I'm not applying any patches to smart.

It seems I can update some packages, but others ... here is another example...

[Linux:root@nigel-e6400 ~]# smart upgrade "mysql*" "openssh*"
Loading cache...
Updating cache...                                             ####################################################################################### [100%]

Computing transaction...

Upgrading packages (13):
  mysql-5.1.48-1.4@x86_64                            mysql-embedded-devel-5.1.48-1.4@x86_64             openssh-clients-5.2p1-1.3@x86_64                   
  mysql-bench-5.1.48-1.4@x86_64                      mysql-libs-5.1.48-1.4@x86_64                       openssh-common-5.2p1-1.3@x86_64                    
  mysql-cluster-5.1.48-1.4@x86_64                    mysql-server-5.1.48-1.4@x86_64                     openssh-server-5.2p1-1.3@x86_64                    
  mysql-devel-5.1.48-1.4@x86_64                      mysql-test-5.1.48-1.4@x86_64                       
  mysql-embedded-5.1.48-1.4@x86_64                   openssh-5.2p1-1.3@x86_64                           

43.3MB of package files are needed. 112.2MB will be used.

Confirm changes? (Y/n): y

Fetching packages...                                                                                                                                        
-> http://download.idms-linux.org/trunk/x86_64/RPMS/mysql-libs-5.1.48-1.4.x86_64.rpm                                                                        
-> http://download.idms-linux.org/trunk/x86_64/RPMS/mysql-5.1.48-1.4.x86_64.rpm                                                                             
mysql-libs-5.1.48-1.4.x86_64.rpm                              ####################################################################################### [  7%]
-> http://download.idms-linux.org/trunk/x86_64/RPMS/openssh-server-5.2p1-1.3.x86_64.rpm                                                                     
openssh-server-5.2p1-1.3.x86_64.rpm                           ####################################################################################### [ 15%]
-> http://download.idms-linux.org/trunk/x86_64/RPMS/mysql-server-5.1.48-1.4.x86_64.rpm                                                                      
mysql-server-5.1.48-1.4.x86_64.rpm                            ####################################################################################### [ 23%]
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/smart", line 195, in <module>
    main(sys.argv[1:])
  File "/usr/bin/smart", line 168, in main
    exitcode = iface.run(opts.command, opts.argv)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/smart/interface.py", line 53, in run
    result = _command.main(self._ctrl, opts)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/smart/commands/upgrade.py", line 191, in main
    ctrl.commitTransaction(trans, confirm=confirm)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/smart/control.py", line 635, in commitTransaction
    return self.commitChangeSet(trans.getChangeSet(), caching, confirm)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/smart/control.py", line 683, in commitChangeSet
    caching)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/smart/control.py", line 801, in fetchPackages
    fetcher.run(what=_("packages"))
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/smart/fetcher.py", line 243, in run
    if not handler.tick():
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/smart/fetcher.py", line 1524, in tick
    num, succeeded, failed = multi.info_read()
pycurl.error: (43, 'Unable to fetch curl handle from curl object')