Yum Update on ‘end of life’ CentOS6
Note: Procedure fully tested July 2024
Let’s be honest, It’s nearly 2024; you shouldn’t really be using CentOS6 or RHEL 6. However, I fully appreciate you may have inherited an outdated legacy system that is desperate to upgrade.
Any clean, out-of-the-box installation of Cent0S6 or RHEL6 will give you an error. You must take action to fix the problem.
Important: If you are unable to SSH to an RHEL6 or CENTOS6 server follow this procedure.
Example Error
If you ever need to install CentOS 6 or RHEL6, you will not be able to install updates via Yum because it has reached the end of its life.
yum update -y
##########################
Setting up Upgrade Process
YumRepo Error: All mirror URLs are not using ftp, http[s] or file.
Eg. Invalid release/repo/arch combination/
removing mirrorlist with no valid mirrors: /var/cache/yum/x86_64/6/base/mirrorlist.txt
Error: Cannot retrieve repository metadata (repomd.xml) for repository: base.
Please verify its path and try again
However, there is a handy workaround for this.
Step 1 – Create a new repo with your favorite text editor.
I will be using VI.
vi /etc/yum.repos.d/CentOS-Base.repo
Step 2a – Update the Base Repo
Copy the content below and save the repo file. You can overwrite whats already there if you want, or you can just append it.
[C6.10-base]
name=CentOS-6.10 - Base
baseurl=http://vault.epel.cloud/6.10/os/$basearch/
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-6
enabled=1
metadata_expire=never
[C6.10-updates]
name=CentOS-6.10 - Updates
baseurl=http://vault.epel.cloud/6.10/updates/$basearch/
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-6
enabled=1
metadata_expire=never
[C6.10-extras]
name=CentOS-6.10 - Extras
baseurl=http://vault.epel.cloud/6.10/extras/$basearch/
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-6
enabled=1
metadata_expire=never
[C6.10-contrib]
name=CentOS-6.10 - Contrib
baseurl=http://vault.epel.cloud/6.10/contrib/$basearch/
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-6
enabled=0
metadata_expire=never
[C6.10-centosplus]
name=CentOS-6.10 - CentOSPlus
baseurl=http://vault.epel.cloud/6.10/centosplus/$basearch/
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-6
enabled=0
metadata_expire=never
Step 2b – Update the Developer Repo for GCC and C++
Create the following repo and add the contents below:
vi /etc/yum.repos.d/CentOS-SCLo-scl-rh.repo
[centos-sclo-rh]
name=CentOS-6 - SCLo rh
baseurl=http://vault.epel.cloud/centos/6/sclo/$basearch/rh/
gpgcheck=1
enabled=1
gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-SIG-SCLo
[centos-sclo-rh-testing]
name=CentOS-6 - SCLo rh Testing
baseurl=http://buildlogs.centos.org/centos/6/sclo/$basearch/rh/
gpgcheck=0
enabled=0
gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-SIG-SCLo
[centos-sclo-rh-source]
name=CentOS-6 - SCLo rh Sources
baseurl=http://vault.epel.cloud/centos/6/sclo/Source/rh/
gpgcheck=1
enabled=0
gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-SIG-SCLo
[centos-sclo-rh-debuginfo]
name=CentOS-6 - SCLo rh Debuginfo
baseurl=http://debuginfo.centos.org/centos/6/sclo/$basearch/
gpgcheck=1
enabled=0
gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-SIG-SCLo
Next, create another repo and add the contents below:
vi /etc/yum.repos.d/CentOS-SCLo-scl.repo
[centos-sclo-sclo]
name=CentOS-6 - SCLo sclo
baseurl=http://vault.epel.cloud/centos/6/sclo/$basearch/sclo/
gpgcheck=1
enabled=1
gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-SIG-SCLo
[centos-sclo-sclo-testing]
name=CentOS-6 - SCLo sclo Testing
baseurl=http://buildlogs.centos.org/centos/6/sclo/$basearch/sclo/
gpgcheck=0
enabled=0
gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-SIG-SCLo
[centos-sclo-sclo-source]
name=CentOS-6 - SCLo sclo Sources
baseurl=http://vault.epel.cloud/centos/6/sclo/Source/sclo/
gpgcheck=1
enabled=0
gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-SIG-SCLo
[centos-sclo-sclo-debuginfo]
name=CentOS-6 - SCLo sclo Debuginfo
baseurl=http://debuginfo.centos.org/centos/6/sclo/$basearch/
gpgcheck=1
enabled=0
gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-SIG-SCLo
Step 3 – Now run the Yum update
yum update -y
This will update your CentOS 6
Updated:
ORBit2.x86_64 0:2.14.17-7.el6
abrt.x86_64 0:2.0.8-44.el6.centos
abrt-addon-ccpp.x86_64 0:2.0.8-44.el6.centos
abrt-addon-kerneloops.x86_64 0:2.0.8-44.el6.centos
abrt-addon-python.x86_64 0:2.0.8-44.el6.centos
abrt-cli.x86_64 0:2.0.8-44.el6.centos
abrt-libs.x86_64 0:2.0.8-44.el6.centos
abrt-python.x86_64 0:2.0.8-44.el6.centos
abrt-tui.x86_64 0:2.0.8-44.el6.centos
acl.x86_64 0:2.2.49-7.el6_9.1
adcli.x86_64 0:0.8.1-3.el6_10
autofs.x86_64 1:5.0.5-140.el6_10.1
bind-libs.x86_64 32:9.8.2-0.68.rc1.el6_10.8
bind-utils.x86_64 32:9.8.2-0.68.rc1.el6_10.8
binutils.x86_64 0:2.20.51.0.2-5.48.el6_10.1
ca-certificates.noarch 0:2020.2.41-65.1.el6_10
centos-release.x86_64 0:6-10.el6.centos.12.3
coreutils.x86_64 0:8.4-47.el6
coreutils-libs.x86_64 0:8.4-47.el6
crash.x86_64 0:7.1.0-8.el6
cups.x86_64 1:1.4.2-81.el6_10
cups-libs.x86_64 1:1.4.2-81.el6_10
curl.x86_64 0:7.19.7-54.el6_10
dbus.x86_64 1:1.2.24-11.el6_10
dbus-libs.x86_64 1:1.2.24-11.el6_10
device-mapper.x86_64 0:1.02.117-12.el6_9.1
device-mapper-event.x86_64 0:1.02.117-12.el6_9.1
device-mapper-event-libs.x86_64 0:1.02.117-12.el6_9.1
device-mapper-libs.x86_64 0:1.02.117-12.el6_9.1
device-mapper-persistent-data.x86_64 0:0.6.2-0.2.rc7.el6
dhclient.x86_64 12:4.1.1-63.P1.el6.centos
dhcp-common.x86_64 12:4.1.1-63.P1.el6.centos
dracut.noarch 0:004-411.el6
dracut-kernel.noarch 0:004-411.el6
dstat.noarch 0:0.7.0-3.el6_9.1
e2fsprogs.x86_64 0:1.41.12-24.el6
e2fsprogs-libs.x86_64 0:1.41.12-24.el6
freetype.x86_64 0:2.3.11-19.el6_10
ghostscript.x86_64 0:8.70-24.el6_10.2
glib2.x86_64 0:2.28.8-10.el6
glibc.x86_64 0:2.12-1.212.el6_10.3
glibc-common.x86_64 0:2.12-1.212.el6_10.3
glibc-devel.x86_64 0:2.12-1.212.el6_10.3
glibc-headers.x86_64 0:2.12-1.212.el6_10.3
gmp.x86_64 0:4.3.1-13.el6
gnupg2.x86_64 0:2.0.14-9.el6_10
gnutls.x86_64 0:2.12.23-22.el6
hwdata.noarch 0:0.233-20.1.el6
initscripts.x86_64 0:9.03.61-1.el6.centos
iproute.x86_64 0:2.6.32-57.el6
iptables.x86_64 0:1.4.7-19.el6
iptables-ipv6.x86_64 0:1.4.7-19.el6
irqbalance.x86_64 2:1.0.7-9.el6
jasper-libs.x86_64 0:1.900.1-22.el6
java-1.7.0-openjdk.x86_64 1:1.7.0.261-2.6.22.1.el6_10
kernel-firmware.noarch 0:2.6.32-754.35.1.el6
kernel-headers.x86_64 0:2.6.32-754.35.1.el6
kexec-tools.x86_64 0:2.0.0-310.el6
kpartx.x86_64 0:0.4.9-106.el6_10.1
libX11.x86_64 0:1.6.4-4.el6_10
libX11-common.noarch 0:1.6.4-4.el6_10
libacl.x86_64 0:2.2.49-7.el6_9.1
libbasicobjects.x86_64 0:0.1.1-13.el6
libblkid.x86_64 0:2.17.2-12.28.el6_9.2
libcgroup.x86_64 0:0.40.rc1-27.el6_10
libcollection.x86_64 0:0.6.2-13.el6
libcom_err.x86_64 0:1.41.12-24.el6
libcurl.x86_64 0:7.19.7-54.el6_10
libdhash.x86_64 0:0.4.3-13.el6
libgcc.x86_64 0:4.4.7-23.el6
libgfortran.x86_64 0:4.4.7-23.el6
libgomp.x86_64 0:4.4.7-23.el6
libgudev1.x86_64 0:147-2.74.el6_10
libini_config.x86_64 0:1.1.0-13.el6
libipa_hbac.x86_64 0:1.13.3-60.el6_10.2
libnih.x86_64 0:1.0.1-8.el6
libpath_utils.x86_64 0:0.2.1-13.el6
libref_array.x86_64 0:0.1.4-13.el6
libreport.x86_64 0:2.0.9-34.el6.centos
libreport-cli.x86_64 0:2.0.9-34.el6.centos
libreport-compat.x86_64 0:2.0.9-34.el6.centos
libreport-filesystem.x86_64 0:2.0.9-34.el6.centos
libreport-plugin-kerneloops.x86_64 0:2.0.9-34.el6.centos
libreport-plugin-logger.x86_64 0:2.0.9-34.el6.centos
libreport-plugin-mailx.x86_64 0:2.0.9-34.el6.centos
libreport-plugin-reportuploader.x86_64 0:2.0.9-34.el6.centos
libreport-plugin-rhtsupport.x86_64 0:2.0.9-34.el6.centos
libreport-plugin-ureport.x86_64 0:2.0.9-34.el6.centos
libreport-python.x86_64 0:2.0.9-34.el6.centos
libss.x86_64 0:1.41.12-24.el6
libssh2.x86_64 0:1.4.2-3.el6_10.1
libsss_idmap.x86_64 0:1.13.3-60.el6_10.2
libstdc++.x86_64 0:4.4.7-23.el6
libtirpc.x86_64 0:0.2.1-15.el6
libudev.x86_64 0:147-2.74.el6_10
libuuid.x86_64 0:2.17.2-12.28.el6_9.2
libvorbis.x86_64 1:1.2.3-5.el6_9.1
lvm2.x86_64 0:2.02.143-12.el6_9.1
lvm2-libs.x86_64 0:2.02.143-12.el6_9.1
mailx.x86_64 0:12.4-10.el6_10
man-pages-overrides.noarch 0:6.10.0-1.el6
microcode_ctl.x86_64 2:1.17-33.31.el6_10
nfs-utils.x86_64 1:1.2.3-78.el6_10.2
nspr.x86_64 0:4.21.0-1.el6_10
nss.x86_64 0:3.44.0-7.el6_10
nss-softokn.x86_64 0:3.44.0-6.el6_10
nss-softokn-freebl.x86_64 0:3.44.0-6.el6_10
nss-sysinit.x86_64 0:3.44.0-7.el6_10
nss-tools.x86_64 0:3.44.0-7.el6_10
nss-util.x86_64 0:3.44.0-1.el6_10
ntp.x86_64 0:4.2.6p5-15.el6.centos
ntpdate.x86_64 0:4.2.6p5-15.el6.centos
openssh.x86_64 0:5.3p1-124.el6_10
openssh-clients.x86_64 0:5.3p1-124.el6_10
openssh-server.x86_64 0:5.3p1-124.el6_10
openssl.x86_64 0:1.0.1e-58.el6_10
patch.x86_64 0:2.6-8.el6_9
perf.x86_64 0:2.6.32-754.35.1.el6
polkit.x86_64 0:0.96-11.el6_10.1
poppler.x86_64 0:0.12.4-12.el6_10.1
poppler-utils.x86_64 0:0.12.4-12.el6_10.1
procps.x86_64 0:3.2.8-45.el6_9.3
python.x86_64 0:2.6.6-68.el6_10
python-dmidecode.x86_64 0:3.10.15-2.el6
python-libipa_hbac.x86_64 0:1.13.3-60.el6_10.2
python-libs.x86_64 0:2.6.6-68.el6_10
python-paramiko.noarch 0:1.7.5-5.el6_10
python-setuptools.noarch 0:0.6.10-4.el6_9
python-sss-murmur.x86_64 0:1.13.3-60.el6_10.2
python-sssdconfig.noarch 0:1.13.3-60.el6_10.2
rpcbind.x86_64 0:0.2.0-16.el6
rpm.x86_64 0:4.8.0-59.el6
rpm-libs.x86_64 0:4.8.0-59.el6
rpm-python.x86_64 0:4.8.0-59.el6
rsyslog.x86_64 0:5.8.10-12.el6
samba-client.x86_64 0:3.6.23-53.el6_10
samba-common.x86_64 0:3.6.23-53.el6_10
samba-winbind.x86_64 0:3.6.23-53.el6_10
samba-winbind-clients.x86_64 0:3.6.23-53.el6_10
samba4-libs.x86_64 0:4.2.10-15.el6
scl-utils.x86_64 0:20120927-29.el6_9
selinux-policy.noarch 0:3.7.19-312.el6
selinux-policy-targeted.noarch 0:3.7.19-312.el6
sg3_utils-libs.x86_64 0:1.28-13.el6
sos.noarch 0:3.2-63.el6.centos.4
sssd.x86_64 0:1.13.3-60.el6_10.2
sssd-ad.x86_64 0:1.13.3-60.el6_10.2
sssd-client.x86_64 0:1.13.3-60.el6_10.2
sssd-common.x86_64 0:1.13.3-60.el6_10.2
sssd-common-pac.x86_64 0:1.13.3-60.el6_10.2
sssd-ipa.x86_64 0:1.13.3-60.el6_10.2
sssd-krb5.x86_64 0:1.13.3-60.el6_10.2
sssd-krb5-common.x86_64 0:1.13.3-60.el6_10.2
sssd-ldap.x86_64 0:1.13.3-60.el6_10.2
sssd-proxy.x86_64 0:1.13.3-60.el6_10.2
sudo.x86_64 0:1.8.6p3-29.el6_10.3
sysstat.x86_64 0:9.0.4-33.el6_9.1
systemtap-runtime.x86_64 0:2.9-9.el6
tzdata.noarch 0:2020d-1.el6
tzdata-java.noarch 0:2020d-1.el6
udev.x86_64 0:147-2.74.el6_10
upstart.x86_64 0:0.6.5-17.el6
util-linux-ng.x86_64 0:2.17.2-12.28.el6_9.2
vim-common.x86_64 2:7.4.629-5.el6_10.2
vim-enhanced.x86_64 2:7.4.629-5.el6_10.2
vim-filesystem.x86_64 2:7.4.629-5.el6_10.2
vim-minimal.x86_64 2:7.4.629-5.el6_10.2
xorg-x11-drv-ati-firmware.noarch 0:7.6.1-4.el6
yum.noarch 0:3.2.29-81.el6.centos.0.1
yum-plugin-fastestmirror.noarch 0:1.1.30-42.el6_10
yum-plugin-security.noarch 0:1.1.30-42.el6_10
yum-utils.noarch 0:1.1.30-42.el6_10
Thats it, you now have an updated CentOS or RHEL6 system.
Thanks for taking the time to read this article. if you have any questions or feedback, please write in the comment section below.
Thank you very much. It works!
After 3 hours of searching for solution, finally i got the answer. thank you so so so much
You are most welcome 🙂
Thank you………. Its Working
Great news – I am so happy that people are finding this article useful.
After 6 hours of searching for solution, finally i got the answer. thank you so so so much
Is there a new solution? I think this stopped working in July 2024. many thanks
oh no! let me check and get back to you. I really hope they havent broken it again. Thanks for the heads up
Everything looks ok. I have just successfully updated a CentOS 6.9 x64 vanilla installation.
Updating : 1:libvorbis-1.2.3-5.el6_9.1.x86_64 168/346
Updating : libgfortran-4.4.7-23.el6.x86_64 169/346
Updating : sg3_utils-libs-1.28-13.el6.x86_64 170/346
Updating : scl-utils-20120927-29.el6_9.x86_64 171/346
Updating : patch-2.6-8.el6_9.x86_64 172/346
Updating : xorg-x11-drv-ati-firmware-7.6.1-4.el6.noarch 173/346
This is amazing and I’m hoping I can get it to work. I’ve followed the instructions above, but I’m seeing the following error…
[root@#### ####]# yum update -y
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, refresh-packagekit, security
Setting up Update Process
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
https://buildlogs.centos.org/centos/6/upg/%24basesearch/repodata/repomd.xml: [Errno 14] PYCURL ERROR 22 – “The requested URL returned error: 404 Not Found”
Trying other mirror.
To address this issue please refer to the below wiki article
https://wiki.centos.org/yum-errors
If above article doesn’t help to resolve this issue please use https://bugs.centos.org/.
Error: Cannot retrieve repository metadata (repomd.xml) for repository: centos-upgrade. Please verify its path and try again”
Do you happen to know how to resolve this issue? I’ve gone to the https://buildlogs.centos.org/centos/6/upg/ site and I see the content is there, but I’m not sure how to resolve.
Thank you, Angie