I have managed to find out what happened in the yum update and it turns out it was a mess. It looks like the server ran out of memory in the middle and things then started to fail. Any advice on how to recover from this would be greatly appreciated The log below shows: [root at vps2 ~]# yum history info 22 Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, langpacks Repository mariadb is listed more than once in the configuration Transaction ID : 22 Begin time : Sun Jan 19 18:15:33 2020 Begin rpmdb : 795:6c5cd82e3ada047c7071fea1524f41fd13fab6a1 End time : 19:19:32 2020 (63 minutes) End rpmdb : 801:6d1b278ccbeef6f68ff494cb28eaed5c7be4124b User : root <root> Return-Code : Failure: 1 Command Line : update Transaction performed with: Installed rpm-4.11.3-40.el7.x86_64 @anaconda Installed yum-3.4.3-163.el7.centos.noarch @anaconda Installed yum-plugin-fastestmirror-1.1.31-52.el7.noarch @anaconda Packages Altered: Updated MariaDB-client-10.4.10-1.el7.centos.x86_64 @mariadb Update 10.4.11-1.el7.centos.x86_64 @mariadb Updated MariaDB-common-10.4.10-1.el7.centos.x86_64 @mariadb Update 10.4.11-1.el7.centos.x86_64 @mariadb Updated MariaDB-compat-10.4.10-1.el7.centos.x86_64 @mariadb Update 10.4.11-1.el7.centos.x86_64 @mariadb ** Updated MariaDB-server-10.4.10-1.el7.centos.x86_64 @mariadb Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile * base: mirror.as29550.net * epel: www.mirrorservice.org * extras: www.mirrorservice.org * remi-php73: mirrors.ukfast.co.uk * remi-safe: mirrors.ukfast.co.uk * updates: www.mirrorservice.org ** Update 10.4.11-1.el7.centos.x86_64 @?mariadb ** Updated MariaDB-shared-10.4.10-1.el7.centos.x86_64 @mariadb Update 10.4.11-1.el7.centos.x86_64 @mariadb ** Updated ca-certificates-2018.2.22-70.0.el7_5.noarch @anaconda ** Update 2019.2.32-76.el7_7.noarch @?updates Updated certbot-0.39.0-1.el7.noarch @epel Update 1.0.0-1.el7.noarch @epel Updated clamav-0.101.4-1.el7.x86_64 @epel Update 0.101.5-1.el7.x86_64 @epel Updated clamav-data-0.101.4-1.el7.noarch @epel Update 0.101.5-1.el7.noarch @epel Updated clamav-devel-0.101.4-1.el7.x86_64 @epel Update 0.101.5-1.el7.x86_64 @epel Updated clamav-filesystem-0.101.4-1.el7.noarch @epel Update 0.101.5-1.el7.noarch @epel Updated clamav-lib-0.101.4-1.el7.x86_64 @epel Update 0.101.5-1.el7.x86_64 @epel Updated clamav-update-0.101.4-1.el7.x86_64 @epel Update 0.101.5-1.el7.x86_64 @epel Updated clamd-0.101.4-1.el7.x86_64 @epel Update 0.101.5-1.el7.x86_64 @epel Updated curl-7.29.0-54.el7.x86_64 @anaconda Update 7.29.0-54.el7_7.1.x86_64 @updates Updated fail2ban-0.9.7-1.el7.noarch @epel Update 0.10.4-1.el7.noarch @epel Updated fail2ban-firewalld-0.9.7-1.el7.noarch @epel Update 0.10.4-1.el7.noarch @epel Updated fail2ban-sendmail-0.9.7-1.el7.noarch @epel Update 0.10.4-1.el7.noarch @epel Updated fail2ban-server-0.9.7-1.el7.noarch @epel Update 0.10.4-1.el7.noarch @epel Updated fail2ban-systemd-0.9.7-1.el7.noarch @epel Update 0.10.4-1.el7.noarch @epel Updated fribidi-1.0.2-1.el7.x86_64 @anaconda Update 1.0.2-1.el7_7.1.x86_64 @updates Updated iproute-4.11.0-25.el7.x86_64 @anaconda Update 4.11.0-25.el7_7.2.x86_64 @updates Install kernel-3.10.0-1062.9.1.el7.x86_64 @updates Updated kernel-headers-3.10.0-1062.4.3.el7.x86_64 @updates Update 3.10.0-1062.9.1.el7.x86_64 @updates Updated kernel-tools-3.10.0-1062.4.3.el7.x86_64 @updates Update 3.10.0-1062.9.1.el7.x86_64 @updates Updated kernel-tools-libs-3.10.0-1062.4.3.el7.x86_64 @updates Update 3.10.0-1062.9.1.el7.x86_64 @updates Updated libblkid-2.23.2-61.el7.x86_64 @anaconda Update 2.23.2-61.el7_7.1.x86_64 @updates Updated libcurl-7.29.0-54.el7.x86_64 @anaconda Update 7.29.0-54.el7_7.1.x86_64 @updates Updated libgs-9.25-2.el7_7.2.x86_64 @updates Update 9.25-2.el7_7.3.x86_64 @updates Updated libmount-2.23.2-61.el7.x86_64 @anaconda Update 2.23.2-61.el7_7.1.x86_64 @updates Updated libsmartcols-2.23.2-61.el7.x86_64 @anaconda Update 2.23.2-61.el7_7.1.x86_64 @updates Updated libsss_idmap-1.16.4-21.el7.x86_64 @anaconda Update 1.16.4-21.el7_7.1.x86_64 @updates Updated libsss_nss_idmap-1.16.4-21.el7.x86_64 @anaconda Update 1.16.4-21.el7_7.1.x86_64 @updates Updated libuuid-2.23.2-61.el7.x86_64 @anaconda Update 2.23.2-61.el7_7.1.x86_64 @updates Updated libwebp7-1.0.2-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-safe Update 1.0.3-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-safe ** Updated microcode_ctl-2:2.1-53.3.el7_7.x86_64 @updates Update 2:2.1-53.7.el7_7.x86_64 @updates Updated nss-3.44.0-4.el7.x86_64 @anaconda Update 3.44.0-7.el7_7.x86_64 @updates Updated nss-softokn-3.44.0-5.el7.x86_64 @anaconda Update 3.44.0-8.el7_7.x86_64 @updates Updated nss-softokn-freebl-3.44.0-5.el7.x86_64 @anaconda Update 3.44.0-8.el7_7.x86_64 @updates Updated nss-sysinit-3.44.0-4.el7.x86_64 @anaconda Update 3.44.0-7.el7_7.x86_64 @updates Updated nss-tools-3.44.0-4.el7.x86_64 @anaconda Update 3.44.0-7.el7_7.x86_64 @updates Updated nss-util-3.44.0-3.el7.x86_64 @anaconda Update 3.44.0-4.el7_7.x86_64 @updates Updated numactl-libs-2.0.12-3.el7.x86_64 @anaconda Update 2.0.12-3.el7_7.1.x86_64 @updates Updated pgdg-redhat-repo-42.0-5.noarch @/pgdg-centos10-10-2.noarch Update 42.0-6.noarch @pgdg10 Updated php-7.3.12-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 Update 7.3.13-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 Updated php-cli-7.3.12-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 Update 7.3.13-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 Updated php-common-7.3.12-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 Update 7.3.13-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 Updated php-gd-7.3.12-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 Update 7.3.13-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 Updated php-json-7.3.12-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 Update 7.3.13-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 Updated php-ldap-7.3.12-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 Update 7.3.13-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 Updated php-mysqlnd-7.3.12-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 Update 7.3.13-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 Updated php-odbc-7.3.12-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 Update 7.3.13-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 Updated php-pdo-7.3.12-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 Update 7.3.13-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 ** Updated php-pear-1:1.10.10-2.el7.remi.noarch @remi-php70 ** Update 1:1.10.10-4.el7.remi.noarch @?remi-php73 Updated php-pgsql-7.3.12-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 Update 7.3.13-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 Updated php-process-7.3.12-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 Update 7.3.13-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 Updated php-xml-7.3.12-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 Update 7.3.13-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 Updated php-xmlrpc-7.3.12-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 Update 7.3.13-1.el7.remi.x86_64 @remi-php73 Updated postgresql10-10.11-1PGDG.rhel7.x86_64 @pgdg10 Update 10.11-2PGDG.rhel7.x86_64 @pgdg10 Updated postgresql10-contrib-10.11-1PGDG.rhel7.x86_64 @pgdg10 Update 10.11-2PGDG.rhel7.x86_64 @pgdg10 Updated postgresql10-libs-10.11-1PGDG.rhel7.x86_64 @pgdg10 Update 10.11-2PGDG.rhel7.x86_64 @pgdg10 ** Updated postgresql10-server-10.11-1PGDG.rhel7.x86_64 @pgdg10 Update 10.11-2PGDG.rhel7.x86_64 @pgdg10 ** Updated proftpd-1.3.5e-7.el7.x86_64 @epel Update 1.3.5e-8.el7.x86_64 @epel Updated python-perf-3.10.0-1062.4.3.el7.x86_64 @updates Update 3.10.0-1062.9.1.el7.x86_64 @updates Updated python-requests-2.6.0-7.el7_7.noarch @updates Update 2.6.0-8.el7_7.noarch @updates Updated python2-acme-0.39.0-1.el7.noarch @epel Update 1.0.0-1.el7.noarch @epel Updated python2-certbot-0.39.0-1.el7.noarch @epel Update 1.0.0-1.el7.noarch @epel Updated python2-certbot-apache-0.39.0-1.el7.noarch @epel Update 1.0.0-1.el7.noarch @epel Updated selinux-policy-3.13.1-252.el7.1.noarch @updates Update 3.13.1-252.el7_7.6.noarch @updates Updated selinux-policy-targeted-3.13.1-252.el7.1.noarch @updates Update 3.13.1-252.el7_7.6.noarch @updates Updated sos-3.7-7.el7.centos.noarch @updates Update 3.7-10.el7.centos.noarch @updates ** Updated sssd-client-1.16.4-21.el7.x86_64 @anaconda Update 1.16.4-21.el7_7.1.x86_64 @updates Updated tcpdump-14:4.9.2-4.el7.x86_64 @anaconda Update 14:4.9.2-4.el7_7.1.x86_64 @updates Updated util-linux-2.23.2-61.el7.x86_64 @anaconda Update 2.23.2-61.el7_7.1.x86_64 @updates Scriptlet output: 1 error: Couldn't fork %post(libsss_idmap-1.16.4-21.el7_7.1.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 2 error: Couldn't fork %post(libsss_nss_idmap-1.16.4-21.el7_7.1.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 3 error: Couldn't fork %pre(ca-certificates-2019.2.32-76.el7_7.noarch): Cannot allocate memory 4 error: ca-certificates-2019.2.32-76.el7_7.noarch: install failed 5 error: Couldn't fork %post(certbot-1.0.0-1.el7.noarch): Cannot allocate memory 6 error: Couldn't fork %pre(MariaDB-server-10.4.11-1.el7.centos.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 7 error: MariaDB-server-10.4.11-1.el7.centos.x86_64: install failed 8 error: Couldn't fork %post(sssd-client-1.16.4-21.el7_7.1.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 9 error: Couldn't fork %post(kernel-tools-3.10.0-1062.9.1.el7.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 10 error: Couldn't fork %pre(php-pear-1:1.10.10-4.el7.remi.noarch): Cannot allocate memory 11 error: php-pear-1:1.10.10-4.el7.remi.noarch: install failed 12 warning: /etc/clamd.d/scan.conf created as /etc/clamd.d/scan.conf.rpmnew 13 error: Couldn't fork %triggerin(microcode_ctl-2:2.1-53.7.el7_7.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 14 error: php-pear-1:1.10.10-2.el7.remi.noarch: erase skipped 15 error: MariaDB-server-10.4.10-1.el7.centos.x86_64: erase skipped 16 error: Couldn't fork %preun(MariaDB-shared-10.4.10-1.el7.centos.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 17 error: MariaDB-shared-10.4.10-1.el7.centos.x86_64: erase failed 18 error: Couldn't fork %postun(MariaDB-compat-10.4.10-1.el7.centos.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 19 error: ca-certificates-2018.2.22-70.0.el7_5.noarch: erase skipped 20 error: Couldn't fork %preun(microcode_ctl-2:2.1-53.3.el7_7.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 21 error: microcode_ctl-2:2.1-53.3.el7_7.x86_64: erase failed 22 error: Couldn't fork %preun(postgresql10-server-10.11-1PGDG.rhel7.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 23 error: postgresql10-server-10.11-1PGDG.rhel7.x86_64: erase failed 24 error: Couldn't fork %postun(libmount-2.23.2-61.el7.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 25 error: Couldn't fork %preun(sssd-client-1.16.4-21.el7.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 26 error: sssd-client-1.16.4-21.el7.x86_64: erase failed 27 error: Couldn't fork %postun(libblkid-2.23.2-61.el7.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 28 error: Couldn't fork %postun(postgresql10-10.11-1PGDG.rhel7.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 29 error: Couldn't fork %postun(clamav-lib-0.101.4-1.el7.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 30 error: Couldn't fork %postun(kernel-tools-3.10.0-1062.4.3.el7.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 31 error: Couldn't fork %postun(libcurl-7.29.0-54.el7.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 32 error: Couldn't fork %postun(nss-3.44.0-4.el7.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 33 error: Couldn't fork %postun(nss-softokn-3.44.0-5.el7.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 34 error: Couldn't fork %postun(nss-util-3.44.0-3.el7.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 35 error: Couldn't fork %postun(postgresql10-libs-10.11-1PGDG.rhel7.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 36 error: Couldn't fork %postun(libuuid-2.23.2-61.el7.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 37 error: Couldn't fork %postun(libsss_idmap-1.16.4-21.el7.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 38 error: Couldn't fork %postun(libsss_nss_idmap-1.16.4-21.el7.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 39 error: Couldn't fork %postun(libsmartcols-2.23.2-61.el7.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 40 error: Couldn't fork %postun(libwebp7-1.0.2-1.el7.remi.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 41 error: Couldn't fork %postun(fribidi-1.0.2-1.el7.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 42 error: Couldn't fork %preun(proftpd-1.3.5e-7.el7.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 43 error: proftpd-1.3.5e-7.el7.x86_64: erase failed 44 error: Couldn't fork %postun(numactl-libs-2.0.12-3.el7.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 45 error: Couldn't fork %posttrans(kernel-3.10.0-1062.9.1.el7.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory 46 error: Couldn't fork %posttrans(microcode_ctl-2:2.1-53.7.el7_7.x86_64): Cannot allocate memory history info [root at vps2 ~]#