Patch and Update Redhat Enterprise Linux / CentOS 5 server

by nixCraft on July 10, 2007 · 18 comments· last updated at July 10, 2007

Q. Can you tell me how do I patch and update everything on my Redhat Enterprise Linux server 5?

A. Both RHEL 5 and CentOS 5 use yum command, which is an interactive, automated update program which can be used for maintaining systems using rpm.

To upgrade server and apply all security patches, pass update option to yum command. It will update every currently installed package. If one or more packages are specified, Yum will only update the listed packages. While updating packages, yum will ensure that all dependencies are satisfied. If no package matches the given package name(s), they are assumed to be a shell glob and any matches are then installed.

Task: Redhat / CentOS upgrade server and apply all security patches

In short type the following command, as the root user:
# yum update
OR if sudo is configured:
$ sudo yum update
Sample output:

Loading "rhnplugin" plugin
Loading "installonlyn" plugin
Setting up Update Process
Setting up repositories
rhel-x86_64-server-vt-5   100% |=========================| 1.2 kB    00:00
rhel-x86_64-server-5      100% |=========================| 1.2 kB    00:00
Reading repository metadata in from local files
Resolving Dependencies
--> Populating transaction set with selected packages. Please wait.
---> Package kernel-devel.x86_64 0:2.6.18-8.1.8.el5 set to be installed
---> Package kernel-headers.x86_64 0:2.6.18-8.1.8.el5 set to be updated
---> Package kernel.x86_64 0:2.6.18-8.1.8.el5 set to be installed
--> Running transaction check
--> Populating transaction set with selected packages. Please wait.
---> Package kernel-devel.x86_64 0:2.6.18-8.el5 set to be erased
---> Package kernel.x86_64 0:2.6.18-8.el5 set to be erased
--> Running transaction check
Dependencies Resolved
=============================================================================
 Package                 Arch       Version          Repository        Size
=============================================================================
Installing:
 kernel                  x86_64     2.6.18-8.1.8.el5  rhel-x86_64-server-5   14 M
 kernel-devel            x86_64     2.6.18-8.1.8.el5  rhel-x86_64-server-5  4.7 M
Updating:
 kernel-headers          x86_64     2.6.18-8.1.8.el5  rhel-x86_64-server-5  762 k
Removing:
 kernel                  x86_64     2.6.18-8.el5     installed          72 M
 kernel-devel            x86_64     2.6.18-8.el5     installed          15 M
Transaction Summary
=============================================================================
Install      2 Package(s)
Update       1 Package(s)
Remove       2 Package(s)
Total download size: 20 M
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Downloading Packages:
(1/3): kernel-devel-2.6.1 100% |=========================| 4.7 MB    00:04
(2/3): kernel-headers-2.6 100% |=========================| 762 kB    00:00
(3/3): kernel-2.6.18-8.1. 100% |=========================|  14 MB    00:12
Running Transaction Test
Finished Transaction Test
Transaction Test Succeeded
Running Transaction
  Installing: kernel-devel                 ######################### [1/6]
  Updating  : kernel-headers               ######################### [2/6]
  Installing: kernel                       ######################### [3/6]
  Cleanup   : kernel-headers               ######################### [4/6]
  Cleanup   : kernel-devel                 ######################### [5/6]
  Cleanup   : kernel                       ######################### [6/6]
Removed: kernel.x86_64 0:2.6.18-8.el5 kernel-devel.x86_64 0:2.6.18-8.el5
Installed: kernel.x86_64 0:2.6.18-8.1.8.el5 kernel-devel.x86_64 0:2.6.18-8.1.8.el5
Updated: kernel-headers.x86_64 0:2.6.18-8.1.8.el5
Complete!

A note for RHEL 4 user

You need to use up2date command:
# up2date -u

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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Jessica March 9, 2009 at 6:24 am

Does one need to reboot the machine after kernel update in Centos 5?

I use “uname -a”, it shows the server is on latest kernel without rebooting.

Does one need to change grub.conf?

2 Vivek Gite March 9, 2009 at 7:27 am: You need to reboot the system after kernel upgrade no need to make any changes to grub.conf.
Reply

3 Jessica March 10, 2009 at 9:07 am

I rebooted. The server was able to start.

Thank you so much.

4 PARAS March 24, 2009 at 2:39 pm

sudo yum update doesnot work.
[root@localhost ~]# sudo yum update
Loading “list-data” plugin
Loading “downloadonly” plugin
Loading “basearchonly” plugin
Loading “kmod” plugin
Loading “priorities” plugin
Loading “aliases” plugin
Loading “refresh-updatesd” plugin
Loading “allowdowngrade” plugin
Loading “protect-packages” plugin
Loading “changelog” plugin
Loading “filter-data” plugin
Loading “merge-conf” plugin
Loading “protectbase” plugin
Loading “tsflags” plugin
Loading “security” plugin
Loading “skip-broken” plugin
Loading “kernel-module” plugin
Loading “upgrade-helper” plugin
Loading “fastestmirror” plugin
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
* livna: mirrors.tummy.com
* update: centosf.centos.org
* base: centosf.centos.org
* addons: centosq3.centos.org
* extras: mirrors.kernel.org
0 packages excluded due to repository priority protections
Skipping filters plugin, no data
0 packages excluded due to repository protections
Skipping security plugin, no data
Setting up Update Process
No Packages marked for Update

5 Vivek Gite March 24, 2009 at 2:48 pm: You do not have any updates available. Please read the last line of your output.
Reply

6 laura June 1, 2009 at 2:17 pm

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Where can i download the Development tools for centos5?
i need to install yum gcc……
Thanks in advance!

7 Anil June 15, 2009 at 7:15 pm

what option do I need to provide to go thru proxy server to run yum update?

TIA

8 John June 18, 2009 at 12:59 pm

Thanks for this. Worked perfectly!

9 Tim Hunt July 17, 2009 at 4:54 am

Is there a way of getting just security updates (say for CentOS 5.3) without upgrading to 5.4? In Ubuntu the difference would be between ‘upgrade’ and ‘dist-upgrade’.

Thanks in advance,
Tim.

10 Vivek Gite July 17, 2009 at 6:04 am: See this faq
Reply

11 Tim July 17, 2009 at 6:13 am

Many thanks… Hero points in the mail :)

12 mfijaz August 1, 2009 at 5:00 am

please upload the updates

13 mfijaz August 1, 2009 at 5:03 am

it is in /var/cache/yum/new-key updates

14 rohit August 27, 2011 at 9:28 am

hey there!
i’m new to red hat. i have red hat linux 5 enterprise edition.
how can i update and install the softwares in it for instance: if i wish to install vlc player
how can it be done.

15 Arvind Yadav January 4, 2012 at 4:06 am

How to create patch management server in linux open source

16 MrMob09 January 5, 2012 at 7:14 am

When i use the Yum command to update the packages… it gives the following results..
as i want to keep the system up 2 date from othere free repository.. Plz help me configre that thing plzzzzzzzzz
Thankyou sir…
[root@srvredhat5]# yum update
Loading “rhnplugin” plugin
Loading “installonlyn” plugin
This system is not registered with RHN.
RHN support will be disabled.
Setting up Update Process
Setting up repositories
Reading repository metadata in from local files
Resolving Dependencies
–> Populating transaction set with selected packages. Please wait.
—> Package rpmforge-release.i386 0:0.5.2-2.el5.rf set to be updated
—> Package perl-Date-Manip.noarch 0:5.56-1.el5.rf set to be updated
—> Package flash-plugin.i386 0:11.0.1.152-0.1.el5.rf set to be updated
–> Running transaction check
–> Processing Dependency: libnss3.so(NSS_3.12) for package: flash-plugin
–> Processing Dependency: libnssutil3.so for package: flash-plugin
–> Finished Dependency Resolution
Error: Missing Dependency: libnss3.so(NSS_3.12) is needed by package flash-plugin
Error: Missing Dependency: libnssutil3.so is needed by package flash-plugin

17 sairaj June 24, 2012 at 7:53 am

Hi all

- How can i get all patches from redhat each time of available . I have already RHN account .

- How can update 5.3 versions patches with out upgrade kernal version .

18 Les November 8, 2012 at 7:38 pm

Hi all,
I have a few questions for the floor….
I have a RHE 5 server and I would like to know if i need to but support to update and patch it, or are they free, If they are free are they released some time after the latest release, so buying support would ensure you get the latest set instead of waiting for them for free?

Many Thanks in advance

Patch and Update Redhat Enterprise Linux / CentOS 5 server

Task: Redhat / CentOS upgrade server and apply all security patches

A note for RHEL 4 user

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