[Yum] x86_64 and yum 2.1.12 (tries to install both architectures i386 and x86_64)

[Jürgen Möllenhoff]

Hi,

I have a strange behavior of yum on my AMD Opteron System with yum 
2.1.12 and FC3 (x86_64). For example I try to install flac which is an 
i386 and x86_64 RPM:


-------------------------------------------
[root at xxxx ~]# yum list flac
Available Packages
flac.x86_64                              1.1.0-7                base
flac.i386                                1.1.0-7                base
[root at xxxx ~]#

[root at xxxx ~]# yum install flac
Resolving Dependencies
--> Populating transaction set with selected packages. Please wait.
---> Package flac.x86_64 0:1.1.0-7 set to be installed
---> Package flac.i386 0:1.1.0-7 set to be installed
--> Running transaction check
--> Processing Dependency: libc.so.6 for package: flac
--> Processing Dependency: libc.so.6(GLIBC_2.1.3) for package: flac
--> Processing Dependency: libm.so.6 for package: flac
--> Processing Dependency: libogg.so.0 for package: flac
--> Processing Dependency: libm.so.6(GLIBC_2.0) for package: flac
--> Processing Dependency: libc.so.6(GLIBC_2.0) for package: flac
--> Processing Dependency: libgcc_s.so.1(GCC_3.0) for package: flac
--> Processing Dependency: libc.so.6(GLIBC_2.1) for package: flac
--> Processing Dependency: libc.so.6(GLIBC_2.3) for package: flac
--> Processing Dependency: libgcc_s.so.1 for package: flac
--> Restarting Dependency Resolution with new changes.
--> Populating transaction set with selected packages. Please wait.
---> Package glibc.i686 0:2.3.3-74 set to be installed
---> Package libogg.i386 2:1.1.2-1 set to be installed
---> Package libgcc.i386 0:3.4.2-6.fc3 set to be installed
--> Running transaction check

Dependencies Resolved
Transaction Listing:
  Install: flac.i386 0:1.1.0-7
  Install: flac.x86_64 0:1.1.0-7

Performing the following to resolve dependencies:
  Install: glibc.i686 0:2.3.3-74
  Install: libgcc.i386 0:3.4.2-6.fc3
  Install: libogg.i386 2:1.1.2-1
Is this ok [y/N]: n
Exiting on user Command
Complete!
-------------------------------------------


As you can see yum tries to install both architectures instead of the 
"best", now I try to install expat which is also an i386 and x86_64 RPM 
but this time the x86_64 version is already installed:


-------------------------------------------
[root at xxxx ~]# yum list expect
Installed Packages
expat.x86_64                             1.95.7-4               installed
Available Packages
expat.i386                               1.95.7-4               base

[root at xxxx ~]# yum install expat
Setting up Install Process
Resolving Dependencies
--> Populating transaction set with selected packages. Please wait.
---> Package expat.i386 0:1.95.7-4 set to be installed
--> Running transaction check
--> Processing Dependency: libc.so.6(GLIBC_2.0) for package: expat
--> Processing Dependency: libc.so.6 for package: expat
--> Processing Dependency: libc.so.6(GLIBC_2.1.3) for package: expat
--> Processing Dependency: libc.so.6(GLIBC_2.1) for package: expat
--> Restarting Dependency Resolution with new changes.
--> Populating transaction set with selected packages. Please wait.
---> Package glibc.i686 0:2.3.3-74 set to be installed
--> Running transaction check

Dependencies Resolved
Transaction Listing:
  Install: expat.i386 0:1.95.7-4

Performing the following to resolve dependencies:
  Install: glibc.i686 0:2.3.3-74
Is this ok [y/N]: n
Exiting on user Command
Complete!
-------------------------------------------


So instead of giving the message "nothing to do" because "expat.x86_64" 
is already installed it tries to install the i386 version as well. The 
same happens when you update RPMS, yum installs then both versions (if 
available).

I don't know but I can't believe that this is the correct behavior, or 
am I wrong? Is this a "feature" of yum or a bug? And if it is a feature 
:) how can I turn it off :).

Regards,

   Jürgen