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Red Hat NETWORK - USER REFERENCE GUIDE 1.3 User Reference Manual

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User Reference Guide 1.3

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Summary of Contents for Red Hat NETWORK - USER REFERENCE GUIDE 1.3

  • Page 1 Red Hat Network User Reference Guide 1.3...
  • Page 2 ISBN: ISBN: N/A Red Hat, Inc. 2600 Meridian Parkway Durham, NC 27713 USA +1 919 547 0012 (Voice) +1 919 547 0024 (FAX) 888 733 4281 (Voice) P.O. Box 13588 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 USA © 2001 Red Hat, Inc. RHNurg(EN)-1.3-Print-RHI (2001-01-29T10:47-0400) Copyright ©...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Contents Red Hat Network Introduction .................. . v Document Conventions..............v More to Come .
  • Page 4 Chapter 5 Red Hat Network Web Application ...... . 47 Logging into Red Hat Network Web Application ......47 Viewing Your Notifications ............47 Adding a System Profile .

  • Page 5: Introduction

    All version of this manual are available at http://www.redhat.com/support/manuals/. Once you use Red Hat Network to update these applications, you can use the latest version of this manual.
  • Page 6 Introduction 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. [key] A key on the keyboard is shown in this style.

  • Page 7: Document Conventions

    Section 0.1:Document Conventions computer output When you see text in this style, it indicates text displayed by the computer on the command line. You’ll see responses to commands you typed in, error messages and interactive promptings for your input during scripts or programs shown this way. For example: Use the ls to display the contents of a directory: $ ls Desktop...

  • Page 8: More To Come

    viii Introduction In this case, the style of the word daemon should indicate to you that a definition of the term is available in the glossary. 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 a tip, a note, important, a caution or a warning.
  • Page 9 Section 0.2:More to Come rhn-feedback@redhat.com...
  • Page 10 Introduction...

  • Page 11: Chapter 1 What Is Red Hat Network

    What is Red Hat Network? 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?

  • Page 12: Automatic Notifications

    Chapter 1:What is Red Hat Network? Update Agent can also be configured to verify packages once downloaded. Red Hat Update Agent allows for a few basic configuration options such as choosing to ignore update notifications for certain packages. The Red Hat Network Web Application includes more features such as viewing up to five systems simultaneously, viewing package details before downloading them, and adding a system to your group without using the Red Hat Network Registration Client.

  • Page 13: Before You Begin

    Section 1.3:Before You Begin 3. All notifications and information messages are signed by Red Hat with an electronic signature us- ing 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.
  • Page 14 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 CD 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).

  • Page 15: Chapter 2 Registration

    Section 2.1:Starting the Red Hat Network Registration Client 2 Registration 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 Starting the Red Hat Network Registration Client You must be root to register a system with RHN.
  • Page 16 Chapter 2:Registration 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, Welcome Screen). Click Next continue with the registration process.

  • Page 17: Registering A User Account

    Section 2.2:Registering a User Account Red Hat is committed to protecting your privacy (see Figure 2–3, Red Hat Privacy Statement. The in- formation 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@red- hat.com.
  • Page 18 Figure 2–4 Error: Username Already Exists 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.
  • Page 19 Section 2.2:Registering a User Account Use your existing user name and password. If you do not, a new user account will be created, and the new user account you create will not have the same support Service Plan for which you have already registered. 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 System Profile.
  • Page 20 Chapter 2:Registration Figure 2–6 Create a Unique User Name and Password 2.2.2 Optional User Account Information You can also choose whether to receive email notifications about updates relevant to your system by selecting the box next titled I want to receive email notification for updates to my System Profiles When selected, the text area will no longer be shaded and you can enter the email Email address:...

  • Page 21: Registering A System Profile

    Section 2.3:Registering a System Profile Figure 2–7 Optional User Account Information 2.3 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.
  • Page 22 Chapter 2:Registration • Amount of RAM • PCI devices • Disk sizes • Mount points The next step is choosing a profile name for your system as shown in Figure 2–8, System Profile - Hardware. This name is used to identify the system in the Red Hat Network Web Application. The default value is the hostname for the system.
  • Page 23 Section 2.3:Registering a System Profile 2.3.2 Software System Profile The software System Profile consists of a list of RPM packages for which you wish to receive notifi- cations. 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.
  • Page 24 Chapter 2:Registration Figure 2–10 RPM Package Information 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.

  • Page 25: Finishing Registration

    Section 2.4:Finishing Registration Figure 2–11 Choose which RPM Packages to Exclude from System Profile 2.4 Finishing Registration As seen in Figure 2–12, Finished Collecting Information for System Profile, 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.
  • Page 26 You will know your System Profile has been successfully sent when you see the Registration Finished to exit the Red Hat Network Registration screen (Figure 2–14, Registration Finished). Click Finish Client. After completing registration, visit http://www.redhat.com/network to verify your System Profile and make any changes.

  • Page 27: Text Mode Rhn Registration Client

    Section 2.5:Text Mode RHN Registration Client Figure 2–14 Registration Finished 2.5 Text Mode RHN Registration Client The screens for the Text Mode Red Hat Network Registration Client are almost identical to the screens for the graphical version of 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.
  • Page 28 Chapter 2:Registration Figure 2–15 Text Mode Welcome Screen...

  • Page 29: Chapter 3 Red Hat Update Agent Configuration

    Section 3.2:General Settings 3 Red Hat Update Agent Configuration Before using the Red Hat Update Agent, you should configure the settings. This can be done with the Red Hat Update Agent Configuration Tool. 3.1 Configuring the Red Hat Update Agent You must be root to run the Red Hat Update Agent Configuration Tool.

  • Page 30: Retrieval/Installation Settings

    Chapter 3:Red Hat Update Agent Configuration Figure 3–1 General Settings 3.3 Retrieval/Installation Settings The Retrieval/Installation tab allows you to customize your software package retrieval and package installation preferences. Note Even if you set the Red Hat Update Agent to install the packages automati- cally, it will only download the RPM packages required for new versions of the kernel.
  • Page 31 Section 3.3:Retrieval/Installation Settings Figure 3–2 Retrieval/Installation Settings The following retrieval options can be selected (see Figure 3–2, Retrieval/Installation Settings): • — download selected RPM packages to desired directory Do not install packages after retrieval and ignore the installation preferences • —...

  • Page 32: Package Exceptions Settings

    Chapter 3:Red Hat Update Agent Configuration The following additional options are configurable from this tab: • — override the Red Hat Linux version in your System Override version stored in System Profile Profile • — change the directory where packages are downloaded Package storage directory 3.4 Package Exceptions Settings The Package Exceptions tab allows you to define which packages to exclude from the list of updated...
  • Page 33 Section 3.4:Package Exceptions Settings Figure 3–3 Package Exceptions Settings...
  • Page 34 Chapter 3:Red Hat Update Agent Configuration...

  • Page 35: Chapter 4 Red Hat Update Agent

    Section 4.1:Starting the Red Hat Update Agent 4 Red Hat Update Agent After configuring the settings for the Red Hat Update Agent using the instructions in Chapter 3, Red Hat Update Agent Configuration, you can use the Red Hat Update Agent to retrieve the latest software packages from Red Hat.
  • Page 36 Chapter 4:Red Hat Update Agent Argument Description -r, --register Register as an anonymous user with Red Hat Network. You can register as a full user later by running rhn_register. --tmpdir=directory Override the configured package directory. The default location is /var/spool/up2date. The first time you run the Red Hat Update Agent, the dialog window in Figure 4–1, Install GPG Key will prompt you to install the Red Hat GPG key.

  • Page 37: Choosing Packages To Update

    Section 4.2:Choosing Packages to Update Figure 4–2 Welcome Screen 4.2 Choosing Packages to Update After clicking on the Welcome Screen, the dialog box in Figure 4–3, Retrieve Update Information Next will appear. This means that a connection to Red Hat Network is being established and that your customized list of updates is being retreived.
  • Page 38 Chapter 4:Red Hat Update Agent for your system. If there are no updated packages available for your system, the dialog box in Figure 4–4, No new packages needed appears. Click to exit Red Hat Update Agent. Figure 4–4 No new packages needed If your system is not up-to-date, your customized list of available updated packages is displayed as shown in Figure 4–5, List of Available Updates.
  • Page 39 Section 4.2:Choosing Packages to Update Figure 4–6 Choose Updates to Retrieve Red Hat Update Agent shows the progress of each package retrieval as shown in Figure 4–7, Re- trieval Finished. When they have all been retrieved, the message . is displayed at the All finished bottom of the screen.

  • Page 40: Installing Updated Packages

    Chapter 4:Red Hat Update Agent Figure 4–7 Retrieval Finished 4.3 Installing Updated Packages If you chose to have all the packages installed automatically (see Chapter 3, Red Hat Update Agent Configuration), the selected packages are installed. The progress of installing each package, as well as the total progress, is displayed.

  • Page 41: Update Agent Finished

    Section 4.4:Update Agent Finished Figure 4–8 Installation Finished 4.4 Update Agent Finished When the Red Hat Update Agent has finished downloading the desired packages (and installing them if you chose the install option), you will see the screen in Figure 4–9, Update Agent Finished. to exit the Red Hat Update Agent.

  • Page 42: Command Line Mode Red Hat Update Agent

    Chapter 4:Red Hat Update Agent Figure 4–9 Update Agent Finished 4.5 Command Line Mode Red Hat Update Agent If you are not running X, you can still run the Red Hat Update Agent from a virtual console or remote terminal. The command line version of the Red Hat Update Agent accepts the following arguments: Table 4–2 Update Agent Command Line Arguments Argument...
  • Page 43 Section 4.5:Command Line Mode Red Hat Update Agent Argument Description -d, --download Download packages only, do not install them. This argument will override the configuraton option Do not install packages after retrieval. -i, --install Install packages after they are downloaded. This argument will override the configuraton option Do not install packages after retrieval.
  • Page 44 Cut and paste the following into a file and save it as redhat2.asc or download it from http://www.redhat.com/about/contact/. Type bits/keyID Date User ID 1024D/DB42A60E 1999-09-23 Red Hat Software, Inc. (security@redhat.com) 2048g/961630A2 1999-09-23 -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- Version: GnuPG v1.0.0 (GNU/Linux) Comment: For info see http://www.gnupg.org...

  • Page 45: Syncronizing Your System Profile

    Section 4.6:Syncronizing Your System Profile 4XFtOd04NMgWI63uqZc4zkRa+kwEZtmbz3tHSdRCCE+Y7YVP6IUf/w6YPQFQriWY FiA6fD10eB+BlIUqIw80VgjsBKmCwvKkn4jg8kibXgj4/TzQSx77uYokw1EqQ2wk OZoaEtcubsNMquuLCMWijYhGBBgRAgAGBQI36lRyAAoJECGRgM3bQqYOhyYAnj7h VDY/FJAGqmtZpwVp9IlitW5tAJ4xQApr/jNFZCTksnI+4O1765F7tA== =3AHZ -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- At the shell prompt, import the key with the following command: gpg --import redhat2.asc The resulting message tells you that the key was processed. To check that the key was added, type gpg --list-keys.
  • Page 46 Chapter 4:Red Hat Update Agent...

  • Page 47: Chapter 5 Red Hat Network Web Application

    4. The Red Hat Network Web Application will only display errata relevant to your network. 5.1 Logging into Red Hat Network Web Application If you have not registered a system yet or do not have a redhat.com account, create a new account by clicking the Sign Up button on the left side of the page.

  • Page 48: Adding A System Profile

    Chapter 5:Red Hat Network Web Application Figure 5–1 Main Page 5.3 Adding a System Profile Chapter 2, Registration discusses registering your system using the Red Hat Network Registration Client. The Red Hat Network Registration Client steps you through the process and allows you to customize your system profile.
  • Page 49 Section 5.3:Adding a System Profile Note For more control over the registration process and your system profile, use the Red Hat Network Registration Client to register a new system (see Chap- ter 2, Registration). To register a system through the Red Hat Network Web Application use the following steps: 1.

  • Page 50: Viewing Your Network Group

    Chapter 5:Red Hat Network Web Application 5.4 Viewing Your Network Group After logging into the Red Hat Network Web Application, click the button on the top Your Network navigation bar. Figure 5–2 Systems Overview Tab As shown in Figure 5–2, Systems Overview Tab, clicking on Your Network shows the status of your entire network so you can quickly determine the health and security of each system.

  • Page 51: Viewing Individual System

    Section 5.5:Viewing Individual System Pages To change the sorting order of the list, click on the column header names. A bold Systems Overview column header indicates the current sort order. Click on the tab to view the errata for every system in Your Network Group. If an errata has Errata been issued on any package in your system profile, you can view it here.

  • Page 52: Downloading Updated Packages

    Chapter 5:Red Hat Network Web Application 5.6 Downloading Updated Packages If you have not configured your to proactively download and install Retrieval/Installation Settings the most recent Red Hat packages (see Section 3.3, Retrieval/Installation Settings), you can download them through the Red Hat Network Web Application. From the tab, click the errata summary link under the .
  • Page 53 Section 5.7:Customizing Preferences 5.7.2 General Preferences Click on the tab to customize the date/time format to use, your session timeout value, and General your session security preference. Under the section, you have the option to select the following date formats: Date/Time •...

  • Page 54: Searching Errata

    Chapter 5:Red Hat Network Web Application Figure 5–3 Visual Alerts If you wish to receive email notifications about system updates Click the checkbox under the Email notifications section. 2. Type your email address in the box labeled Send Email to: 3.

  • Page 55: Viewing Online Help

    Section 5.10:Navigation Figure 5–4 Search Errata 5.9 Viewing Online Help In addition to this User Reference Guide, the following help is available by clicking the Help Desk button on the top navigation bar: • Security and Privacy statement • FAQs •...
  • Page 56 Chapter 5:Red Hat Network Web Application The System Overview page summarizes all relevant notifications for your Network Group. You can view more details by selecting an individual system in the group. Within the individual system page, you can view a list of new packages available for the system, errata reports relevant to the system, the hardware profile for the system, and the history of events performed on the system while using the Red Hat Network Web Application.
  • Page 57 Section 5.10:Navigation Package Info Dependencies Change Log File List Systems – Download List • Search • Preferences • Help Desk – Your RHN Account – Privacy and Security – FAQs – Page Help...
  • Page 58 Chapter 5:Red Hat Network Web Application...

  • Page 59: Chapter 6 Red Hat Network Daemon

    Red Hat Network Daemon 6 Red Hat Network Daemon The Red Hat Network Daemon periodically connects to the Red Hat Network to check for updates and notifications. The default interval time is two hours (120 minutes). This can be configured in the /etc/sysconfig/rhn/rhnsd file by specifying the time interval in minutes.
  • Page 60 Chapter 6:Red Hat Network Daemon...

  • Page 61: Using Red Hat Network With Red Hat Linux

    Download the following packages in the new rhnpackages directory: (You might need hold down the key and then left-click on the filename to save it or right-click the file and choose [Shift] Save.) • http://www.redhat.com/network/service/RHL_62/RPMS/up2date-2.1.7-0.6.x.i386.rpm • http://www.redhat.com/network/service/RHL_62/RPMS/python-xmlrpc-1.2.1- 0.6.x.i386.rpm • http://www.redhat.com/network/service/RHL_62/RPMS/python-1.5.2-27.6.x.i386.rpm •...
  • Page 62 Chapter 7:Using Red Hat Network with Red Hat Linux 6.2 • http://www.redhat.com/network/service/RHL_62/RPMS/usermode-1.37-1.6.src.rpm 4. Go back to the shell prompt in the rhnpackages directory (you must still be root) and execute the command rpm -Uvh * to upgrade the exist Red Hat Update Agent to the version that works with Red Hat Network.

  • Page 63: Chapter 8 Frequently Asked Questions

    Q: How do I sign up for Red Hat Network? A: If you are a member of redhat.com, you are automatically a member of RHN. Using the Red Hat Network Registration Client or the Red Hat Network Web Application with your redhat.com user name and password, you can create a System Profile for the system you wish to register with RHN.
  • Page 64 Chapter 8:Frequently Asked Questions • Minimize security vulnerabilities in your network by providing security alerts as soon as Red Hat releases them • Filter out package updates not relevant to your network • Provide a reliable method of managing multiple systems with similar configurations Q: Does it do something I can’t already do today? A: Yes, the Red Hat Network brings together, in one place, notifications and packages for your Red Hat Linux systems.
  • Page 65 Frequently Asked Questions Q: How does the Red Hat Network work? A: Each registered system has a System Profile that contains hardware and software information about the system. RHN uses this information to alert you of security alerts, bug fixes, and package enhance- ments from the Red Hat errata List via email notifications.
  • Page 66 Chapter 8:Frequently Asked Questions for someone to steal your identity. If you should forget your Red Hat login, you can call Customer Service to access your account. This information will help protect your account from unauthorized access. Your system hardware and package profiles are required to give you the most relevant information about what affects your systems.
  • Page 67 Please refer to http://rpm.redhat.com/ for more details. Q: How do I change my email address for notifications? A: Logon to Red Hat Network from http://www.redhat.com/network, go to Preferences => Notifica- tion Delivery. Under the section, edit the field.
  • Page 68 Chapter 8:Frequently Asked Questions Q: I downloaded just the RPM files and installed them myself. Can I update my System Profile to reflect the changes? A: Yes. Type the command up2date -p at a shell prompt. It will update your RPM package list stored on the Red Hat Network servers.
  • Page 69 Index Index Errata........51 Logging In ......... 47 Main page........47 Navigation ......... 55 Digital Certificate ......12 Online Help........ 55 Preferences ........ 52 General....

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