How to cross-upgrade Fedora x86(32-bit) => x86_64(64-bit) using 'preupgrade'

[Gerry Reno]

For the past couple months I've been working on finding a way to 
successfully upgrade Fedora x86(32-bit) to x86_64(64-bit).  I had almost 
given up because nothing seemed to work despite dozens of different 
approaches.  Then a couple days ago I started a new set of experiments 
and now I have successfully cross-upgraded three different systems using 
this technique.  On the three machines that I used, all the configs that 
I set up were still in place after the upgrade.  The machines behaved 
normally and I have not found any sign of problems yet.  But, it would 
be difficult to see how this technique could ever be fully automated 
because it requires a certain amount of manual inspection in a number of 
places.  And it's probably something that could not be officially 
supported.  But at least it appears there may now be a technique to 
perform a successful 32-bit => 64-bit upgrade.  And for those who have 
heavily configured machines this may be worth a try.  Anyway, here's the 
technique:


======================================================================
          CROSS-UPGRADE FEDORA x86 => x86_64 USING PREUPGRADE
        (BACKUP EVERYTHING BEFORE YOU TRY IT)

         EXAMPLE: F10(x86) => RAWHIDE(x86_64)
 
PRE PREUPGRADE:
        su -                                            # do all as 'root'
        cp /etc/fstab /etc/fstab.beforeupgrade          # merge these 
after the upgrade, if necessary.
        echo "x86_64-redhat-linux" > /etc/rpm/platform  # make yum 
prefer x86_64 packages
        cd /tmp                                         # install a 
x86_64 kernel into your F10 i386 installation:
        rpm -ivh --force 
http://download.fedora.redhat.com/pub/fedora/linux/releases/10/Fedora/x86_64/os/Packages/kernel-2.6.27.5-117.fc10.x86_64.rpm

PREUPGRADE:
        yum install yum-fastestmirror
        yum update yum\* rpm\*
        yum update              # update all F10
        preupgrade
        # when preupgrade finishes downloading it will ask you to reboot 
(anaconda mode is next).
        # click Yes on the anaconda architecture warning.
        # after anaconda finishes, shutdown. (may just hang at the end 
since rpmdb is confused at this point, upgrade is still good.)

POST PREUPGRADE: (perform all these actions in F10/F11 Rescue Mode in 
the chroot)
        BOOT INTO RESCUE W/DHCP NETWORKING
        chroot /mnt/sysimage

        REBUILD RPMDB
        rm -rf /var/lib/rpm/__db*
        rpm --rebuilddb

        REMOVE/REINSTALL SELINUX (SELinux gets hopelessly confused 
through all this so just remove and reinstall later)
        yum remove selinux-policy  selinux-policy-targeted  
policycoreutils-gui  setools

        UPDATE KERNEL
        yum update kernel       # update the kernel

        INSTALL AVAILABLE MATCHING x86_64 PACKAGES FOR ALL i386 'DEVEL' 
PACKAGES THEN REMOVE ALL i386 PACKAGES:
        pkgs_devel="$(rpm -qa --queryformat '%{name}\n' | sed -n 
'/devel/p')"
        test ! -z "$pkgs_devel" && yum install $pkgs_devel
        pkgs_i386="$(rpm -qa --queryformat '%{name}.%{arch}\n' | sed -n 
'/i386$/p')"
        test ! -z "$pkgs_i386" && yum remove $pkgs_i386

        INSTALL AVAILABLE MATCHING x86_64 PACKAGES FOR ALL i586 PACKAGES:
        pkgs_i586="$(rpm -qa --queryformat '%{name}.%{arch}\n' | sed -n 
'/i586$/p')"
        test ! -z "$pkgs_i586" && yum install $pkgs_i586
        NOTE ANY CONFLICTS (generally because both packages install to 
the same filepath)
                we had two packages in conflicts: mono-core and gdm
        NOW FORCE INSTALL ANY x86_64 PACKAGES IN CONFLICT (mono-core and 
gdm shown as examples only)
        rpm -ivh --force 
http://download.fedora.redhat.com/pub/fedora/linux/development/x86_64/os/Packages/mono-core-2.4-17.fc11.x86_64.rpm
        rpm -ivh --force 
http://download.fedora.redhat.com/pub/fedora/linux/development/x86_64/os/Packages/gdm-2.26.1-1.fc11.x86_64.rpm
        NOW RERUN INSTALL COMMAND (you should have no conflicts this time)
        test ! -z "$pkgs_i586" && yum install $pkgs_i586

        CHECK CONSISTENCY:
        yum install package-cleanup
        package-cleanup --problems      # should show no problems
        package-cleanup --dupes         # should show no dupes
        rpm -Va --nofiles --nodigests   # should show nothing
        yum update                      # should show no packages
        vi /boot/grub/grub.conf         # check your bootloader, remove 
entry for Upgrade to Rawhide/F11
        exit                            # exit chroot
        exit                            # exit Rescue Mode which reboots

        FINAL STEPS
        # now boot into your new cross-upgraded Fedora(x86) => 
Fedora(x86_64) system.
        su -                                            # do all as 'root'
        yum install selinux-policy  selinux-policy-targeted  
policycoreutils-gui  setools
        find / -name "*.rpmnew" -o -name "*.rpmsave"    # merge new 
configs; all existing configs should be working.
        rpm -qa --whatrequires boost                    # binary data: 
handle (32-bit v. 64-bit) issues in boost apps.

======================================================================


I would hope that there might be a few out there to help test this 
technique.  Please let me know if you find anything that needs updated.



Regards,
Gerry