Chapter 12 Updating And Adding Packages To Red Hat Linux; Introduction To Rhn; Red Hat Network - Red Hat LINUX 7.2 Manual

Section 12.2:Red Hat Network 137
12 Updating and Adding Packages to
Red Hat Linux

12.1 Introduction to RHN

You can update your Red Hat Linux system at anytime, adding new applications or enhancements
to packages you already have installed. Installing new software files, or RPMs, is simple. This
chapter explains three ways you can update your system: by using Red Hat Network, by going to
http://www.redhat.com/apps/support/updates.html and checking the errata list, and by getting pack-
ages from the installation CD that you did not initially install.
Red Hat Network gives you two ways to update your system: the Web interface, known as Software
Manager and Red Hat Update Agent. Software Manager is an online tool that lets you manage up
to five systems at once. Red Hat Update Agent is a standalone tool that manages one system only.
Updating from the errata list involves going to the Red Hat website, looking through the latest errata
list, and downloading and installing the errata you want. Installing additional packages from the in-
stallation CD involves selection and installation from the GUI that appears on your desktop after you
insert the CD in your CD-ROM drive.

12.2 Red Hat Network

This section acts as a brief introduction to Red Hat Network (version 2.7.0 of the Red Hat Update
Agent and version 1.5.0 of the RHNRC;). 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 here. All versions of the Red Hat Network User Reference Guide are available
at http://www.redhat.com/support/manuals. Once you use Red Hat Network to update these applica-
tions, you can use the latest version of the manual.
Red Hat Network is an Internet solution for managing a Red Hat Linux system or a network of
Red Hat Linux systems. All security patches, bug fixes, and software package enhancements can be
downloaded directly from Red Hat Linux using the Red Hat Update Agent, a standalone application,
or through a Web browser, at http://rhn.redhat.com. The features available to you are determined by
your subscription status.
Both the Red Hat Network Web interface, referred to as Software Manager, and the Red Hat
Update Agent allow you to view all security alerts, bug fixes, and package enhancements included
in the Red Hat errata list. Only packages relevant to your system are shown, and you can configure
Red Hat Network to send you email notifications of new and updated packages.