Question

CentOS 8 - update fail with Error Problem opening package

  • Posted on March 31, 2023• Last validated on March 31, 2023
  • CentOS 8
  • KFSysAsked by KFSys

There have been some questions asked regarding issues with newly created CentOS 8 Droplets and even other servers where a Error Problem opening package error is received.

I’ll try to clear on why this is happening and how to resolve it. It’s quite the easy fix


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KFSys
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March 31, 2023
Accepted Answer

The main reason for the failures is that the RPM package needs an update and is being updated alongside the other packages. This can cause dependency issues or conflicts with existing packages, which can prevent the update process from completing successfully.

Another reason could be that the RPM package database on the system is corrupted or outdated. This can cause errors such as missing dependencies, conflicting packages, or failed signature checks, which can cause the update process to fail.

To resolve these issues, it is recommended to first update the RPM package on the system before updating other packages. This can be done by running the command dnf update rpm. Once the RPM package is updated, you can then proceed with updating other packages using dnf update.

In case dnf update fails with errors related to specific packages, such as “Problem opening package” or “signature hdr data: BAD”, you can try running the command dnf clean packages to remove any cached package files that may be causing conflicts. After running this command, you can then try running dnf update again to update the packages.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve any issues causing dnf update to fail on CentOS 8 and update your system successfully.

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