I totally messed up my CentOS install my running yum update. The update tries to update the kernel and fails, but somewhere in the process the system gets messed up, but I'm not sure how. 131 different rpm's get downloaded and installed.

Some things that don't work:

*Java jre will explode when you try to even check the version
*python will seg fault


I didn't notice right away as apache and sshd appear to run fine.


It there a good solution to using a distribution that will have a long supported lifespan and is easy to update that won't trash a UML install?

All I want to do is stay current so I don't get own'd by some script kiddie.

Thanks!

Ditto. Java implodes upon loading the java.lang.StrictMath class:

[root@ixion root]# java -verbose
. . . loading a bunch of stuff . . .
[Loaded java.lang.ArithmeticException from /usr/java/j2re1.4.2_05/lib/rt.jar]
[Loaded java.lang.StrictMath from /usr/java/j2re1.4.2_05/lib/rt.jar]

An unexpected exception has been detected in native code outside the VM.
Unexpected Signal : 11 occurred at PC=0x0
Function=[Unknown.]
Library=(N/A)

NOTE: We are unable to locate the function name symbol for the error
      just occurred. Please refer to release documentation for possible
      reason and solutions.


Current Java thread:

Dynamic libraries:
08048000-08056000 r-xp 00000000 62:00 86073      /usr/java/j2re1.4.2_05/bin/java
. . . a bunch of libraries . . .
#
# The exception above was detected in native code outside the VM
#
# Java VM: Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (1.4.2_05-b04 mixed mode)
#
# An error report file has been saved as hs_err_pid2131.log.
# Please refer to the file for further information.
#
Aborted

The only references that I've found related to this problem discuss either memory issues (i.e., bad hardware) or problems with 2.4 UMLs. I'm using the 2.6 kernel, so I'm not sure where to start.

Ok, I think I've isolated the problem. I added

exclude=kernel*

to my yum.conf, and started updating packages one at a time, testing java in between. After updating glibc, java geborks loading java.lang.StrictMath.

Any information or advice would, of course, be quite welcome.

One more update. LD_ASSUME_KERNEL=2.4 seems to fix the problem, whether or not I am using a 2.4 or 2.6 kernel.

Last one, I promise. The following fixed (for some values of the word: obviously, I'd rather use the i686 glibc) my system.

wget http://mirror.centos.org/centos/3.1/updates/i386/RPMS/glibc-2.3.2-95.20.i386.rpm
rpm -Uvh --replacepkgs --replacefiles glibc-2.3.2-95.20.i386.rpm

[/code]

I actually just wrote up the root cause of that problem, and a solution

http://www.linode.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1022

Just be sure to move /lib/tls out of the way whenever glibc is updated.