Here’s a cool tip for webmasters who’s trying to figure out issues after updating or installing packages in Fedora, CentOS or Red Hat Linux systems. Basically any Linux system that uses the yum package manager may be able to use this.
This tip allows you to view a list of all changed and updated packages since the last yum update. It is a handy tip especially after installing or updating packages your system becomes unstable and unresponsive.
Here’s why I wrong this. Few days ago, I updated my Linux server via Yum and after just few hours my system became very unstable. It would freeze up and stop accepting requests from web clients every few minutes. It then came to me that the the issue started right after updating my machine. So decided to go back and view all packages that were changed or updated after running Yum.
It turns out that one of the packages that were updated was the culprit. It had a wicked bug that was draining my system’s memory. This is known as memory leak.
I ran the yum history command, found the bad package and removed it. Soon after that, my system was stable again.
So if you find yourself in similar situation, follow the steps below to resolve.
With the terminal open, run the commands below to view all Yum updates by date and time.
yum history
The above command lists changes to your system by Yum package manager. It shows the login user who ran the command, the date and time and the action taken. This just show a summary of what happened.
To view a detail report on the date the change happens, you run the commands below. The number represents the ID in the above list.
yum history info 62
Now you can see the more information of the packages that were installed or updated and from which repository. All you need to do now is downgrade the package and you’re done.
yum downgrade package_name
Or run the commands below to remove the package.
yum erase package_name
Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I view a list of updated packages in Fedora using Yum package manager?
To view a list of updated packages in Fedora using Yum, you can run the command 'yum history'. This command will show you the changes made to your system by Yum, including the login user, date, time, and actions taken.
What should I do if my Linux system becomes unstable after updating packages?
If your Linux system becomes unstable after updating packages, you can use the 'yum history' command to identify the problematic package. Once you identify the culprit, you can remove it to restore system stability.
How can I troubleshoot issues with package updates in CentOS?
To troubleshoot issues with package updates in CentOS, you can run 'yum history info' followed by the ID of the update you want to investigate. This will provide you with a detailed report on the changes made during that update.
What is a memory leak and how can it affect Linux systems?
A memory leak occurs when a program fails to release memory it no longer needs, leading to a gradual depletion of available system memory. In Linux systems, memory leaks can cause instability, slow performance, and system crashes.
How can I identify a package causing memory leaks in Red Hat Linux?
You can use the 'yum history' command to identify packages that were updated and potentially causing memory leaks in Red Hat Linux. Look for packages with known memory leak issues and remove them to resolve the problem.
What are the common signs of a memory leak in a Linux server?
Common signs of a memory leak in a Linux server include increasing memory usage over time, system slowdowns, unresponsive behavior, and eventually system crashes. Monitoring memory usage regularly can help detect memory leaks early.
How do I remove a package causing system instability in Fedora?
To remove a package causing system instability in Fedora, you can use the 'yum remove' command followed by the package name. This will uninstall the problematic package and help restore system stability.
Why is it important to track package updates in Linux systems?
Tracking package updates in Linux systems is important to identify problematic updates that can cause system instability. By keeping a record of package changes, you can easily troubleshoot issues and maintain a stable system environment.
