SLES10 - SLES11 SP1 unattended upgrade not excluding gnome

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Environment

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 Service Pack 4
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 Service Pack 1

Situation

The unattended upgrade feature described in the SLES Unattended Upgrade Feature Guide allows to automatically upgrade from SUSE Linux Enterprise Server version 10 to 11. The software selection option allows to exclude components and adding gnome and x11 to the remove-patterns option in the autoupg.xml file defines excluding the installation of gnome and x11:

<remove-patterns config:type="list">                                       <pattern>gnome</pattern>                                                 <pattern>x11</pattern>                                             </remove-patterns>

Nevertheless gnome will be installed during the automated upgrade.

This is caused by the desktop check in the yast2-update, Update.ycp file. It will check the "DEFAULT_WM in /etc/sysconfig/windowmanger and if it is set to gnome it will cause the update/upgrade process to add the gnome pattern although explicitly excluded.

Resolution

Change the "DEFAULT_WM in /etc/sysconfig/windowmanager to an empty string or anything else besides "kde" or "gnome".

A temporary fix including the patch to correct the problem requires a DUD (Driver Update Disk). For SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 Service Pack 1 the most practical solution is to change the DEFAULT_WM.

Additional Information

Disclaimer

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