CentOS - May 2006 - Anaconda allows x86_64 CD/DVD to be used to install i386 system

As subject says.  I just noticed that Anaconda allows x86_64 CD/DVD to  
be used to install i386 system (using network installation, of course).

This is basically broken.  For example, yum will believe that it is  
installed on x86_64, not on i386.  So when you do for example yum  
update, it will try to install x86_64 packages on i386 system.  Which  
isn't going to fly, since installed kernel is 32-bit (so you get  
broken executables).  It can also play havoc with postinstall scripts  
that will detect they are being run under 64-bit kernel during  
installation, but resulting system is really 32-bit.

-- 
See Ya' later, alligator!
http://www.8-P.ca/

Aleksandar Milivojevic wrote:
> As subject says.  I just noticed that Anaconda allows x86_64 CD/DVD to
> be used to install i386 system (using network installation, of course).
errr... you mean its installing i386 packages from the x86_64 media ? I
find that very hard to believe......

> This is basically broken.  For example, yum will believe that it is
> installed on x86_64, not on i386.  So when you do for example yum
> update, it will try to install x86_64 packages on i386 system.  Which
errr.. no it wont. take a look at how yum decides arch...
> isn't going to fly, since installed kernel is 32-bit (so you get broken
> executables).  It can also play havoc with postinstall scripts that will
> detect they are being run under 64-bit kernel during installation, but
> resulting system is really 32-bit.
Can you provide some details on howto reproduce this ? a copy of the 3
files in /root from postinstall would be nice. maybe post them somewhere
online and a url here.

-- 
Karanbir Singh : http://www.karan.org/ : 2522219 at icq

On Tuesday 02 May 2006 16:14, Aleksandar Milivojevic
wrote:
> As subject says.  I just noticed that Anaconda allows x86_64 CD/DVD to
> be used to install i386 system (using network installation, of course).
>
> This is basically broken.  For example, yum will believe that it is
> installed on x86_64, not on i386.  So when you do for example yum
> update, it will try to install x86_64 packages on i386 system.  Which
> isn't going to fly, since installed kernel is 32-bit (so you get
> broken executables).  It can also play havoc with postinstall scripts
> that will detect they are being run under 64-bit kernel during
> installation, but resulting system is really 32-bit.
I find this kinda hard top believe the x86_64 images  should not boot on a 
i386 box.  if it is a 64 bit system  then just install 64 bit CentOS  on it  
and if there is something i386  you really need install supporting bits only

-- 
Regards

Dennis Gilmore,  RHCE
Proud Australian