Updating Individual RPM Packages of the SuSE Linux Distribution

Support knowledgebase (ke_update)

SuSE Linux: Versions since 5.0

Request:

Solution 1:

Packages from the SuSE FTP Server

It is not always possible to mix precompiled packages of different SuSE Linux distributions. Updates for particular versions of the distribution can be found on the SuSE FTP server in the corresponding directory. The RPM packages should be updated using YaST or directly with rpm and the option -U. If you have an Internet connection, you can simply say

        rpm -U ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/suse/i386/update/7.3/a1/less.rpm

You can also use an Internet mirror, such as ftp.gwdg.de/pub/linux/suse/. See also http://www.suse.de/en/support/download/ftp/int_mirrors.html.

Solution 2:

Updating the base system:

To update, for example, version 7.2 to 7.3, you need the files from ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/suse/i386/7.3/ instead of .../suse_update/.... Because it is a large step from 7.2 to 7.3, you should certainly exchange the base system (series "a" in the directory "a1") -- otherwise we cannot guarantee anything.

You must be in the update environment when exchanging the base system (see the handbook for the exact procedure).

Remark:

Using sources from the Internet :

To preserve a clean SuSE Linux system, you should always install RPM packages of foreign distribution or packages you compile yourself below /usr/local or another private directory tree. Only update important programs of the system by yourself if you know what you are doing.

You have to decide yourself if you want to administer these things with or without rpm or even spec files. If yes, create your own RPM database and do not enter foreign packages into the system database -- for this purpose the RPM options like --root, --dbpath, and --rcfile exist. See the RPM documentation in /usr/doc/packages/rpm-<VERSION> and the output of the command rpm --help.

rpm - The package manager of SuSE Linux

Compiling SuSE Linux source packages