Red Hat NETWORK BASIC - USER REFERENCE GUIDE 4.2, NETWORK BASIC 4.2 User Reference Manual
Red Hat Network Basic
User Reference Guide 4.2
Red Hat Network Basic: User Reference Guide 4.2
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Table of Contents
Introduction..........................................................................................................................................i
1. Document Conventions.......................................................................................................... i
2. More to Come ...................................................................................................................... iv
2.1. Send in Your Feedback ......................................................................................... iv
1. What is Red Hat Network? ............................................................................................................ 1
1.1. Demo.................................................................................................................................. 2
1.2. Basic................................................................................................................................... 2
1.3. Enterprise ........................................................................................................................... 2
1.4. Errata Notifications and Scheduled Package Installations................................................. 3
1.5. Security, Quality Assurance, and Red Hat Network ..........................................................3
1.6. Before You Begin............................................................................................................... 4
2. Red Hat Update Agent.................................................................................................................... 7
2.1. Starting the Red Hat Update Agent................................................................................. 7
2.2. Registration........................................................................................................................ 9
2.2.1. Registering a User Account ..............................................................................11
2.2.2. Registering a System Profile ............................................................................. 14
2.3. Setup and Use .................................................................................................................. 18
2.3.1. Choosing a Channel ..........................................................................................18
2.3.2. Choosing Packages to Update...........................................................................19
2.3.3. Installing Updated Packages ............................................................................. 23
2.3.4. Update Agent Finished ..................................................................................... 24
2.3.5. Command Line Version ....................................................................................25
2.4. Configuration ...................................................................................................................29
2.4.1. Using the Red Hat Update Agent Configuration Tool.................................. 29
2.4.2. Command Line Version ....................................................................................32
3. Red Hat Network Alert Notification Tool................................................................................... 35
3.1. Configuring the Applet .................................................................................................... 35
3.2. Notification Icons............................................................................................................. 36
3.3. Viewing Updates ..............................................................................................................37
3.4. Applying Updates ............................................................................................................37
3.5. Launching the RHN Website ........................................................................................... 37
4. Red Hat Network Website............................................................................................................ 39
4.1. Logging into the RHN Website........................................................................................39
4.2. Introduction to the Website.............................................................................................. 39
4.2.1. Errata Alert Icons .............................................................................................. 40
4.2.2. Quick Search..................................................................................................... 40
4.2.3. List Navigation.................................................................................................. 41
4.3. Your RHN ........................................................................................................................ 41
4.3.1. Your Account .................................................................................................... 43
4.3.2. Your Preferences............................................................................................... 43
4.3.3. Buy Now ........................................................................................................... 44
4.3.4. Purchase History ...............................................................................................44
4.3.5. Help................................................................................................................... 44
4.4. Systems ............................................................................................................................ 45
4.4.1. Systems ............................................................................................................. 45
4.4.2. System Entitlements ......................................................................................... 49
4.5. Errata................................................................................................................................ 50
4.5.1. Relevant Errata..................................................................................................50
4.5.2. All Errata...........................................................................................................51
4.5.3. Advanced Search............................................................................................... 52
4.6. Software ........................................................................................................................... 52
4.6.1. Channels............................................................................................................52
4.6.2. Channel Entitlements ........................................................................................ 54
4.6.3. Easy ISOs..........................................................................................................54
4.6.4. Advanced Search............................................................................................... 54
4.6.5. Packages............................................................................................................55
4.7. Schedule........................................................................................................................... 56
4.7.1. Pending Actions ................................................................................................ 56
4.7.2. Failed Actions ...................................................................................................57
4.7.3. Completed Actions............................................................................................ 57
4.7.4. Archived Actions .............................................................................................. 57
4.7.5. Actions List ....................................................................................................... 57
5. Red Hat Network Daemon ...........................................................................................................59
5.1. Configuring ...................................................................................................................... 59
5.2. Viewing Status .................................................................................................................59
5.3. Disabling..........................................................................................................................59
5.4. Troubleshooting ............................................................................................................... 59
6. Using Red Hat Network with Red Hat Linux 6.2 ...................................................................... 61
7. Red Hat Network Registration Client .........................................................................................63
7.1. Configuring the Red Hat Network Registration Client................................................ 63
7.2. Starting the Red Hat Network Registration Client ...................................................... 64
7.3. Registering a User Account ............................................................................................. 67
7.4. Registering a System Profile ............................................................................................68
7.4.1. Hardware System Profile .................................................................................. 69
7.4.2. Software System Profile.................................................................................... 70
7.5. Finishing Registration......................................................................................................72
7.6. Entitling Your System...................................................................................................... 74
7.7. Text Mode RHN Registration Client ............................................................................... 74
Glossary ............................................................................................................................................. 77
Index................................................................................................................................................... 83
Introduction
Welcome to the Red Hat Network Basic User Reference Guide 4.2.
The Red Hat Network Basic User Reference Guide will guide you through registering your system for
Red Hat Network and using its many features. Depending on which version of Red Hat Linux you
have installed, the Red Hat Network Registration Client and the Red Hat Update Agent might be
different than the ones described in this manual as new features are added. Once you use Red Hat
Network to update these applications, you can use the latest version of this manual.
All versions of this manual are available in HTML and PDF formats at
http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/RHNetwork/.
This version of the manual covers version 3.0.7 of the Red Hat Update Agent and version 2.8.27-34
of the Red Hat Network Registration Client.
Warning
Systems running Red Hat Linux 6.2 through 7.3 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1 will need to use the
separate Red Hat Network Registration Client before starting the Red Hat Update Agent. Refer
to Chapter 7 Red Hat Network Registration Client for instructions. Systems running Red Hat Linux
8.0 or newer can go directly to the Red Hat Update Agent, which has registration functionality built
in. Refer to Chapter 2 Red Hat Update Agent for instructions.
For a technical overview of Red Hat Network, please refer to the whitepapers available at
http://www.redhat.com/docs/wp/.
For an interactive demo of RHN, go to http://rhn.redhat.com/demo/rhn_demo.html. It requires the
Macromedia Flash player.
1. Document Conventions
When you read this manual, you will see that certain words are represented in different fonts, typefaces, sizes, and weights. This highlighting is systematic; different words are represented in the same
style to indicate their inclusion in a specific category. The types of words that are represented this way
include the following:
command
Linux commands (and other operating system commands, when used) are represented this way.
This style should indicate to you that you can type the word or phrase on the command line
and press [Enter] to invoke a command. Sometimes a command contains words that would be
displayed in a different style on their own (such as file names). In these cases, they are considered
to be part of the command, so the entire phrase will be displayed as a command. For example:
Use the cat testfile command to view the contents of a file, named testfile, in the current
working directory.
file name
File names, directory names, paths, and RPM package names are represented this way. This style
should indicate that a particular file or directory exists by that name on your system. Examples:
The .bashrc file in your home directory contains bash shell definitions and aliases for your own
use.
The /etc/fstab file contains information about different system devices and file systems.
ii Introduction
Install the webalizer RPM if you want to use a Web server log file analysis program.
application
This style indicates that the program is an end-user application (as opposed to system software).
For example:
Use Mozilla to browse the Web.
[key]
A key on the keyboard is shown in this style. For example:
To use [Tab] completion, type in a character and then press the [Tab] key. Your terminal will
display the list of files in the directory that start with that letter.
[key]-[combination]
A combination of keystrokes is represented in this way. For example:
The [Ctrl]-[Alt]-[Backspace] key combination will exit your graphical session and return you to
the graphical login screen or the console.
text found on a GUI interface
A title, word, or phrase found on a GUI interface screen or window will be shown in this style.
When you see text shown in this style, it is being used to identify a particular GUI screen or an
element on a GUI screen (such as text associated with a checkbox or field). Example:
Select the Require Password checkbox if you would like your screensaver to require a password
before stopping.
top level of a menu on a GUI screen or window
When you see a word in this style, it indicates that the word is the top level of a pulldown menu.
If you click on the word on the GUI screen, the rest of the menu should appear. For example:
Under File on a GNOME terminal, you will see the New Tab option that allows you to open
multiple shell prompts in the same window.
If you need to type in a sequence of commands from a GUI menu, they will be shown like the
following example:
Go to Main Menu Button (on the Panel) => Programming => Emacs to start the Emacs text
editor.
button on a GUI screen or window
This style indicates that the text will be found on a clickable button on a GUI screen. For example:
Click on the Back button to return to the webpage you last viewed.
computer output
When you see text in this style, it indicates text displayed by the computer on the command line.
You will see responses to commands you typed in, error messages, and interactive prompts for
your input during scripts or programs shown this way. For example:
Use the ls command to display the contents of a directory:
$ ls
Desktop about.html logs paulwesterberg.png
Mail backupfiles mail reports
The output returned in response to the command (in this case, the contents of the directory) is
shown in this style.
Introduction iii
prompt
A prompt, which is a computer’s way of signifying that it is ready for you to input something,
will be shown in this style. Examples:
$
#
[stephen@maturin stephen]$
leopard login:
user input
Text that the user has to type, either on the command line, or into a text box on a GUI screen, is
displayed in this style. In the following example, text is displayed in this style:
To boot your system into the text based installation program, you will need to type in the text
command at the boot: prompt.
Additionally, we use several different strategies to draw your attention to certain pieces of information.
In order of how critical the information is to your system, these items will be marked as note, tip,
important, caution, or a warning. For example:
Note
Remember that Linux is case sensitive. In other words, a rose is not a ROSE is not a rOsE.
Tip
The directory /usr/share/doc contains additional documentation for packages installed on your
system.
Important
If you modify the DHCP configuration file, the changes will not take effect until you restart the DHCP
daemon.
Caution
Do not perform routine tasks as root — use a regular user account unless you need to use the root
account for system administration tasks.
iv Introduction
Warning
If you choose not to partition manually, a server installation will remove all existing partitions on all
installed hard drives. Do not choose this installation class unless you are sure you have no data you
need to save.
2. More to Come
The Red Hat Network Basic User Reference Guide is constantly expanding as new Red Hat Network
features and service plans are launched.
2.1. Send in Your Feedback
If you would like to make suggestions about the Red Hat Network Basic User Reference Guide, please
mention this guide’s identifier:
RHNbasic(EN)-4.2-HTML-RHI (2003-06-18T12:540700)
You can send mail to:
<rhn-feedback@redhat.com>
Chapter 1.
What is Red Hat Network?
Have you ever read about a new version of a software package and wanted to install it but could not
find it?
Have you ever tried to find an RPM through an Internet search engine or an RPM Repository and been
linked to a site that you have never heard of?
Have you ever tried to find an RPM but instead found only the source files that you had to compile
yourself?
Have you ever spent hours or even days visiting different websites to see if you have the latest packages
installed on your system, only to have to do it again in a few months?
Those days are over with Red Hat Network (RHN). RHN provides the solution to all your system
software management needs.
Red Hat Network is an Internet solution for managing a Red Hat Linux system or a network of Red
Hat Linux systems. All Security Alerts, Bug Fix Alerts, and Enhancement Alerts (collectively known
as Errata Alerts) can be downloaded directly from Red Hat. You can even have updates scheduled to
be delivered directly to your system as soon as they are released.
The main components of Red Hat Network are as follows:
• The Red Hat Update Agent
• The Red Hat Network Website
• Red Hat Network Daemon
• The Red Hat Network Registration Client - for systems running Red Hat Linux 6.2-7.3 and Red
Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1 only.
The Red Hat Update Agent provides your initial connection to the Red Hat Network. Once registered, it enables channel subscription, package installs, and management of System Profiles. Red Hat
Linux 8.0 systems will even use the Red Hat Update Agent to be registered to RHN. See Chapter 2
Red Hat Update Agent for further information.
You can use either of the two Red Hat Network user interfaces:
• https://rhn.redhat.com
• The Red Hat Update Agent
Both the website and the Red Hat Update Agent allow you to view Errata Alerts from in the Red
Hat Errata list. Only packages relevant to your system are shown. Red Hat Network can also be
configured to verify packages once downloaded, ignore update notifications for certain packages, and
view package details before downloading them.
The Red Hat Network Daemon (rhnsd) runs in the background as a service and probes the Red Hat
Network for notifications and updates at set time intervals (see Chapter 5 Red Hat Network Daemon
for further information). This daemon is necessary if you want to schedule updates or other actions
through the website.
The Red Hat Network Registration Client allows you to register your older Red Hat Linux (prior to
8.0) and Red Hat Enterprise Linux (2.1) systems with RHN. Registration involves creating a unique
RHN username and password, probing the hardware on your system to create a Hardware Profile, and
2 Chapter 1. What is Red Hat Network?
probing the software packages installed on your system to create a Package Profile. This information
is sent to RHN, and RHN returns a unique System ID to your system. See Chapter 7 Red Hat Network
Registration Client for more information.
Many Red Hat Network terms are used throughout this manual. As you read the Red Hat Network
User Reference Guide, refer to the Glossary as necessary for an explanation of common terms.
Tip
For a comparison chart of RHN service levels, refer to https://rhn.redhat.com/preview/.
1.1. Demo
The RHN Demo service level is the complimentary service level. All users receive one free subscription to RHN Demo. All that is required is the completion of a brief survey once every 60 days.
With each Demo subscription, you receive:
• Errata Notifications — Be the first to know about Red Hat’s patches. Subscribe to email errata
notification through Red Hat Network.
• Errata Updates — Immediately bring individual systems up-to-date with the click of a button.
• Search Packages — Search through the full repository of RPMs available to Red Hat Network
users.
• Search Errata — Search through the collection of all errata ever released through Red Hat Network.
1.2. Basic
The RHN Basic service is ideal for a user with one Red Hat Linux system or a small number
of Red Hat Linux systems to keep updated. Subscription to Basic can be purchased at
http://rhn.redhat.com/purchase_info.pxt.
With each Basic subscription, you receive the essential functionality provided to Demo users, plus:
• Easy ISOs — For customers who have purchased subscriptions to Red Hat Network, ISO images
are available for immediate download. Beat the rush to the FTP servers by downloading directly
from Red Hat Network.
• Priority Access during periods of high load — When Red Hat releases a large errata, users with
Priority Access can be guaranteed that they will be able to access the updated packages immediately.
• RHN Support Access — All paying customers of Red Hat Network receive web based support for
their RHN questions.
• Errata Notification, Multiple Systems — Subscriptions for multiple systems means errata notifica-
tion for errata to all of those systems.
• Errata Updates, Multiple Systems — Get quick updates for multiple systems with an easy button
click for each system.
Chapter 1. What is Red Hat Network? 3
1.3. Enterprise
In addition to the features offered in the RHN Demo and Basic subscription levels, the RHN Enterprise
subscription service allows you to manage your network of Red Hat Linux systems, users, and system
groups through its System Set Manager interface.
RHN Enterprise is based upon the concept of an organization. Each Enterprise-level Red Hat customer is assigned a Red Hat Customer Number. A Red Hat Network organization can be established
for each Red Hat Customer Number. Each Red Hat Network organization contains users who have
administration privileges to system groups. An Organization Administrator has overall control over
each Red Hat Network organization with the ability to add and remove systems and users. When users
other than the Organization Administrator log into the Red Hat Network website, they see only the
systems they have permission to administer.
To create an account that can be used to entitle systems to RHN Enterprise, go to
https://rhn.redhat.com/ and click on the Create Account link under the Sign In fields. On the Sign
Up for Red Hat Network page, click Create a new corporate account. After creating a corporate
account, you may add users within your organization to it.
The Red Hat Network features available to you depend on the subscription level for each Red Hat
Linux system. With each Enterprise subscription, you receive the functionality provided to Demo and
Basic users, plus:
• Package Profile Comparison — Compare the package set on a system with the package sets of
similar systems with one click.
• Search Systems — Search through systems based on a number of criteria: packages, networking
information, even hardware asset tags.
• System Grouping — Web servers, database servers, workstations and other workload-focused sys-
tems may be grouped so that each set can be administered in common ways.
• Multiple Administrators — Administrators may be given rights to particular system groups, easing
the burden of system management over very large organizations.
• System Set Manager — You may now apply actions to sets of systems instead of single systems.
Work with members of a predefined system group, or work with an ad-hoc collection of systems.
Install a single package to each, subscribe them all to a new channel, or apply all errata to them
with a single action.
• Massive Scalability — Figuring out a list of outdated packages for a thousand systems would take
days for a dedicated sysadmin. Red Hat Network Enterprise Service can do it for you in seconds.
To learn more about the additional RHN Enterprise features, read the Red Hat Network Enterprise
User Reference Guide available in HTML and PDF formats at http://www.redhat.com/docs/.
1.4. Errata Notifications and Scheduled Package Installations
You can configure the Red Hat Network to send you email notifications of new and updated software
packages as soon as the packages are available through RHN. You can also schedule package installs
or package updates. The benefits include:
• Reduced time and effort required by system administrators to stay on top of the Red Hat Errata list
• Minimized security vulnerabilities in your network by providing the patches as soon as Red Hat
releases them
• Filtered list of package updates (packages not relevant to your network are not included)
• Reliable method of managing multiple systems with similar configurations
4 Chapter 1. What is Red Hat Network?
1.5. Security, Quality Assurance, and Red Hat Network
Red Hat Network provides significant benefits to your network including security and quality assurance. All transactions made between you and Red Hat Network are encrypted, and all RPM packages
are signed with Red Hat’s GNU Privacy Guard (GPG) signature to ensure authenticity.
Red Hat Network incorporates the following security measures:
1. Your System Profile available at http://rhn.redhat.com is accessible only with an RHN-verified
username and password.
2. A Digital Certificate is written to the client system after registration and is used to authenticate
the system during each transaction between the client and Red Hat Network. The file is only
readable by the root user on the client system.
3. All notifications and information messages are signed by Red Hat with an electronic signature
using GPG. RPM can be used to verify the authenticity of the package before it is installed.
4. All transactions are encrypted using a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection.
5. All packages are tested and verified by the Red Hat Quality Assurance Team before they are
added to the Red Hat Errata list and Red Hat Network.
Tip
Refer to https://rhn.redhat.com/help/faq/ for a list of Frequently Asked Questions.
1.6. Before You Begin
Red Hat Network is available for Red Hat Linux 6.2 and higher. For instructions on configuring Red
Hat Linux 6.2 for Red Hat Network, refer to Chapter 6 Using Red Hat Network with Red Hat Linux
6.2.
By default, all the software packages you need to use Red Hat Network are installed with Red Hat
Linux 7 and higher. However, if you chose not to install them during the installation process or performed an upgrade from Red Hat Linux 6.2 or lower, you may not have the Red Hat Network Reg-
istration Client or the Red Hat Update Agent installed. Remember, if you are a Red Hat Linux 8.0
or newer user, you do not need the Red Hat Network Registration Client. To determine if the Red
Hat Network Registration Client is installed, type the following command:
rpm -q rhn_register
If the Red Hat Network Registration Client is installed, it will return something similar to
rhn_register-2.8.27
The version number might differ slightly.
If you do not have the Red Hat Network Registration Client installed, the command will return
package rhn_register is not installed
Perform this check for every package in Table 1-1. If you prefer to use the command line versions,
you do not have to install the two packages ending in gnome.
Chapter 1. What is Red Hat Network? 5
Package Name Description
rhn_register Provides the Red Hat Network Registration Client program and the
text mode interface
rhn_registergnome
Provides the GNOME interface (graphical version) for the Red Hat
Network Registration Client; runs if the X Window System is available
up2date Provides the Red Hat Update Agent command line version and the Red
Hat Network Daemon
up2date-gnome Provides the GNOME interface (graphical version) for the Red Hat
Update Agent; runs if the X Window System is available
Table 1-1. Red Hat Network Packages
If the packages are not installed, they can be found on the Red Hat Linux 7 (or higher) CD-ROM #1 in
the RedHat/RPMS directory or downloaded from the Red Hat FTP site available at ftp://ftp.redhat.com
(or from a Red Hat FTP mirror available at http://www.redhat.com/mirrors.html). Always check the
Red Hat Errata page, available at http://www.redhat.com/errata/, for package updates. If you install an
older version of these packages, you can retrieve the latest versions using Red Hat Network. The first
time that you request the RPM updates for your system, they will be included.
6 Chapter 1. What is Red Hat Network?
Chapter 2.
Red Hat Update Agent
The Red Hat Update Agent is your connection to the Red Hat Network. It enables you to register
your systems, create System Profiles, and alter the settings by which your organization and RHN
interact. Once registered, your systems can use the Red Hat Update Agent to retrieve the latest
software packages from Red Hat. This tool will allow you to always have the most up-to-date Red Hat
Linux systems with all security patches, bug fixes, and software package enhancements.
Remember, this tool must be run on the system you wish to update. You cannot use the Red Hat
Update Agent on the system if it is not entitled to an RHN service offering.
Warning
Only systems running Red Hat Linux 8.0 or newer can use the Red Hat Update Agent to register
with RHN. Systems running Red Hat Linux 6.2 through 7.3 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1 will
need to use the separate Red Hat Network Registration Client before starting the Red Hat Update
Agent. Refer to Chapter 7 Red Hat Network Registration Client for instructions. Then return to this
chapter for instructions on using the Red Hat Update Agent.
Important
You must use Red Hat Update Agent Version 2.5.4 or higher to upgrade your kernel automatically.
It will install the updated kernel and configure LILO or GRUB to boot the new kernel the next time
the system is rebooted. To ensure you are running the latest version, execute the command up2date
up2date. If you do not have the latest version installed, this command will update it.
2.1. Starting the Red Hat Update Agent
If you are not running the X Window System or prefer the command line version of the Red Hat
Update Agent, skip to Section 2.3.5 Command Line Version.
You must be root to run the Red Hat Update Agent. If you start it as a standard user, you will be
prompted to enter the root password before proceeding. The Red Hat Update Agent can be started
using one of the following methods:
For Red Hat Linux 8.0:
• On the GNOME and KDE desktops, go to the Main Menu Button (on the Panel) => System Tools
=> Red Hat Network.
• At a shell prompt (for example, an xterm or gnome-terminal), type the command up2date.
For Red Hat Linux 6.2 through 7.3:
• On the GNOME desktop, go to the Main Menu Button (on the Panel) => Programs => System
=> Update Agent.
• On the KDE desktop, go to the Main Menu Button (on the Panel) => Update Agent.
• At a shell prompt (for example, an xterm or gnome-terminal), type the command up2date.
8 Chapter 2. Red Hat Update Agent
If you choose the last option and start the application from a shell prompt, you can specify the options
in Table 2-1 to the Red Hat Update Agent. To view these options, type the command up2date
--help.
For example, use the following command to specify the directory in which to download the updated
packages (temporarily overriding your saved configuration):
up2date --tmpdir=/tmp/up2date
Argument Description
--configure Configure Red Hat Update Agent options. Refer to Section 2.4
Configuration for detailed instructions.
-d, --download Download packages only; do not install them. This argument
temporarily overrides the configuration option Do not install
packages after retrieval. Use this option if you prefer to install
the packages manually.
-f, --force Force package installation. This option temporarily overrides the
file, package, and configuration skip lists.
-i, --install Install packages after they are downloaded. This argument
temporarily overrides the configuration option Do not install
packages after retrieval.
-k, --packagedir Specify a colon separated path of directories to look for packages
before trying to download them.
--nosig Do not use GPG to check package signatures. This option
temporarily overrides the saved configuration option.
--tmpdir=directory Temporarily override the configured package directory. The
default location is /var/spool/up2date. This option is useful
if you do not have enough space in the configured location.
--justdb Only add packages to the database and do not install them.
--dbpath=dir Specify an alternate RPM database to use temporarily.
Table 2-1. Graphical Update Agent Options
The first time you run the Red Hat Update Agent, two dialog boxes will appear that you will not see
in subsequent startups: Configure Proxy Server and Install GPG Key.
As shown in Figure 2-1, the first dialog box to appear will prompt you for HTTP Proxy Server information. This is useful if your network connection requires you to use a proxy server to make HTTP connections. To use this feature, select the Enable HTTP Proxy checkbox and type your proxy server in
the text field with the format http://HOST:PORT, such as http://squid.mysite.org:3128.
Additionally, if your proxy server requires a username and password, select the Use Authentication
checkbox and enter your username and password in the respective text fields.
An HTTP Proxy Server is not required by Red Hat Network. If you do not want to use this feature,
click the OK button without making any selections. Note that the Red Hat Network Server dropdown
menu at the top of the dialog box is only useful to RHN Proxy and Satellite customers. These customers should refer to the RHN Client Configuration Guide for registration steps. Also note this dialox
box is actually the General tab of the Red Hat Update Agent Configuration Tool. Refer to Section
2.4 Configuration for detailed instructions.
Chapter 2. Red Hat Update Agent 9
Figure 2-1. Configure Proxy Server
The second dialog box to appear will prompt you to install the Red Hat GPG key, as shown in Figure
2-2. This key is used to verify the packages you download for security purposes. Click Yes to install
the key, and you will not see this message again.
Figure 2-2. Install GPG Key
2.2. Registration
Before you begin using Red Hat Network, you need to create a username, password, and System
Profile. Upon launch, the Red Hat Update Agent senses whether these tasks have been accomplished.
If not, it guides you through the registration process. If you ever need to force the Red Hat Update
Agent into registration mode, say to re-register an existing system, you may do so by issuing the
following command at a shell prompt:
up2date --register
10 Chapter 2. Red Hat Update Agent
After installing the Red Hat GPG key, the screen in Figure 2-3 will appear. It appears every time you
start the Red Hat Update Agent. Click Forward to continue.
Figure 2-3. Welcome Screen
After clicking through the Welcome Screen, the Red Hat Privacy Statement appears. (See Figure 2-
4). Red Hat is committed to protecting your privacy. The information gathered during the Red Hat
Network registration process is used to create a System Profile, which is essential to receiving update
notifications about your system. If after reading the statement you have any questions about how your
information is being used, please contact us at <feedback@redhat.com>. When satisfied, click
Forward.
Chapter 2. Red Hat Update Agent 11
Figure 2-4. Red Hat Privacy Statement
2.2.1. Registering a User Account
Before you can create a System Profile, you must create a user account. All that is required is a unique
username-password combination and a valid email address.
In the screen shown in Figure 2-5, choose a username and password. Once logged in to Red Hat
Network, you can modify your preferences, view your existing System Profile, or obtain the latest
Red Hat software packages.
Note
If you are already a member of redhat.com, you can use the same username and password. However,
you will still need to continue with the registration process to create your System Profile.
Your username and password have the following restrictions:
• Must be at least four characters long
• Are case-insensitive
• Cannot contain any spaces
• Cannot contain any tabs
12 Chapter 2. Red Hat Update Agent
• Cannot contain any line feeds
• Cannot contain the characters &, +, %, or ’
Figure 2-5. Create a User Account
You must choose a unique username. If you enter one already in use, you will see an error message
(see Figure 2-6). Try different usernames until you find one that has not been used.
Warning
Be sure to identify a username that you will be satisfied with permanently, as this cannot be changed
after account creation.
Chapter 2. Red Hat Update Agent 13
Figure 2-6. Error: Username Already Exists
Most users can leave the Org Info section blank. If you have an existing organization account, enter
your organization’s ID and password in the provided text fields. If the values are valid, the system will
be added to the organization’s Red Hat Network account.
If you have already registered a machine and created a System Profile, you can add a new machine to
your account. Run the Red Hat Update Agent on the new machine you wish to add, and enter your
existing Red Hat Network username and password. The new machine will be added to your existing
account, and you can log into Red Hat Network with your username and password to view all your
systems simultaneously.
In the Create Account screen, click Forward to continue.
If you are a new user to RHN, the Red Hat Update Agent takes you to the screen shown in Figure 2-
7. Here you will add details about yourself and your business, if applicable, and identify the methods
by which you should be reached.
Note
Unlike other details, your company name can be changed only through redhat.com. To make this
change, go to http://www.redhat.com/ and click the Account link near the top-right corner. Sign in if
you are not already logged in, and then click the Account Details link. In the Edit Account Details
page, replace your company name in the appropriate field and click the Finish button at the bottom.
The change will appear in the RHN website immediately.
14 Chapter 2. Red Hat Update Agent
Figure 2-7. Register a User Account
Once satsfied with the information supplied, click Forward to continue.
2.2.2. Registering a System Profile
Now that you have a user account, you can create a System Profile that consists of hardware and
software information about your Red Hat Linux system. The System Profile information is used by
Red Hat Network to determine what software update notifications you receive.
2.2.2.1. Hardware System Profile
After creating a username and password for your Red Hat Network account, the Red Hat Update
Agent probes your system for the following information:
• Red Hat Linux version
• Hostname
• IP address
• CPU model
• CPU speed
• Amount of RAM
• PCI devices
Chapter 2. Red Hat Update Agent 15
• Disk sizes
• Mount points
The next step is choosing a profile name for your system as shown in Figure 2-8. The default value
is the hostname for the system. You may modify this to be a more descriptive string, such as Email
Server for Support Team, if you find it more helpful. Optionally, you can enter a computer
serial or identification number for the system.
If you do not wish to include information about your hardware or network in your System Profile,
deselect Include information about hardware and network (see Figure 2-8).
Figure 2-8. System Profile - Hardware
Click Forward to continue with the registration process.
2.2.2.2. Software System Profile
The software System Profile consists of a list of RPM packages for which you wish to receive notifications. The Red Hat Update Agent shows you a list of all RPM packages listed in the RPM database
on your system and then allows you to customize the list by deselecting packages.
16 Chapter 2. Red Hat Update Agent
2.2.2.2.1. Gathering RPM Database Information
Only those packages you choose during this part of the registration will be included in your System
Profile, and you will receive notifications only about the packages in your System Profile. Thus, if
you use an older version of a package and deselect it from the list, it will not be replaced with a newer
version. This RPM list can be modified through the Red Hat Network Web interface or by using the
Red Hat Update Agent. Figure 2-9 shows the progress bar you will see while the Red Hat Update
Agent gathers a list of the RPM packages installed on your system. This operation may take some
time, depending on your system installation.
Figure 2-9. Registration Wizard
Once the RPM package list is built, the list will be displayed as shown in Figure 2-10. Deselecting
Include RPM Packages installed on this system in my System Profile will omit this information
from your System Profile.
Figure 2-10. RPM Package Information
Chapter 2. Red Hat Update Agent 17
2.2.2.2.2. Choosing RPM Packages to Exclude from the System Profile
By default, all RPM packages in your RPM database are included in your System Profile to be updated
by Red Hat Network. To exclude a package, uncheck the package from the list by clicking the checkbox beside the package name. For example, Figure 2-11 shows that the Canna-devel and Canna-libs
packages have been omitted from the package list.
Choose which packages to exclude, if any, from the System Profile, and click Forward to continue
with the registration process.
Figure 2-11. Choose which RPM Packages to Exclude from System Profile
2.2.2.3. Finishing Registration
As seen in Figure 2-12, the last step of registration is to confirm that you want to send your System
Profile to the Red Hat Network. If you choose Cancel at this point, no information will be sent.
Clicking Forward will submit your RHN System Profile.
18 Chapter 2. Red Hat Update Agent
Figure 2-12. Finished Collecting Information for System Profile
Figure 2-13 shows the progress bar you will see while your profile is being sent. This process may
take some time depending on your connection speed.
Figure 2-13. Send System Profile to Red Hat Network
You will know your System Profile has been successfully sent when you see the Channels screen
(Figure 2-14) appear. Refer to Section 2.3.1 Choosing a Channel for continued instructions.
2.3. Setup and Use
After completing the registration process, you should set up the Red Hat Update Agent to effectively
manage all of your system’s package updates. This requires selecting its channel, identifying the
packages requiring maintenance, and making your first installation.
Chapter 2. Red Hat Update Agent 19
2.3.1. Choosing a Channel
The first step is to select the channel from which you want the updated packages to be retrieved. After
you send your System Profile, the Channels screen (Figure 2-14) appears. Select the appropriate
base channel and click Forward to continue. Refer to Section 4.6 Software for more information on
channels and how channels are used to determine which packages are installed.
Figure 2-14. Channels
2.3.2. Choosing Packages to Update
After clicking Forward, the dialog box in Figure 2-15 will appear. This means a connection to Red
Hat Network is being established and your customized list of updates is being retrieved. This might
take some time, depending on the speed of your connection and the number of packages you have
installed.
Figure 2-15. Retrieve Update Information
20 Chapter 2. Red Hat Update Agent
While you see this dialog box, the Red Hat Update Agent uses your unique Digital Certificate
(/etc/sysconfig/rhn/systemid) to determine if there are any updated packages available for
your system. If there are no updated packages available for your system, the dialog box in Figure 2-16
appears. Click OK to exit the Red Hat Update Agent.
Figure 2-16. No new packages needed
If you excluded any packages while registering your System Profile, these are displayed in Figure
2-17. You may override these settings and include any of these packages in the update by selecting
the checkboxes next to them. To see a summary of each package in the Package Information section
at the bottom of the screen, click the name of the package.
Figure 2-17. Packages Flagged to be Skipped
If you want to view the advisory for the RPM Alert, click the View Advisory button. This will display
what type of Errata Alert it is and what problem(s) it addresses as shown in Figure 2-18. Click OK to
close the advisory. Click Finished when you are finished selecting packages to include.
Chapter 2. Red Hat Update Agent 21
Figure 2-18. View Advisory
The Available Package Updates screen is the next to appear. If your system is not up-to-date, your
customized list of available updated packages is displayed as shown in Figure 2-19.
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