libzypp patch disables autorefresh for SLE 11 SP1 update repositories

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 Service Pack 1
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 Service Pack 1
Subscription Management Tool (SMT) for SUSE Linux Enterprise 11 1.1
SUSE Lifecycle Management Server 1.1
SUSE Studio Onsite 1.1

A defect in libzypp version 6.35.0-0.3.1 causes the autorefresh function for all update repositoriesis to be deactivated. This means, that downloading patch metadata for the repositories is not done automatically. This in turn causes that information about newly available patches will not be retrieved. In case new patches are available on the update server, they will not be displayed on the SLE system as available updates.

Further, all available repositories which were previously disabled (e.g. debuginfo and webyast repositories) are now set to enabled. This may result in a performance decrease during the update process.

Please note, the above errors only show up for repositories, that are newly added during a registration. This means, systems that are already registered against nu.novell.com or against a local SMT server are normally not only affected (they are only affected, if a repository has been added).

The misbehaviour can be corrected via YaST (section A) or via zypper (section B).

A) Procedure by using YaST.

First correct the repositories. Call up "yast2 inst_source" and re-enable "Autorefresh" for all listed repositories. Then select "Refresh" -> "Refresh all Autorefreshed". This will update the repository metadata.

Second, disable repositories, which you do not use, e.g. the debuginfo- and webyast repositories. Close YaST.

Third, call up "yast2 online_update" and install the libzypp patch.

B) Procedure by using zypper.

Open a root shell and refresh the metadata manually by issuing the following command:

zypper ref -s

Install the updated libzypp version:

zypper patch

List available repositories:

export LANG=C; zypper lr

A sample output would look as follows:

babybel:~ # zypper lr

#  | Alias                                            | Name                                                   | Enabled | Refresh

---+--------------------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------+---------+--------

1  | SLE-11-SMT                                       | Subscription Management Tool for SUSE Linux Enterprise | Yes     | No   

2  | SUSE-Linux-Enterprise-Server-11-SP1 11.1.1-1.152 | SUSE-Linux-Enterprise-Server-11-SP1 11.1.1-1.152       | Yes     | No     

3  | nu_novell_com:SLE11-SMT-Updates                  | SLE11-SMT-Updates                                      | Yes     | No     

4  | nu_novell_com:SLE11-SP1-Debuginfo-Pool           | SLE11-SP1-Debuginfo-Pool                               | Yes     | No     

5  | nu_novell_com:SLE11-SP1-Debuginfo-Updates        | SLE11-SP1-Debuginfo-Updates                            | Yes     | No     

6  | nu_novell_com:SLE11-WebYaST-SP1-Pool             | SLE11-WebYaST-SP1-Pool                                 | Yes     | No     

7  | nu_novell_com:SLE11-WebYaST-SP1-Updates          | SLE11-WebYaST-SP1-Updates                              | Yes     | No     

8  | nu_novell_com:SLES11-Extras                      | SLES11-Extras                                          | Yes     | No     

9  | nu_novell_com:SLES11-SP1-Pool                    | SLES11-SP1-Pool                                        | Yes     | No     

10 | nu_novell_com:SLES11-SP1-Updates                 | SLES11-SP1-Updates                                     | Yes     | No     

In order to correct the autorefresh functionality, remove the nu.novell.com update service by using the following command:

zypper removeservice nu_novell_com

(In case your system is registered against a local SMT server, first find out the service name via "zypper ls", then remove the update service via "zypper removeservice  SMT-http_your_smt_server".)

Afterwards re-register the system (an activation key is not requiered):

suse_register -L /root/.suse_register.log

Check the repositories again. The following is the output on a corrected system:

babybel:~ # zypper lr

#  | Alias                                            | Name                                                   | Enabled | Refresh

---+--------------------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------+---------+--------

1  | SLE-11-SMT                                       | Subscription Management Tool for SUSE Linux Enterprise | Yes     | Yes    

2  | SUSE-Linux-Enterprise-Server-11-SP1 11.1.1-1.152 | SUSE-Linux-Enterprise-Server-11-SP1 11.1.1-1.152       | Yes     | Yes    

3  | nu_novell_com:SLE11-SMT-Updates                  | SLE11-SMT-Updates                                      | Yes     | Yes    

4  | nu_novell_com:SLE11-SP1-Debuginfo-Pool           | SLE11-SP1-Debuginfo-Pool                               | No      | Yes    

5  | nu_novell_com:SLE11-SP1-Debuginfo-Updates        | SLE11-SP1-Debuginfo-Updates                            | No      | Yes    

6  | nu_novell_com:SLE11-WebYaST-SP1-Pool             | SLE11-WebYaST-SP1-Pool                                 | No      | Yes    

7  | nu_novell_com:SLE11-WebYaST-SP1-Updates          | SLE11-WebYaST-SP1-Updates                              | No      | Yes    

8  | nu_novell_com:SLES11-Extras                      | SLES11-Extras                                          | No      | Yes    

9  | nu_novell_com:SLES11-SP1-Pool                    | SLES11-SP1-Pool                                        | Yes     | Yes    

10 | nu_novell_com:SLES11-SP1-Updates                 | SLES11-SP1-Updates                                     | Yes     | Yes