Red Hat NETWORK 4.0.5 - CLIENT Configuration Manual

Also see for NETWORK 4.0.5 -: Manual Reference guide

Contents

Chapter 5.Using RHN BootstrapRed Hat Network provides a tool that automates much of the manual reconfiguration de-scribed in previous chapters: RHN Bootstrap. This tool plays an integral role in the RHNSatellite Server Installation Program, enabling generation of the bootstrap script duringinstallation.RHN Proxy Server customers and customers with updated Satellite settings require a boot-strap tool that can be used independently. RHN Bootstrap, invoked with the command/usr/bin/rhn-bootstrap, serves that purpose and comes installed by default on bothRHN Satellite Server and RHN Proxy Server.If used correctly, the script this tool generates can be run from any client system to conductthe following tasks:• Redirect client applications to the RHN Proxy or Satellite• Import custom GPG keys• Install SSL certificates• Register the system to RHN and particular system groups and channels with the help ofactivation keys• Perform miscellaneous post-configuration activities, including updating packages, per-forming reboots, and altering RHN configurationCustomers should note, however, the inherent risks of using a script to conduct configura-tion. Security tools such as SSL certificates are installed by the script itself; therefore theydo not yet exist on the systems and cannot be used to process transactions. This allowsfor the possibility of someone impersonating the Satellite and transmitting bad data. Thisis mitigated by the fact that virtually all Satellites and client systems operate behind cus-tomer firewalls and are restricted from outside traffic. Registration is conducted via SSLand is therefore protected.The bootstrap script bootstrap.sh is automatically placed in the/var/www/html/pub/bootstrap/ directory of the RHN Server. From thereit can be downloaded and run on all client systems. Note that some preparation andpost-generation editing is required, as identified in the following sections. Refer toSection 5.4 RHN Bootstrap Options for the tool’s complete list of options. Finally, referto the Appendix A Sample Bootstrap Script for an example script.