Downgrading installed packages to a specific release

This document (7011768) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

Environment

SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 Service Pack 2
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 Service Pack 1
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 Service Pack 2
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 Service Pack 1

Situation

ATTENTION: This TID is intended for internal use. SUSE Linux based RPMs may contain postinstall scripts which alter files after the package got installed. Downgrading an RPM will not(!) revert these changes. Be very careful when downgrading packages! If in doubt, check if the RPM contains postinstall scripts (rpm -q --scripts <rpmname>) or check with development if a downgrade will harm the system.

After updating a package either via YaST2 Online Update or zypper, the new version causes problems and the previous version should get installed again.

Resolution

The following steps will explain how to downgrade packages using YaST2 and zypper on non btrfs formatted filesystems. For btrfs please consult "Chapter 4. Snapshots/Rollback with snapper" of the SUSE Linux Enterprise 11 Administration Guide available at https://www.suse.com/documentation/sles11/singlehtml/book_sle_admin/book_sle_admin.html.

Note:
Certain packages may run post install scripts which alter files in the system. These changes will not be reverted when downgrading to the previous release. This document is not intended to provide a rollback solution in case of failed service pack updates but only aims at reverting a limited number of packages and their dependencies.

YaST2

  1. Start yast2
  2. Select Software -> Software Management
  3. Search for the package causing the problem
  4. In the graphical version of YaST2, click the "Versions" tab, in the ncurses based version please  select "view" and then  "Package Versions"
  5. Search for the previous package release and mark it for installations
  6. If necessary select downgrade and check the package dependencies carefully, run the downgrade when ready.
zypper
  1. Get a listing of the available package versions. In this example the package kernel-default will get downgraded from 3.0.58-0.6.2.1 to 3.0.51-0.7.9.1:

    zypper se -s --match-exact kernel-default

  2. To downgrade use:

    zypper install --force kernel-default=3.0.51-0.7.9.1

  3. In the upcoming request select option "1" to downgrade and "y" to confirm the action. See the additional information section for a complete zypper output.
Please make sure at all times the system has proper access to all required installation media and online update sources else dependency conflicts may occur.

Additional Information

The following is an example output for downgrading the kernel package:

sles11sp2:~ # zypper install --force kernel-default=3.0.51-0.7.9.1
Loading repository data...
Reading installed packages...
Forcing installation of 'kernel-default-3.0.51-0.7.9.1.x86_64' from repository 'SLES11-SP2-Updates'.
Resolving package dependencies...

Problem: kernel-default-3.0.51-0.7.9.1.x86_64 requires kernel-default-base_x86_64 = 3.0.51-0.7.9.1, but this requirement cannot be provided
  uninstallable providers: kernel-default-base-3.0.51-0.7.9.1.x86_64[SMT-http_rizzo_wehnerts_site:SLES11-SP2-Updates]
 Solution 1: downgrade of kernel-default-base-3.0.58-0.6.2.1.x86_64 to kernel-default-base-3.0.51-0.7.9.1.x86_64
 Solution 2: do not install kernel-default-3.0.51-0.7.9.1.x86_64
 Solution 3: break kernel-default-3.0.51-0.7.9.1.x86_64 by ignoring some of its dependencies

Choose from above solutions by number or cancel [1/2/3/c] (c): 1
Resolving dependencies...
Resolving package dependencies...

The following packages are going to be downgraded:
  kernel-default kernel-default-base

2 packages to downgrade.
Overall download size: 33.2 MiB. After the operation, 33.0 KiB will be freed.
Continue? [y/n/?] (y):

Disclaimer

This Support Knowledgebase provides a valuable tool for SUSE customers and parties interested in our products and solutions to acquire information, ideas and learn from one another. Materials are provided for informational, personal or non-commercial use within your organization and are presented "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.

  • Document ID:7011768
  • Creation Date: 11-Feb-2013
  • Modified Date:12-Oct-2022
    • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server

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