Red Hat NETWORK - USER REFERENCE GUIDE 3.0 User Reference Manual

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Red Hat Network
User Reference Guide 3.0

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  • Page 1 Red Hat Network User Reference Guide 3.0...
  • Page 2 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)-3.0-Print-RHI (2001-08-12T12:19-0400) Copyright ©...
  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Contents Red Hat Network Introduction ................. . . v Document Conventions..
  • Page 4 Choosing Packages to Update ..........38 Installing Updated Packages ..
  • Page 5: Introduction

    All version of this manual are available in HTML and PDF formats 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 The /usr/share/doc directory contains documentation for various programs. 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).
  • Page 7: Document Conventions

    Section 0.1:Document Conventions Click on the Back button to return to the Web page you last viewed. computer output When you see text in this style, it indicates text displayed by the computer on the command line. You will see responses to commands you typed in, error messages and interactive prompts for your input during scripts or programs shown this way.
  • 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 note, 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

    Network Registration Client for further information). You can use either of the two Red Hat Network user interfaces: • Software Manager Web interface available at http://rhn.redhat.com • The Red Hat Update Agent Both the Web interface and the Red Hat Update Agent allow you to view all Errata Alerts included in the Red Hat Errata list.
  • Page 12: Software Manager

    Registering a system with Red Hat Network is free as well as one subscription to Software Manager. Additional subscription to Software Manager can be purchased at http://rhn.redhat.com/purchase_info.pxt. With each Software Manager subscription, you receive: •...
  • Page 13: Security, Quality Assurance, And Red Hat Network

    Red Hat’s GNU Privacy Guard (GPG) signature to ensure authenticity. Red Hat Network incorporates the following security measures: Your System Profile available at http://rhn.redhat.com is only accessible with the correct user name and password. 2. A Digital Certificate stored on the client system in the file /etc/sysconfig/rhn/systemid after registration is used to authenticate the system during each transaction between the client and Red Hat Network.
  • Page 14 If the packages are not installed, they can be found on the Red Hat Linux 7 or higher CD-ROM #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). Always check the Red Hat errata page, available at http://www.redhat.com/errata/, for package updates.
  • Page 15: Chapter 2 Red Hat Network Registration Client

    Client before registering their systems. Do not attempt to use this option unless you are required to. To start the configuration tool, use the command: rhn_register --configure You will be presented with a list of options and their current values: enableProxyAuth noSSLServerURL http://www.rhns.redhat.com/XMLRPC enableProxy httpProxy proxyUser serverURL https://www.rhns.redhat.com/XMLRPC proxyPassword debug Enter number of item to edit <return to exit, q to quit without saving>:...
  • Page 16: Starting The Red Hat Network Registration Client

    Chapter 2:Red Hat Network Registration Client If you require a proxy username and password, change the values of numbers 0, 4, and 6. Set en- ableProxyAuth to Yes to enable username/password authentication for the proxy. Set prox- yUser and proxyPassword to the appropriate username and password for the proxy. 2.2 Starting the Red Hat Network Registration Client You must be root to register a system with RHN.
  • Page 17 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 feed- back@redhat.com.
  • Page 18: Registering A User Account

    Chapter 2:Red Hat Network Registration Client Figure 2–3 Red Hat Privacy Statement 2.3 Registering a User Account Before you can create a System Profile, you must create a user account. The only required information in this section is a unique user name and password and a valid email address. In the screen shown in Figure 2–6, Create a Unique User Name and Password, you must choose a user name and password.
  • Page 19 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 20 Chapter 2:Red Hat Network Registration Client 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 account. Run the Red Hat Network Registration Client on the new machine you wish to add and enter your existing Red Hat Network user name and password.
  • Page 21: Registering A System Profile

    Section 2.4:Registering a System Profile Most users can leave the Org Info section blank. If you have an existing organization account, enter your organization’s ID and password in the provided text fields. If the values are valid, the system will be added to the organization’s Red Hat Network account. Click Next to continue.
  • Page 22 Chapter 2:Red Hat Network Registration Client Figure 2–7 System Profile - Hardware 2.4.2 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 23 Section 2.4:Registering a System Profile Figure 2–8 Registration Wizard Once the RPM package list is built, the list will be displayed as shown in Figure 2–9, RPM Package Information. Deselecting Include RPM Packages installed on this system in my System Profile will omit this information from your System Profile.
  • Page 24: Finishing Registration

    Chapter 2:Red Hat Network Registration Client Profile shows that the procmail procps , and psgml packages have been omitted from the package list. Choose which packages to exclude from the system profile, and click to continue with the regis- Next tration process.
  • Page 25 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 2–13, Registration Finished). Click Finish Client. After completing registration, visit http://rhn.redhat.com to verify your System Profile and make any changes.
  • Page 26: Entitling Your System

    Software Manager subscription after creating an account through registering a system for RHN or creating a redhat.com account. To entitle a system, go to http://rhn.redhat.com and login using the same username and password you just used in the Red Hat Network Registration Client. On the left navigation bar, click...
  • Page 27: Text Mode Rhn Registration Client

    Section 2.7:Text Mode RHN Registration Client 2.7 Text Mode RHN Registration Client You can force the Red Hat Network Registration Client to run in text mode with the command: rhn_register --nox 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.
  • Page 28 Chapter 2:Red Hat Network Registration Client...
  • Page 29: Chapter 3 Red Hat Update Agent Configuration Tool

    Section 3.2:General Settings 3 Red Hat Update Agent Configuration Tool Before using the Red Hat Update Agent, you should configure the settings. This can be done with the Red Hat Update Agent Configuration Tool. If you are not running the X Window System or prefer the command line version, skip to Section 3.5, Command Line Version of Red Hat Update Agent Configuration Tool .
  • Page 30: Retrieval/Installation Settings

    Chapter 3:Red Hat Update Agent Configuration Tool 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 You must use Red Hat Update Agent Version 2.5.4 or higher to upgrade your kernel automatically.
  • 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 • Do not display packages when local configuration file has been modified —...
  • Page 32: Package Exceptions Settings

    Chapter 3:Red Hat Update Agent Configuration Tool • Override version stored in System Profile — override the Red Hat Linux version in your System Profile • — change the directory where packages are downloaded; the default Package storage directory location is /var/spool/up2date 3.4 Package Exceptions Settings The Package Exceptions tab allows you to define which packages to exclude from the list of updated RPM packages according to the package name or file name (see Figure 3–3, Package Exceptions Set-...
  • Page 33: Command Line Version Of Red Hat Update Agent Configuration Tool

    Section 3.5:Command Line Version of Red Hat Update Agent Configuration Tool Figure 3–3 Package Exceptions Settings 3.5 Command Line Version of Red Hat Update Agent Configuration Tool The command line version of this tool performs the same function as the graphical version. It allows you to configure the settings used by the Red Hat Update Agent and store them in the configuration file /etc/sysconfig/rhn/up2date.
  • Page 34 Chapter 3:Red Hat Update Agent Configuration Tool networkRetries removeSkipList [’kernel*’] retrieveOnly enableProxy keepAfterInstall 10. proxyPassword 11. proxyUser 12. headerFetchCount 13. versionOverride 14. enableProxyAuth 15. noSSLServerURL http://www.rhns.redhat.com/XMLRPC 16. noReplaceConfig 17. noBootLoader 18. systemIdPath /etc/sysconfig/rhn/systemid 19. serverURL https://beta.rhns.redhat.com/XMLRPC 20. pkgSkipList [’kernel*’] 21. adminAddress [’root@localhost’] 22. forceInstall 23. fileSkipList 24.
  • 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 Tool , 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 -i, --install Install packages after they are downloaded. This argument will override the configuraton option Do not install packages after retrieval. -k, --packagedir Specify a colon separated path of directories to look for packages before trying to download them.
  • Page 37: Choosing A Channel

    Section 4.2:Choosing a Channel Figure 4–2 Welcome Screen 4.2 Choosing a Channel The first step is to select the channel(s) from which you want the updated packages to be retreived. Select one or more channels and click . Refer to Section 5.5, Channels and Packages for more Next information on channels and how channels are used to determine which packages to install.
  • Page 38: Choosing Packages To Update

    Chapter 4:Red Hat Update Agent Figure 4–3 Channels 4.3 Choosing Packages to Update After clicking on the Welcome Screen, the dialog box in Figure 4–4, 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 39 Section 4.3:Choosing Packages to Update for your system. If there are no updated packages available for your system, the dialog box in Figure 4–5, No new packages needed appears. Click to exit Red Hat Update Agent. Figure 4–5 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 4–6, List of Available Updates.
  • Page 40 Chapter 4:Red Hat Update Agent If you want to view the advisory for the RPM Update, click the View Advisory button. This will display what type of Errata Alert it is and what problems it addresses as shown in Figure 4–7, View Advisory.
  • Page 41: Installing Updated Packages

    Section 4.4:Installing Updated Packages Red Hat Update Agent shows the progress of each package retrieval as shown in Figure 4–9, Re- trieval Finished. When they have all been retrieved, the message is displayed at the bottom All finished of the screen. Click to continue.
  • Page 42: Update Agent Finished

    Chapter 4:Red Hat Update Agent Figure 4–10 Installation Finished 4.5 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 4–11, Update Agent Finished. to exit the Red Hat Update Agent.
  • Page 43: Command Line Version Of Red Hat Update Agent

    Section 4.6:Command Line Version of Red Hat Update Agent Figure 4–11 Update Agent Finished 4.6 Command Line Version of 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.
  • Page 44 Chapter 4:Red Hat Update Agent Table 4–2 Update Agent Command Line Arguments Argument Description --configure Configure Red Hat Update Agent options. This is equivalent to running the Red Hat Update Agent Configuration Tool (up2date-config). To run the command line version of up2date-config, use this option in conjunction with the --nox option: up2date --nox --configure.
  • Page 45 Section 4.6:Command Line Version of Red Hat Update Agent Argument Description --tmpdir=directory Override the configured package directory. The default location is /var/spool/up2date. This option is useful if you do not have enough space in the configured location. -u, --update Update the system. All package updates for your system will be downloaded based on your configured preferences (and installed if you chose that option).
  • Page 46 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 47: Manual Package Installation

    Section 4.7:Manual Package Installation XCLPA/9P/vtImA8CZN3jxGgtK5GGtDNJ/cMhhuv5tnfwFg4b/VGo2Jr8mhLUqoIb E6zeGAmZbUpdckDco8D5fiFmqTf5+++pCEpJLJkkzel/32N2w4qzPrcRMCiBURES PjCLd4Y5rPoU8E4kOHc/4BuHN903tiCsCPloCrWsQZ7UdxfQ5LQiUmVkIEhhdCwg SW5jIDxzZWN1cml0eUByZWRoYXQuY29tPohVBBMRAgAVBQI36lQ4AwsKAwMVAwID FgIBAheAAAoJECGRgM3bQqYOsBQAnRVtg7B25Hm11PHcpa8FpeddKiq2AJ9aO8sB XmLDmPOEFI75mpTrKYHF6rkCDQQ36lRyEAgAokgI2xJ+3bZsk8jRA8ORIX8DH05U lMH27qFYzLbT6npXwXYIOtVn0K2/iMDj+oEB1Aa2au4OnddYaLWp06v3d+XyS0t+ 5ab2ZfIQzdh7wCwxqRkzR+/H5TLYbMG+hvtTdylfqIX0WEfoOXMtWEGSVwyUsnM3 Jy3LOi48rQQSCKtCAUdV20FoIGWhwnb/gHU1BnmES6UdQujFBE6EANqPhp0coYoI hHJ2oIO8ujQItvvNaU88j/s/izQv5e7MXOgVSjKe/WX3s2JtB/tW7utpy12wh1J+ JsFdbLV/t8CozUTpJgx5mVA3RKlxjTA+On+1IEUWioB+iVfT7Ov/0kcAzwADBQf9 E4SKCWRand8K0XloMYgmipxMhJNnWDMLkokvbMNTUoNpSfRoQJ9EheXDxwMpTPwK ti/PYrrL2J11P2ed0x7zm8v3gLrY0cue1iSba+8glY+p31ZPOr5ogaJw7ZARgoS8 BwjyRymXQp+8Dete0TELKOL2/itDOPGHW07SsVWOR6cmX4VlRRcWB5KejaNvdrE5 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.
  • Page 48: Syncronizing Your System Profile

    Chapter 4:Red Hat Update Agent 4.8 Syncronizing Your System Profile If you configured the Red Hat Update Agent to install the latest packages automatically, then your System Profile stored by Red Hat Network will be updated automatically also. However, if you only download the latest RPM packages using the Red Hat Update Agent or through the Web interface and upgrade or install the packages yourself, your System Profile will not be updated automatically.
  • Page 49: Chapter 5 Software Manager

    In a Web browser, go to http://rhn.redhat.com. The page shown in Figure 5–1, Logging into Red Hat Network will be displayed. If you have not registered a system yet or do not have a redhat.com account, create a new account by clicking under the category on the left navigation bar.
  • Page 50: Introduction To The Web Interface

    Chapter 5:Software Manager Figure 5–1 Logging into Red Hat Network 5.2 Introduction to the Web Interface The left navigation bar is divided into categories and pages within the categories. A user with entitled systems has permission to use the following categories and pages. Each will be explained in more detail throughout this manual.
  • Page 51 Section 5.2:Introduction to the Web Interface • Systems — Manage your systems here. – — View a list of all your systems along with how many Errata Alerts each system System List has, which channels the systems are subscribed to, and which systems are entitled. –...
  • Page 52 Chapter 5:Software Manager – RHN User Reference — Link to RHN User Reference Guide that provides step-by-step in- structions for using RHN. • — Detailed information about how Red Hat protects the information about Security and Privacy your systems and the personal information that you provide. •...
  • Page 53: Your Rhn

    Section 5.3:Your RHN Click the category name in the Current Selections box. Unselect the items from the list by clicking the checkbox under the column. Select Click After clicking , the number of selections in the category will change in the Cur- box.
  • Page 54 Update If you want to change your Red Hat Network password (the one used to log into Software Manager and redhat.com) click the tab on the page and replace the asterisks in the Details...
  • Page 55: Systems

    Section 5.4:Systems The email address on the Details tab is the one Red Hat Network sends email notification to if you have selected to receive Errata Alert email for your systems under the tab. To change Preferences your preferred email address, replace in on the page and click Details Update...
  • Page 56 Chapter 5:Software Manager 5.4.1 System List As shown in Figure 5–4, Systems List, the page displays a list of all your registered System List systems. Figure 5–4 Systems List contains several columns for each registered system: System List • — To select systems so that you can perform actions such as package installation on them, Select check the box beside each system that you want to select and click...
  • Page 57 Section 5.4:Systems • Name — The name of the system as configured when registering the system. The default name is the hostname of the system. Clicking on the name of a system takes you to the System Details page for the system. Refer to Section 5.4.4, System Details for more information. •...
  • Page 58 Chapter 5:Software Manager 5.4.4 System Details If you click on the name of a system on any page, it will display the System Details page for the system. The System Details page is further divided into tabbed pages. The first tabbed page you see is the page.
  • Page 59: Channels And Packages

    Section 5.5:Channels and Packages • Notes — Create notes about the system. Click Add a new note , type a subject and the note, and click . To delete a note, click on its title for the list of notes, check Update Note Delete this note and click...
  • Page 60 Chapter 5:Software Manager 5.5.2 Channel Subscribe and Unsubscribe Each RHN client system must be subscribed to a base channel and can only be subscribed to one base channel. This base channel is selected automatically during registration from the Red Hat Linux release and system architecture selected.
  • Page 61: Errata

    Section 5.6:Errata Select the entitled systems that you want to install the package on. Click the button. Install Packages on Selected Systems Confirm the action. 5.6 Errata Red Hat releases Errata Alerts in three categories: Security Alerts, Bug Fix Alerts, and Enhancement Alerts.
  • Page 62 Chapter 5:Software Manager 5.6.3 Errata Search The results of the last search are on the bottom of the page. You can create a new result set, choose to union with the previous result set, or intersect with the previous result set. page allows you to search through your systems according to specific criteria.
  • Page 63: Scheduled Actions

    Section 5.7:Scheduled Actions 5.6.5 Errata Details If you click on the synopsis of an Errata Alert, the Errata Details page for the Errata Alert will appear. This page is further divided into two tabbed pages: Details Systems Affected page provides the Errata Report issued by Red Hat. It describes what channels the Errata Details Alert affects, its problem and solution, MD5 verfication for each of the packages, and the packages required for the Errata Update.
  • Page 64 Chapter 5:Software Manager currently performing the Errata Update, which systems have completed the action, and which systems tried the action but failed to complete it. Figure 5–5 Scheduled Actions...
  • Page 65: 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 66 Chapter 6:Red Hat Network Daemon...
  • Page 67: Using Red Hat Network With Red Hat Linux

    After they are installed, run the Red Hat Network Registration Client (rhn_register) to register your system. See Chapter 2, Red Hat Network Registration Client for details. Login to your account at http://rhn.redhat.com to configure your preferences and to configure which systems you want to subscribe to Software Manager.
  • Page 68 Chapter 7:Using Red Hat Network with Red Hat Linux 6.2...
  • Page 69: Chapter 8 Frequently Asked Questions

    $19.95/month for each system. Q: How do I purchase Software Manager subscriptions? A: Go to http://rhn.redhat.com/purchase_info.pxt for instructions. Q: Can I cancel my Red Hat Network Software Manager subscriptions? A: To cancel your subscriptions, contact Customer Service at (888) RedHat1.
  • Page 70 Red Hat Network servers. Use this command whenever you install, upgrade, or remove packages without using the Red Hat Update Agent. Q: I forgot my username and password. How do I access my account? A: Go to http://rhn.redhat.com, click on the link, and complete the form. Forgot your password? Your password will be sent to your email address.
  • Page 71 A: The system you are running it on is not connected to the Internet, or the system is attempting to access Red Hat Network through a proxy server. Proxy server settings can be configured in the newest version of up2date available at http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHBA-2000-138.html. For instructions on configuring the proxy server, refer to Section 3.2, General Settings.
  • Page 72 Chapter 8:Frequently Asked Questions...
  • Page 73: Glossary

    An Errata Alert that pertains to a bug fix. Bugzilla Bugzilla is an online application ( http://www.redhat.com/bugzilla) that allows users to com- municate directly with the developers. From Bugzilla, users can submit bug reports and feature requests for Red Hat Linux and related open source packages.
  • Page 74 Red Hat Linux. The information includes the topics of the Errata, Bugzilla bug IDs, relevant releases/architectures, solutions including required RPMs, and MD5 checksums for verification. Errata are also available at http://www.redhat.com/errata/. Each RHN Errata Alert is based on the Red Hat Linux Errata List.
  • Page 75 Frequently Asked Questions Errata Alert RHN Errata Alert that updated packages based on Red Hat Errata are available for one or more systems within an organization. There are three types of Errata Alerts: Security Alerts, Bug Fix Alerts, and Enhancement Alerts. Registered System A system that is registered with Red Hat Network.
  • Page 76 Chapter 8:Frequently Asked Questions Security Alert An Errata Alert that pertains to system security. Service Level A Red Hat Network subscription service. Different service levels offer different features of RHN. The first service level offered is Software Manager . Software Manager The name of the first Service Level offering for Red Hat Network.
  • Page 77 Index Index Getting started........ 13 GNU Privacy Guard ......13 base channel ........59 hardware profile .
  • Page 78 Index left navigation bar......50 logging in ........49 Quality Assurance ......12 overview .

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