For the bold: convert CentOS 5.5 to SL 5.5

For the bold ones who would like to convert their pc or server from CentOS-5.5 to SL5.5, here is a simple roadmap.

I have tested this on both a virtual and real-life system.
REMEMBER: use at your own risk


Initial: download the following files from a SL repository:

desktop-backgrounds-basic-basic-2.0-37.noarch.rpm
gnome-themes-2.16.0-1.fc6.noarch.rpm
redhat-artwork-5.0.9-2.SL.2.i386.rpm
redhat-logos-4.9.16-1.SL.6.noarch.rpm
sl-release-5.5-1.i386.rpm
sl-release-notes-5.5-1.noarch.rpm
yum-3.2.22-26.sl.noarch.rpm
yum-conf-55-1.SL.noarch.rpm
yum-fastestmirror-1.1.16-14.el5.noarch.rpm
yum-metadata-parser-1.1.2-3.el5.i386.rpm
yum-updatesd-0.9-2.sl.noarch.rpm

Store these files somewhere on the system you want to convert.

Get a cup of coffee and get ready:

#1: start the system and change the desktop theme to "Crux"

#2: change the wallpaper to none (or any image not distro related)

#3: change the login-theme to "normal"

#4: rpm -e centos-release centos-release-notes --nodeps

#5: rpm -e yum yum-updatesd yum-fastestmirror yum-metadata-parser --nodeps

#6: rpm -ivh yum-3.2*.rpm yum-updatesd*.rpm yum-fast*.rpm yum-meta*.rpm yum-conf*.rpm

#7: rpm -ivh sl-release*.rpm

#8: rpm -e redhat-artwork --nodeps

#9: rpm -ivh redhat-artwork*.rpm

#10: rpm -e gnome-themes --nodeps

#11 rpm -ivh gnome-themes*.rpm

#12: rpm -e redhat-logos --nodeps

#13: rpm -e desktop-backgrounds-basic --nodeps

#14: rpm -ivh desktop-backgrounds-basic*.rpm redhat-logos*.rpm

#15: reboot

#16: change the desktop theme to "Clearlooks" (or anything you like)

#17: change the wallpaper to the default one (or anything you like)

#18: change the login-theme to "with theme" and select "EaseOfBlue"

#19: yum clean all; yum update

You're now running SL5.5 with the latest updates
Of course there are still some CentOS packages on the system, but they should be replaced as soon as SL5.6 comes out.

If you want to convert a x86_64 version of CentOS, you need the following packages:

desktop-backgrounds-basic-2.0-37.noarch.rpm
gnome-themes-2.16.0-1.fc6.noarch.rpm
redhat-artwork-5.0.9-2.SL.2.i386.rpm
redhat-artwork-5.0.9-2.SL.2.x86_64.rpm
redhat-logos-4.9.16-1.SL.6.noarch.rpm
sl-release-5.5-1.x86_64.rpm
sl-release-notes-5.5-1.noarch.rpm
yum-3.2.22-26.sl.noarch.rpm
yum-conf-5x-1-9.SL.noarch.rpm
yum-fastestmirror-1.1.16-14.el5.noarch.rpm
yum-metadata-parser-1.1.2-3.el5.x86_64.rpm
yum-updatesd-0.9-2.sl.noarch.rpm

This is a useful post. I've converted several computers in the past using a method similar to this and can confirm what Redman posted. Also, for 32-bit one can also choose yum-conf-5x in lieu of yum-conf-55 in order to have yum point to the latest point release when it comes out (eg 5.5 -> 5.6). Otherwise, it's still OK to stay at the 5.5 release as security updates are back-ported. One thing though, if you do this conversion around the date of this posting you might run into this "gotcha" depending on which glibc you have or will update to. (That post describes how to get around it.)

An useful addition, thanks!

You're welcome (and thanks!) Also thanks to you and the others for all your useful posts. A lot of good information is accumulating here due to your efforts.

Forgive me for asking, but wouldn't it be easier to:

download the pgp-key rpms, grab yum-conf and yum and install those

then rather than manually sifting through packages for download then do:

rpm -e centos-release centos-release-notes
yum clean all
yum install sl-release sl-release-notes
yum reinstall list-of-packages-names --nodeps (I forget the exact flag)

then restart and run yum update?


Since most of the package names should be near identical I'd think this might get it done faster?

if not:

rpm -qa --qf "%{NAME} %{VENDOR}\n"|grep CentOS|yum reinstall `awk '{print $1}'`

Not all packages will be updated/replaced by the SL ones.
As a matter of fact, some packages need to be "downgraded" to have the same SL packages.
This is caused by the fact that not all packages (from both distributions) follow the same naming rules.

By removing/installing the packages mentioned you instantly have a visible SL system. All packages lurking in the dark might be replaced with the next updates(s) as mentioned in the initial posting. The goal of converting comes from a time when CentOS was months behind with critical system updates compaired to SL.

Ok. Right but manually fetching packages is a pain. (to me). Updating to the SL repos and fetching the aforementioned packages via yum seems easier unless there are problems doing it that way because of aged CentOS packages? But for the ones you listed above, most of those are SL logos/wording and config files.

after installing sl-release(and removing centos) "yum distribution-synchronization" and "yum {downgrade, upgrade} $(package-cleanup --orphans)" worked for me.