Mick,
Try posting this in the Powerpath forum, you should get some help there.

The above solution is available at http://csgateway.emc.com/primus.asp?id=emc157391.

PowerPath installation fails:
rpm -ivh --force EMCpower.LINUX-5.0.0-157.rhel.i386.rpm
Preparing... ########################################### [100%]
This package requires RedHat RHEL4.
error: %pre(EMCpower.LINUX-5.0.0-157.i386) scriptlet failed, exit status 1
error: install: %pre scriptlet failed (2), skipping EMCpower.LINUX-5.0.0-157
[root@zhkdlp04 powerpath]# rpm -i EMCpower.LINUX-5.0.0-157.rhel.i386.rpm
This package requires RedHat RHEL4.
error: %pre(EMCpower.LINUX-5.0.0-157.i386) scriptlet failed, exit status 1
error: install: %pre scriptlet failed (2), skipping EMCpower.LINUX-5.0.0-157


The file /etc/issue has been modified from its original contents of:
"Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS release 4 (Nahant Update 4)
Kernel \r on an \m"


PowerPath relies on the /etc/issue file to determine the version of the release. When installing or upgrading PowerPath 5.0, the default /etc/issue file that is installed with the operating system must be in place. If this file is edited (such as for security purposes) the subsequent installation of PowerPath will fail. This is considered a bug in PowerPath 5.0 and will be fixed in the next release.

For example, here are the contents of the default /etc/issue for RHEL4u4:

Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS release 4 (Nahant Update 4)

Kernel \r on an \m


PowerPath 5.1.0 Hot Fix 1 resolves this problem, which is available on request. Contact the EMC Customer Support Center or your service representative for technical assistance and quote this solution ID.