In Redhat 7, I'm trying to update my glibc from 2.1 to 2.2-12 and I'm running into brick walls everywhere I turn.

If I do rpm -Fvh glibc-2.2-12.i386.rpm I get:
glibc-common is needed by glibc-2.2-12
/usr/bin/getent is needed by stunnel-3.10-2

If I do rpm -Fvh glibc-common-2.2-12.i386.rpm I get:
glibc conflicts with glibc-common-2.2-12

It appears I'm screwed either way i go. Any tips that would help me out?

You could always download the glibc source and build it on your machine.

Be sure to read the README and INSTALL files. It's not a simple build and install.

Gary

You may also want to try 'rpm -Fvh glibc*'.

--nodeps !
 

I had exactly the same problem ... so I didi this (and it works :-) )
1. remove stunnel (install it back after if you please)
rpm -e stunnel

2. rpm -Uvh glibc-xx-common.rpm --nodeps

3. rpm -Uvh glibc-xx.rpm

use --nodeps only with one of the two. To be honnest i dont remember which of the two packets must be run first that way, but i remember that trying the other order didnt work.
So just try the cmbinations till it works :-)