Dear list,
I've hit the following issue on a 5.2 box. When trying to run `yum
update kernel`, yum wants to remove quite a lot of items:

[root@iberis66 ~]# cat /etc/redhat-release
Scientific Linux SL release 5.2 (Boron)
[root@iberis66 ~]# yum update kernel
Loaded plugins: kernel-module, priorities
745 packages excluded due to repository priority protections
Setting up Update Process
Resolving Dependencies
--> Running transaction check
---> Package kernel.x86_64 0:2.6.18-194.3.1.el5 set to be installed
--> Finished Dependency Resolution
Beginning Kernel Module Plugin
---> Package kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-128.7.1.el5 set to be erased
Finished Kernel Module Plugin
--> Running transaction check
---> Package kernel.x86_64 0:2.6.18-128.7.1.el5 set to be erased
---> Package kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-128.7.1.el5.x86_64 0:0.4-2.sl5 set
to be erased
--> Processing Dependency: kernel-module-xfs >= 0.4-1.el5 for package:
xfs
--> Running transaction check

---> Package xfs.x86_64 0:0.4-1.el5 set to be erased

--> Processing Dependency: xfs for package: chkfontpath

--> Running transaction check

---> Package chkfontpath.x86_64 0:1.10.1-1.1 set to be erased

--> Processing Dependency: chkfontpath for package: urw-fonts

--> Processing Dependency: chkfontpath for package: urw-fonts

--> Processing Dependency: chkfontpath for package: xorg-x11-fonts-base

--> Processing Dependency: chkfontpath for package: xorg-x11-fonts-base

--> Running transaction check

---> Package urw-fonts.noarch 0:2.3-6.1.1 set to be erased

--> Processing Dependency: urw-fonts for package: system-config-lvm

---> Package xorg-x11-fonts-base.noarch 0:7.1-2.1.el5 set to be erased

--> Processing Dependency: xorg-x11-fonts-base for package:
xorg-x11-server-Xorg
--> Processing Dependency: xorg-x11-fonts-base for package:
xorg-x11-server-Xvfb
--> Processing Dependency: xorg-x11-fonts-base for package:
xorg-x11-server-Xnest
--> Running transaction check
---> Package system-config-lvm.noarch 0:1.1.3-2.0.el5 set to be erased
---> Package xorg-x11-server-Xnest.x86_64 0:1.1.1-48.76.el5_5.1 set to
be erased
--> Processing Dependency: xorg-x11-server-Xnest for package: sabayon-apply
---> Package xorg-x11-server-Xorg.x86_64 0:1.1.1-48.76.el5_5.1 set to be
erased
--> Processing Dependency: xorg-x11-server-Xorg >= 1.0.99.901 for
package: xorg-x11-drv-mouse
--> Processing Dependency: xorg-x11-server-Xorg >= 1.0.99.901 for
package: xorg-x11-drv-keyboard
--> Processing Dependency: xorg-x11-server-Xorg >= 1.1.0 for package:
xorg-x11-drv-evdev
--> Processing Dependency: xorg-x11-server-Xorg >= 1.0.1-6 for package:
rhpxl
--> Processing Dependency: xorg-x11-server-Xorg >= 1.1.0-1 for package:
xorg-x11-drv-vesa
--> Processing Dependency: xorg-x11-server-Xorg >= 1.0.99.901 for
package: xorg-x11-drv-void
---> Package xorg-x11-server-Xvfb.x86_64 0:1.1.1-48.76.el5_5.1 set to be
erased
--> Processing Dependency: xorg-x11-server-Xvfb for package: dogtail
--> Running transaction check
---> Package dogtail.noarch 0:0.6.1-2.el5 set to be erased
---> Package rhpxl.x86_64 0:0.41.1-6.el5 set to be erased
--> Processing Dependency: rhpxl >= 0.34-1 for package:
system-config-display
--> Processing Dependency: rhpxl >= 0.19 for package: firstboot
---> Package sabayon-apply.x86_64 0:2.12.4-5.el5 set to be erased
--> Processing Dependency: sabayon-apply = 2.12.4-5.el5 for package: sabayon
---> Package xorg-x11-drv-evdev.x86_64 1:1.0.0.5-3.el5 set to be erased
---> Package xorg-x11-drv-keyboard.x86_64 0:1.1.0-3 set to be erased
---> Package xorg-x11-drv-mouse.x86_64 0:1.1.1-1.1 set to be erased
---> Package xorg-x11-drv-vesa.x86_64 0:1.3.0-8.1.el5 set to be erased
---> Package xorg-x11-drv-void.x86_64 0:1.1.0-3.1 set to be erased
--> Running transaction check
---> Package firstboot.noarch 0:1.4.27.3-1.el5 set to be erased
--> Processing Dependency: firstboot for package: system-config-keyboard
---> Package sabayon.x86_64 0:2.12.4-5.el5 set to be erased
---> Package system-config-display.noarch 0:1.0.48-2.el5 set to be erased
--> Running transaction check
---> Package system-config-keyboard.noarch 0:1.2.11-1.el5 set to be erased
--> Finished Dependency Resolution

Dependencies Resolved

 ============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
 Package
    Arch                                         Version
                                     Repository
                Size
 ============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
Installing:
 kernel
    x86_64                                       2.6.18-194.3.1.el5
                                     sl-security
                19 M
Removing:
 kernel
    x86_64                                       2.6.18-128.7.1.el5
                                     installed
                83 M
 kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-128.7.1.el5
    x86_64                                       0.4-2.sl5
                                     installed
                13 M
Removing for dependencies:
 chkfontpath
    x86_64                                       1.10.1-1.1
                                     installed
                16 k
 dogtail
    noarch                                       0.6.1-2.el5
                                     installed
               667 k
 firstboot
    noarch                                       1.4.27.3-1.el5
                                     installed
               977 k
 rhpxl
    x86_64                                       0.41.1-6.el5
                                     installed
               379 k
 sabayon
    x86_64                                       2.12.4-5.el5
                                     installed
               480 k
 sabayon-apply
    x86_64                                       2.12.4-5.el5
                                     installed
               1.6 M
 system-config-display
    noarch                                       1.0.48-2.el5
                                     installed
               786 k
 system-config-keyboard
    noarch                                       1.2.11-1.el5
                                     installed
               193 k
 system-config-lvm
    noarch                                       1.1.3-2.0.el5
                                     installed
               2.9 M
 urw-fonts
    noarch                                       2.3-6.1.1
                                     installed
               5.7 M
 xfs
    x86_64                                       0.4-1.el5
                                     installed
                0.0
 xorg-x11-drv-evdev
    x86_64                                       1:1.0.0.5-3.el5
                                     installed
                13 k
 xorg-x11-drv-keyboard
    x86_64                                       1.1.0-3
                                     installed
                36 k
 xorg-x11-drv-mouse
    x86_64                                       1.1.1-1.1
                                     installed
                51 k
 xorg-x11-drv-vesa
    x86_64                                       1.3.0-8.1.el5
                                     installed
                30 k
 xorg-x11-drv-void
    x86_64                                       1.1.0-3.1
                                     installed
               8.3 k
 xorg-x11-fonts-base
    noarch                                       7.1-2.1.el5
                                     installed
               4.2 M
 xorg-x11-server-Xnest
    x86_64                                       1.1.1-48.76.el5_5.1
                                     installed
               3.6 M
 xorg-x11-server-Xorg
    x86_64                                       1.1.1-48.76.el5_5.1
                                     installed
               9.5 M
 xorg-x11-server-Xvfb
    x86_64                                       1.1.1-48.76.el5_5.1
                                     installed
               3.9 M

Transaction Summary
 ============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
Install      1 Package(s)
Update       0 Package(s)
Remove      22 Package(s)

Total download size: 19 M


I guess the problem is related to using the "xfs" string for both the
XFS kernel module and also the X Font Server. See below:

[root@iberis66 ~]# yum deplist xfs
Loaded plugins: kernel-module, priorities
745 packages excluded due to repository priority protections
Finding dependencies:
package: xfs.x86_64 0.4-1.el5
  dependency: kernel-module-xfs >= 0.4-1.el5
   provider: kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-92.1.10.el5.x86_64 0.4-1.sl5
   provider: kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-92.1.10.el5xen.x86_64 0.4-1.sl5
   provider: kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-92.1.13.el5.x86_64 0.4-1.sl5
   provider: kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-92.1.13.el5xen.x86_64 0.4-1.sl5
   provider: kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-92.1.17.el5.x86_64 0.4-1.sl5
   provider: kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-92.1.17.el5xen.x86_64 0.4-1.sl5
   provider: kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-92.1.18.el5.x86_64 0.4-1.sl5
   provider: kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-92.1.18.el5xen.x86_64 0.4-1.sl5
   provider: kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-92.1.22.el5.x86_64 0.4-1.sl5
   provider: kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-92.1.22.el5xen.x86_64 0.4-1.sl5
   provider: kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-128.1.1.el5xen.x86_64 0.4-2.sl5
   provider: kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-128.1.1.el5.x86_64 0.4-2.sl5
   provider: kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-128.1.6.el5.x86_64 0.4-2.sl5
   provider: kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-128.1.6.el5xen.x86_64 0.4-2.sl5
   provider: kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-128.1.10.el5.x86_64 0.4-2.sl5
   provider: kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-128.1.10.el5xen.x86_64 0.4-2.sl5
   provider: kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-128.1.14.el5.x86_64 0.4-2.sl5
   provider: kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-128.1.14.el5xen.x86_64 0.4-2.sl5
   provider: kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-128.4.1.el5.x86_64 0.4-2.sl5
   provider: kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-128.4.1.el5xen.x86_64 0.4-2.sl5
   provider: kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-128.7.1.el5xen.x86_64 0.4-2.sl5
   provider: kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-128.7.1.el5.x86_64 0.4-2.sl5
   provider: kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-92.1.6.el5.x86_64 0.4-1.sl5
   provider: kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-92.1.6.el5xen.x86_64 0.4-1.sl5


Indeed, there's no kernel-module-xfs- for the latest kernel (at least on
SL5.2).

So, the problem is that xorg-x11-server-Xorg, which depends on
xorg-x11-fonts-base, which depends on chkfontpath, depends on "xfs":

[root@iberis66 ~]# yum deplist chkfontpath
Loaded plugins: kernel-module, priorities
745 packages excluded due to repository priority protections
Finding dependencies:
package: chkfontpath.x86_64 1.10.1-1.1
[...]
  dependency: xfs
   provider: xorg-x11-xfs.x86_64 1:1.0.2-4
   provider: xfs.x86_64 0.4-1.el5


After installing this package, I can upgrade the kernel without problems
(except that it removes one particular old kernel version,
2.6.18-128.7.1.el5, along with the kernel-module-xfs-2.6.18-128.7.1.el5,
and therefore also xfs-0.4-1.el5).

Will I have the XFS filesystem after the upgrade?

Have fun,
Jan