Red Hat NETWORK 3.6 Reference Manual

Also see for NETWORK 3.6 -: Manual Configuration guide

Contents

Red Hat NETWORK 3.6 Reference Manual Manual pdf 13 page image

Chapter 1.Red Hat Network OverviewHave you ever read about a new version of a software package and wanted to install it but could notfind it?Have you ever tried to find an RPM through an Internet search engine or an RPM repository and beenlinked 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 compileyourself?Have you ever spent hours or even days visiting different websites to see if you have the latest packagesinstalled 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 systemsoftware management needs.Red Hat Network is an Internet solution for managing a Red Hat Enterprise Linux system or a networkof Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems. All Security Alerts, Bug Fix Alerts, and Enhancement Alerts(collectively known as Errata Alerts) can be downloaded directly from Red Hat or your own customcollection. You can even have updates scheduled to be delivered directly to your system as soon asthey are released.The main components of Red Hat Network are as follows:• the Red Hat Update Agent• the Red Hat Network website, whether this is hosted by the central RHN Servers, an RHN SatelliteServer or fed through an RHN Proxy Server• Red Hat Network Daemon• the Red Hat Network Registration Client - for systems running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1only.The Red Hat Update Agent (up2date) provides your initial connection to Red Hat Network. Onceregistered, it enables channel subscription, package installs, and management of System Profiles. RedHat Enterprise Linux 3 and newer systems will even use the Red Hat Update Agent to register withRHN. See Chapter 2 Red Hat Update Agent for further information.Although both the RHN website and the Red Hat Update Agent allow you to view Errata Alertsfrom the Red Hat Errata list and apply updates, the website offers a much more granular view of youraccount and provides added functionality required for management and provisioning of systems. Forenterprise deployments of Red Hat Network, the website is a must.The Red Hat Network Daemon (rhnsd) runs in the background as a service and probes the Red HatNetwork for notifications and updates at set time intervals (see Chapter 3 Red Hat Network Daemonfor further information). This daemon is necessary if you want to schedule updates or other actionsthrough the website.The Red Hat Network Registration Client allows you to register your Red Hat Enterprise Linux2.1 systems with RHN. (Newer versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux have registration functionalitybuilt into the Red Hat Update Agent.) Registration involves creating a unique RHN username andpassword, probing the hardware on your system to create a Hardware Profile, and probing the softwarepackages installed on your system to create a Package Profile. This information is sent to RHN, andRHN returns a unique System ID to your system. See Chapter 5 Red Hat Network Registration Clientfor more information.