Red Hat NETWORK WORKGROUP - USER REFERENCE GUIDE 1.0, NETWORK WORKGROUP User Reference Manual
Red Hat Network Workgroup
User Reference Guide 1.0
Red Hat, Inc.
Red Hat Network Workgroup: User Reference Guide 1.0
Copyright © 2001, 2002 by Red Hat, Inc.
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Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... vii
1. Document Conventions ..................................................................................................vii
2. More to Come ..................................................................................................................... x
2.1. Send in Your Feedback .......................................................................................x
1. What is Red Hat Network?........................................................................................................11
1.1. Basic ................................................................................................................................ 12
1.2. Workgroup .....................................................................................................................12
1.3. Automatic Notifications and Package Installation...................................................13
1.4. Security, Quality Assurance, and Red Hat Network ............................................... 13
1.5. Before You Begin ........................................................................................................... 13
2. Red Hat Network Registration Client.....................................................................................15
2.1. Configuring the Red Hat Network Registration Client ........................................15
2.2. Starting the Red Hat Network Registration Client................................................ 15
2.3. Registering a User Account .........................................................................................18
2.4. Registering a System Profile........................................................................................20
2.4.1. Hardware System Profile..............................................................................20
2.4.2. Software System Profile ................................................................................ 21
2.5. Finishing Registration .................................................................................................. 23
2.6. Entitling Your System................................................................................................... 25
2.7. Text Mode RHN Registration Client .......................................................................... 25
3. Red Hat Update Agent Configuration Tool............................................................................ 27
3.1. Configuring the Red Hat Update Agent.................................................................... 27
3.2. General Settings............................................................................................................. 27
3.3. Retrieval/Installation Settings ....................................................................................28
3.4. Package Exceptions Settings........................................................................................29
3.5. Command Line Version of Red Hat Update Agent Configuration Tool .............30
4. Red Hat Update Agent ............................................................................................................... 33
4.1. Starting the Red Hat Update Agent........................................................................... 33
4.2. Choosing a Channel......................................................................................................35
4.3. Choosing Packages to Update..................................................................................... 36
4.4. Installing Updated Packages.......................................................................................39
4.5. Update Agent Finished................................................................................................40
4.6. Command Line Version of Red Hat Update Agent .................................................41
4.6.1. Installing the Red Hat GPG key................................................................... 43
4.7. Manual Package Installation ....................................................................................... 44
4.8. Synchronizing Your System Profile ............................................................................44
4.9. Log File ........................................................................................................................... 45
5. Red Hat Network Workgroup .................................................................................................. 47
5.1. Logging into Workgroup ............................................................................................. 47
5.2. Introduction to the Web Interface ............................................................................... 48
5.2.1. Errata Alerts....................................................................................................50
5.3. Your RHN....................................................................................................................... 50
5.3.1. Your Account .................................................................................................. 52
5.3.2. Entitlements .................................................................................................... 52
5.3.3. Organization Information.............................................................................53
5.3.4. Buy Now.......................................................................................................... 53
5.3.5. The New RHN................................................................................................ 53
5.4. Systems ........................................................................................................................... 53
5.4.1. System List ...................................................................................................... 53
5.4.2. System Group List..........................................................................................55
5.4.3. System Search................................................................................................. 56
v
5.4.4. System Details ................................................................................................ 56
5.5. Channels and Packages................................................................................................57
5.5.1. System List ...................................................................................................... 57
5.5.2. Channel List....................................................................................................57
5.5.3. Channel Details .............................................................................................. 57
5.5.4. Channel Subscribe and Unsubscribe........................................................... 59
5.5.5. Package Details............................................................................................... 59
5.5.6. Package Install................................................................................................59
5.5.7. Package Download ........................................................................................60
5.6. Errata...............................................................................................................................61
5.6.1. All Errata ......................................................................................................... 62
5.6.2. Applicable Errata ...........................................................................................62
5.6.3. Errata Search...................................................................................................62
5.6.4. Apply Errata Updates ................................................................................... 62
5.6.5. Errata Details ..................................................................................................63
5.7. Scheduled Actions ........................................................................................................63
5.8. Users................................................................................................................................ 65
5.8.1. User List........................................................................................................... 65
5.8.2. User Approval ................................................................................................65
5.8.3. User Details.....................................................................................................65
5.9. System Groups .............................................................................................................. 66
5.9.1. System Group List..........................................................................................66
5.9.2. System Group Creation.................................................................................67
5.9.3. System Group Addition and Removal........................................................ 67
5.9.4. System Group Details....................................................................................67
5.10. System Set Manager.................................................................................................... 68
6. Red Hat Network Daemon........................................................................................................ 71
7. Using Red Hat Network with Red Hat Linux 6.2 .................................................................73
Glossary ............................................................................................................................................75
Index ..................................................................................................................................................81
Introduction
Welcome to the Red Hat Network Workgroup User Reference Guide 1.0.
The Red Hat Network Workgroup 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 2.7.0 of the Red Hat Update Agent and version
1.5.0 of the Red Hat Network Registration Client.
For a more detailed, technical overview of Red Hat Network, please refer to the Red Hat
Network Technical Paper available at http://www.redhat.com/docs/wp/.
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 in 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 filenames). 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.
filename
Filenames, 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
Red Hat Linux 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 filesystems.
Install the webalizer RPM if you want to use a Web server log file analysis program.
application
This style should indicate to you that the program named is an end-user application (as
opposed to system software). For example:
Use Netscape Navigator to browse the Web.
vii
viii Introduction
[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 restart the X Window System.
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 Settings on a GNOME terminal, you will see the following menu items: Prefer-
ences, Reset Terminal, Reset and Clear, and Color selector.
If you need to type in a sequence of commands from a GUI menu, they will be shown
like the following example:
Click on Programs=>Applications=>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 Web page 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 axhome logs paulwesterberg.gif
Mail backupfiles mail reports
Introduction ix
The output returned in response to the command (in this case, the contents of the directory) is shown in this style.
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 isnot 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 DHCPconfiguration 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.
x 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 Workgroup 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 Workgroup User Reference
Guide, please mention this guide’s identifier:
RHNworkgroup(EN)-1.0-Print-RHI (2002-01-18T17:410400)
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 you are only able to find the source files that
you have 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 (collective known as Errata Alerts) can be downloaded directly from Red Hat. You can even
have updates automatically delivered directly to your system as soon as they are released.
The three main components of Red Hat Network are as follows:
• The Red Hat Network Registration Client
• The Red Hat Network user interface
• Red Hat Network Daemon
The Red Hat Network Registration Client allows you to register your system with RHN.
Registration involves creating a unique RHN user name and password, probing the hardware on your system to create a Hardware Profile, and probing the software packages installed on your system to create a Package Profile. This information is sent to RHNm and
RHN returns a unique System ID to your system (see Chapter 2 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 Web interface 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 6 for
further information). This daemon is necessary if you want to receive automatic updates or
if you schedule an action through the Web interface.
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 explanation of common
terms.
Tip
Refer to https://rhn.redhat.com/help/faq.pxt for a listof Frequently Asked Questions.
11
12 Chapter 1. What is Red Hat Network?
1.1. Basic
The first subscription service offered through Red Hat Network was called Software Manager. This subscription service, now known as RHN Basic, has all the same features that
Software Manager offered, plus more new features. All existing Software Manager subscriptions were automatically transfered to Basic subscriptions. Registering a system with Red
Hat Network is free, as is your first RHN Basic subscription. Additional subscription to Basic can be purchased at http://rhn.redhat.com/purchase_info.pxt.
With each Basic subscription, you receive:
• Errata Alerts — learn when Security Alerts, Bug Fix Alerts, and Enhancement Alerts are
issued for all the systems in your network through the Basic interface
• Automatic email notifications — receive an email notification when an Errata Alert is is-
sued for your system
• Scheduled Errata Updates — schedule delivery of Errata Updates with optional automatic
installation
• Package installation — Schedule package installation on one or more systems with the
click of a button
• Red Hat Update Agent — use the Red Hat Update Agent to download the lastest software
packages for your system with optional package installation
• Access to the Red Hat Network website to manage multiple systems, downloaded indi-
vidual packages, and schedule actions such as Errata Updates.
1.2. Workgroup
In addition to the features offered in the RHN Basic subscription service, the RHN Workgroup subscription service allows you to manage your network of Red Hat Linux systems
manage users, and manage system groups through its System Set Manager interface.
Workgroup is based around 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 Administrators
log into Red Hat Network Workgroup, they only see the systems they have permission to
administer.
To create a corporate account that can be used to entitle systems to the RHN Workgroup,
go to http://rhn.redhat.com/ and click on the Create Account link under the Your RHN
category. On the Sign Up for Red Hat Network page, click Create a Corporate Account. After
creating a corporate account, users within your organization need to click the Join a Cor-
porate Account link to create an RHN user account. In the Corporate Account Information
section, they should enter the customer number and password configured when you created
the corporate account. Before the new corporate user can log in, an existing Organization
Administrator for the corporation must approve the addition of the user and configure the
new user’s roles and permissions. Refer to Section 5.3 for more information on approving
new users.
The Red Hat Network features available to you depends on the subscription level for each
Red Hat Linux system.
Chapter 1. What is Red Hat Network? 13
Systems subscribed to Workgroup may access the following features:
1. System Set Manager that allows administrators to perform an action on a selected set
of systems at the same time
2. Enhanced system details including the location of the system
3. System groups
4. User management
5. Grant or deny users access to selected system groups
6. Organization Administrators can modify the user details of all users within the organization
1.3. Automatic Notifications and Package Installation
You can configure 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 configure your systems to download and optionally install package updates automatically. Because
no user intervention is required, 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
1.4. 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 only accessible with an RHN
verified user name 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. The rpm utility 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.
14 Chapter 1. What is Red Hat Network?
1.5. 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 7.
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 Registration Client or the Red Hat Update Agent installed. To verify that
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-1.5.0-1
The version number might differ slightly if you have a newer version installed.
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 not to use the graphical
versions, you do not have to install the two packages ending in gnome.
Table 1-1. Red Hat Network Packages
Package Name Description
rhn_register Provides the Red Hat Network Registration Client program and
the text mode interface
rhn_register-gnome Provides the GNOMEinterface (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
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 retreive the latest versions using Red Hat Network. The first time
that you request the RPM updates for your system, they will be included.
Chapter 2. Red Hat Network Registration Client
Before you begin using Red Hat Network, you need to create a user name, password, and
System Profile. The Red Hat Network Registration Client will walk you through this process.
2.1. Configuring the Red Hat Network Registration Client
Warning
Most users do not need to configure the Red Hat Network Registration Client before registering
their systems. Do not attempt to use this option unless you must.
To start the configuration tool, use the command:
rhn_register --configure
You will be presented with a list of options and their current values:
0. enableProxyAuth No
1. noSSLServerURL http://www.rhns.redhat.com/XMLRPC
2. enableProxy No
3. httpProxy
4. proxyUser
5. serverURL https://www.rhns.redhat.com/XMLRPC
6. proxyPassword
7. debug No
Enter number of item to edit
return to exit, q to quit without saving:
Enter the number of the item that you want to modify, and enter a new value for the option.
When you finish changing your configuration, press [Enter] to save your changes and exit.
Press [q] and then [Enter] to quit without saving your changes.
The most common options configured are numbers 2 and 3 to enable a proxy server. To
enable a proxy server, change the value for enableProxy to Yes and the value of httpProxy
to the name of the proxy server and port number in the format http://HOST:PORT. For
example, to use the proxy server http://squid.mysite.org on port 3128, you would change
the value to http://squid.mysite.org:3128.
If you require a proxy username and password, change the values of numbers 0, 4, and 6.
Set enableProxyAuth to Yes to enable username/password authentication for the proxy. Set
proxyUser and proxyPassword to the appropriate username and password for the proxy.
2.2. Starting the Red Hat Network Registration Client
You must be root to register a system with RHN. If you start the Red Hat Network Registration Client as a standard user, you will be prompted to enter the root password before pro-
ceeding. To start the Red Hat Network Registration Client in Red Hat Linux 6.2 or higher,
use one of the following methods:
1. On the GNOME desktop, go to the Main Menu Button (on the Panel) => Programs =>
System => Red Hat Network
15
16 Chapter 2. Red Hat Network Registration Client
2. On the KDE desktop, go to the Main Menu Button (on the Panel) => Red Hat =>
System => Red Hat Network
3. Type the command rhn_register at a shell prompt (for example an xterm or gnometerminal)
4. If you are not running the X Window System, type the command rhn_register at a
virtual console or remote terminal. Please refer to Section 2.7 for further details.
Caution
You must use Python 1.5.2-24 or later with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) support. If not, the information you transfer will not be encrypted. If you have an earlier version of Python, you will see the
message shown in Figure 2-1. Todetermine the version of Python on your system, use the command
rpm -q python. It is strongly recommended you use Python 1.5.2-24 or later.
Figure 2-1. Use Python 1.5.2-24 or later
The opening screen for the Red Hat Network Registration Client gives you a brief overview
of the services available and the steps required to register (see Figure 2-2). Click Next to
continue with the registration process. If you click Cancel, the registration process will end
and no information will be sent.
Chapter 2. Red Hat Network Registration Client 17
Figure 2-2. Welcome Screen
Red Hat is committed to protecting your privacy (see Figure 2-3). The information gathered
during the Red Hat Network registration process is used to create a System Profile. The
System Profile is essential if you wish to receive update notifications about your system.
If you have any questions about how your information is being used, please contact us at
<feedback@redhat.com>.
18 Chapter 2. Red Hat Network Registration Client
Figure 2-3. Red Hat Privacy Statement
2.3. Registering a User Account
Before you can create a System Profile, you must create a user account. The only required
information in this section is a unique user name, password, and a valid email address.
In the screen shown in Figure 2-6, you must choose a user name and password. Once logged
in to Red Hat Network, you can modify your preferences, view your existing System Profile,
or obtain the lastest Red Hat software packages. You must choose a unique user name. If you
enter one already in use, you will see an error message (see Figure 2-4). Try different user
names until you find one that has not been used.
Figure 2-4. Error: Username Already Exists
Chapter 2. Red Hat Network Registration Client 19
Note
If you are already a member of redhat.com, you can use the same user name and password. However, you will still need to continue with the registration process to create your System Profile.
Your user name and password have the following restrictions:
• Must be at least four characters long
• Are case-insentitive
• Can not contain any spaces
• Can not contain any tabs
• Can not contain any line feeds
• Can not contain the characters &, +, %, or ’
If you have already registered your system and try to register it again, the dialog box shown
in Figure 2-5 will appear. If you continue, it will overwrite your existing systemid file
(/etc/sysconfig/rhn/systemid) and you will create a different System Profile. You will
no longer be able to use your previous System Profile — be sure this is what you want to do
before you choose Yes.
Figure 2-5. Warning: This System Already Registered
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 Network Registration Client on the new machine you wish to add and enter your existing Red Hat Network user name and password.
The new machine will be added to your existing account, and you can log into Red Hat
Network with your user name and password to view all your systems simultaneously.
20 Chapter 2. Red Hat Network Registration Client
Figure 2-6. Create a Unique User Name and Password
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.
Click Next to continue.
2.4. 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 software System Profile
information is used by Red Hat Network to determine what software update notifications
you receive.
2.4.1. Hardware System Profile
After creating a user name and password for your Red Hat Network account, the Red Hat
Network Registration Client probes your system for the following information:
• Red Hat Linux version
• Hostname
• IP address
• CPU model
• CPU speed
• Amount of RAM
Chapter 2. Red Hat Network Registration Client 21
• PCI devices
• Disk sizes
• Mount points
The next step is choosing a profile name for your system as shown in Figure 2-7. 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 2-7).
Click Next to continue with the registration process.
Figure 2-7. System Profile - Hardware
2.4.2. Software System Profile
The software System Profile consists of a list of RPM packages for which you wish to receive
notifications. The Red Hat Network Registration Client 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.
2.4.2.1. Gathering RPM Database Information
Only those packages you choose during this part of the registration will be included in in
your System Profile, and you will only receive notifications 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 modifed through the Red
Hat Network Web interface or by using the Red Hat Update Agent. Figure 2-8 shows the
22 Chapter 2. Red Hat Network Registration Client
progress bar you will see while the Red Hat Network Registration Client gathers a list of
the RPM packages installed on your system. This operation may take some time depending
on your system.
Figure 2-8. Registration Wizard
Once the RPM package list is built, the list will be displayed as shown in Figure 2-9. Deselecting Include RPM Packages installed on this system in my System Profile will omit this
information from your System Profile.
Figure 2-9. RPM Package Information
2.4.2.2. Choosing Which 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 X beside the package name. For example, Figure 2-10 shows that the procmail,
procps, and psgml packages have been omitted from the package list.
Choose which packages to exclude, if any, from the System Profile, and click Next to continue
with the registration process.
Chapter 2. Red Hat Network Registration Client 23
Figure 2-10. Choose which RPM Packages to Exclude from System Profile
2.5. Finishing Registration
As seen in Figure 2-11, 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 Next will submit your RHN System Profile.
24 Chapter 2. Red Hat Network Registration Client
Figure 2-11. Finished Collecting Information for System Profile
Figure 2-12 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 2-12. Send System Profile to Red Hat Network
You will know your System Profile has been successfully sent when you see the Registration
Finished screen (Figure 2-13). Click Finish to exit the Red Hat Network Registration Client.
After completing the registration, visit http://rhn.redhat.com to verify your System Profile
and make any changes.
Chapter 2. Red Hat Network Registration Client 25
Figure 2-13. Registration Finished
2.6. Entitling Your System
Now that you have registered your system, it must be entitled before you can receive updated packages. In other words, you must subscribe it to a service level offering. Everyone
automatically receives one free Basic subscription after creating an account by registering a
system for RHN or creating a redhat.com account.
To entitle a system, go to http://rhn.redhat.com and login using the same username and
password you just used in the Red Hat Network Registration Client. On the left navigation
bar, click Entitlements under the Your RHN category. The Entitlement Manager tells you
how many entitlements you have left. If you have one or more left, check the checkbox
under the Entitled column beside the name of the system that you just registered. Then
click the Update Entitlements button at the bottom of the page. The number of entitlements
remaining will decrease, and your system is now ready to use the Red Hat Update Agent
and Workgroup. Refer to Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 for details on how to use them. If you do
not have any entitlement slots left, enter the number you want to purchase and click the Buy
Now! button to purchase additional subscriptions.
2.7. Text Mode RHN Registration Client
You can force the Red Hat Network Registration Client to run in text mode with the command:
rhn_register --nox
The screens for the text mode Red Hat Network Registration Client are almost identical to
the screens for the graphical Red Hat Network Registration Client. Some of the text in the
text mode version is more concise due to lack of space in the interface. However, there is an
equal number of screens and fields in both versions. Thus, if you are using the text mode
version, you can still follow the instructions that begin in Section 2.2.
26 Chapter 2. Red Hat Network Registration Client
Figure 2-14. Text Mode Welcome Screen
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