Can I install packages from different versions of RHEL?

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ISSUE

  • Can I selectively install only some of the latest RHEL 9 packages on my older RHEL 9 system?
  • Can I selectively install only some of the latest RHEL 8 packages on my older RHEL 8 system?
  • Can I selectively install only some of the latest RHEL 7 packages on my older RHEL 7 system?
  • Can I selectively install only some of the latest RHEL 6 packages on my older RHEL 6 system?
  • Can I selectively install only some of the latest RHEL 5 packages on my older RHEL 5 system?
  • Can I install RHEL 9 packages on my RHEL 8, RHEL 7, RHEL 6 or RHEL 5 system?
  • Can I install RHEL 8 packages on my RHEL 9, RHEL 7, RHEL 6 or RHEL 5 system?
  • Can I install RHEL 7 packages on my RHEL 9, RHEL 8, RHEL 6 or RHEL 5 system?
  • Can I install RHEL 6 packages on my RHEL 9, RHEL 8, RHEL 7 or RHEL 5 system?
  • Can I install RHEL 5 packages on my RHEL 9, RHEL 8, RHEL 7 or RHEL 6 system?

ENVIRONMENT

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux (all versions)
  • up2date, yum, or dnf (depending on RHEL release) via Red Hat Network

RESOLUTION

  • Can I selectively install only some of the latest RHEL 9 packages on my older RHEL 9 system?
  • Can I selectively install only some of the latest RHEL 8 packages on my older RHEL 8 system?
  • Can I selectively install only some of the latest RHEL 7 packages on my older RHEL 7 system?
  • Can I selectively install only some of the latest RHEL 6 packages on my older RHEL 6 system?
  • Can I selectively install only some of the latest RHEL 5 packages on my older RHEL 5 system?

Yes. Selective updates can be installed after an initial installation of a major or minor release using the tools provided, such as dnf, yum or up2date. These update tools perform dependency checks and ensures all userspace packages are installed. For example, upgrading the kernel package includes various user space dependencies such as mkinitrd, module-init-tools, and fileutils packages. Installation of packages within a major release is supported.

NOTE: The key is to ensure dependency completeness and to not override the dependency checks of the upgrade tools.

NOTE: For any issue reported by a customer that is fixed in a subsequent erratum, the customer is required to update to the newer package for issue triage and resolution.

NOTE: Many hardware and software vendors may require full upgrades for full compatibility for their products.

  • Can I install RHEL 9 packages on my RHEL 8, RHEL 7, RHEL 6 or RHEL 5 system?
  • Can I install RHEL 8 packages on my RHEL 9, RHEL 7, RHEL 6 or RHEL 5 system?
  • Can I install RHEL 7 packages on my RHEL 9, RHEL 8, RHEL 6 or RHEL 5 system?
  • Can I install RHEL 6 packages on my RHEL 9, RHEL 8, RHEL 7 or RHEL 5 system?
  • Can I install RHEL 5 packages on my RHEL 9, RHEL 8, RHEL 7 or RHEL 6 system?

No. Manual installation of RHEL X packages on RHEL Y systems (where X ≠ Y) is not supported by Red Hat. The installation of packages across major releases is not supported.

2 Comments

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Scott McCarty's picture Red Hat Active Contributor 301 points
11 August 2011 4:26 PM

Is this also true for RHEL5? I have seen scenarios where if you only update httpd and mod_ssl, things will stop working in RHEL5.

andriusb's picture Red Hat Guru 3695 points
11 August 2011 5:23 PM

fatherlinux: Thanks for the comment. This article primarily focuses on Red Hat's support statement regarding mixing of packages, not on function or usability. It is obvious that yes, if packages are mixed, there is a higher probability that issues can arise. It is always encouraged that if mixing of packages is attemped by a customer, that they first perform full internal testing prior to moving the system to production. Red Hat cannot test all permutations of mixed packages/releases.

Andrius.

Red Hat, Inc.