Chapter 2.Red Hat Update AgentThe Red Hat Update Agent is your connection to Red Hat Network. It enables you to reg-ister your systems, create System Profiles, and alter the settings by which your organizationand RHN interact. Once registered, your systems can use the Red Hat Update Agent toretrieve the latest software packages from Red Hat. This tool allows you to always havethe most up-to-date Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems with all security updates, bug fixes,and software package enhancements.Remember, this tool must be run on the system you wish to update. You cannot use theRed Hat Update Agent on the system if it is not entitled to an RHN service offering.WarningOnly systems running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 and later can use the Red Hat UpdateAgent to register with RHN. Systems running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1 must useRed Hat Network Registration Client before starting the Red Hat Update Agent. Referto Chapter 5 Red Hat Network Registration Client for instructions, then return to thischapter for Red Hat Update Agent instructions.ImportantYou must use Red Hat Update Agent Version 2.5.4 or higher to upgrade your kernelautomatically. It installs the updated kernel and configures LILO or GRUB to boot the newkernel the next time the system is rebooted. To ensure that you are running the latestversion, execute the command up2date up2date. If you do not have the latest versioninstalled, this command updates it.2.1. Starting the Red Hat Update AgentIf you are not running the X Window System or prefer the command line version of theRed Hat Update Agent, skip to Section 2.3 Command Line Version.You must be root to run the Red Hat Update Agent. If started as a standard user, Red HatUpdate Agent prompts you to enter the root password before proceeding. The Red HatUpdate Agent can be started using one of the following methods:For Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 and 4:
