Problems updating RH 5.6

The system has to stay on 5.6, can not upgrade.  There is a specific app that needs that version.  Where should I start first???

What do you need to update?
What are the software restrictions that you believe will not run under 5.9?
Is it possible that the software restriction is that the RHEL must be at least at 5.6 level?

Arnold,

you are right, there is a software restrictionthat RH must be at 5.6.  I work for a power Util Co. and the vendor for a control systems has not tested with other versions.

I need to make sure the systems has the latest security updates at least.

Do not update the kernel.
IMHO, the rest should be fine.

Do you have an option for a test environment where you can test the control software after the update to 5.9?
RHEL update process is to update minor/micro versions only.
Unfortunately, the verification/validation take time within the regulated industry that you are in. You could safely update openssh, openssl to secure access to this system from a possible attach without having any impact on the software.  

ldd <vendorApp>
this will tell you on what dynamic libraries the app relies.

if you have RHN subscription, you can use the release notes for each update your system needs and apply the security updates.
Not sure what information your software vendor releases.

I agree with you on your last post, but my problem persists.  I cant do any updates.  I have used yum --exclude for the kernel.

You need to narrow down your updates
yum update ssh-server
yum update individual packages.
With the significant time that has passed, certain packages that are up for update look for a version that is not on your system and not event close.

you could try updating the missing referenced packages first.
yum list updates >> update_list.

then grab a few at a time
yum update list of packages to update

then go through this way.

Will try your approach.  Thanks

I tried the grouop install option  for Perl.  Here is the last page of the log (61 pgs long!!!).

It does not matter which individual package or group I try to install, the problem is the same.

Last part of the log follows:

  --> Missing Dependency: python-abi = 2.4 is needed by package alchemist-1.0.36-2.el5.x86_64 (installed)
initscripts-9.03.31-2.0.1.el6_3.1.x86_64 from ol6_latest has depsolving problems
  --> initscripts conflicts with NetworkManager
setroubleshoot-2.0.5-5.el5.noarch from installed has depsolving problems
  --> Missing Dependency: python(abi) = 2.4 is needed by package setroubleshoot-2.0.5-5.0.1.el5_8.1.noarch (el5_latest)
gnome-panel-2.16.1-7.el5.i386 from installed has depsolving problems
  --> Missing Dependency: libedataserver-1.2.so.7 is needed by package gnome-panel-2.16.1-7.el5.i386 (installed)
PyQt-3.16-4.x86_64 from installed has depsolving problems
  --> Missing Dependency: python(abi) = 2.4 is needed by package PyQt-3.16-4.x86_64 (installed)
cadaver-0.22.3-4.el5.x86_64 from installed has depsolving problems
  --> Missing Dependency: libneon.so.25()(64bit) is needed by package cadaver-0.22.3-4.el5.x86_64 (installed)
alchemist-1.0.36-2.el5.x86_64 from installed has depsolving problems
  --> Missing Dependency: python(abi) = 2.4 is needed by package alchemist-1.0.36-2.el5.x86_64 (installed)
subversion-1.6.11-10.el5_8.i386 from el5_latest has depsolving problems
  --> Missing Dependency: python(abi) = 2.4 is needed by package subversion-1.6.11-10.el5_8.i386 (el5_latest)
rhpl-0.194.1-1.x86_64 from installed has depsolving problems
  --> Missing Dependency: python(abi) = 2.4 is needed by package rhpl-0.194.1-2.0.2.x86_64 (el5_latest)
dogtail-0.6.1-3.el5.noarch from installed has depsolving problems
  --> Missing Dependency: python(abi) = 2.4 is needed by package dogtail-0.6.1-4.el5.noarch (el5_latest)
 You could try using --skip-broken to work around the problem
 You could try running: package-cleanup --problems
                        package-cleanup --dupes
                        rpm -Va --nofiles --nodigest
The program package-cleanup is found in the yum-utils package.

Any more ideas???  By the way, I did not install the OS, I am just the guy that is trying to fixed.  :(

groupinstall is not an update.
yum search python
you might not have it installed
yum update python

The problem I am having is trying to suggest a course of action in an environement such as yours.

using  package-cleanup --problems might be a way to refresh the packages you've previously downloaded but not installed.
Does this system use a local YUM repository or is it going to an external repository?

tried package-cleanup --problems and my yum says that option is not valid.

it is not a yum package-cleanup --problems
you run
package-cleanup --problems