However it works if you disable NPTL.

[root@laptop warren]# LD_ASSUME_KERNEL=2.2.5 rpm --root /var/fedora/rpm -K
cryptplug-0.3.15-0.fdr.2.rh90.src.rpm
cryptplug-0.3.15-0.fdr.2.rh90.src.rpm: (SHA1) DSA sha1 md5 (GPG) NOT OK (MISSING
KEYS: GPG#6b5305f6)

It also works if you are a non-root user.

[warren@laptop warren]$ rpm --root /var/fedora/rpm/ -K
cryptplug-0.3.15-0.fdr.2.rh90.src.rpm
cryptplug-0.3.15-0.fdr.2.rh90.src.rpm: (SHA1) DSA sha1 md5 (GPG) NOT OK (MISSING
KEYS: GPG#6b5305f6)

Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):
rpm-4.2-1
kernel-2.4.20-9
glibc-2.3.2-27.9

How reproducible:
Always

Summary:
1. Create alternote rpm --root and install GPG keys there.
2. FAIL: As root, rpm -K a package signed by an author not within that alternate
--root keyring.
3. PASS: Try the same thing with NPTL disabled.
4. PASS: Try the same thing with NPTL enabled, but non-root user.