Introduction; Red Hat Network; Rhn Proxy Server - Red Hat NETWORK PROXY SERVER 4.0 Installation Manual

Introduction

1.1. Red Hat Network

Red Hat Network (RHN) is the environment for system-level support and management of
Red Hat systems and networks of systems. Red Hat Network brings together the tools,
services, and information repositories needed to maximize the reliability, security, and per-
formance of their systems. To use RHN, system administrators register the software and
hardware profiles, known as System Profiles, of their client systems with Red Hat Network.
When a client system requests package updates, only the applicable packages for the client
are returned (based upon the software profile stored on the RHN Servers).
Advantages of using Red Hat Network include:
Scalability — with Red Hat Network, a single system administrator can set up and main-
•
tain hundreds or thousands of Red Hat systems more easily, accurately, and quickly than
they could maintain a single system without Red Hat Network.
Standard Protocols — standard protocols are used to maintain security and increase
•
capability. For example, XML-RPC gives Red Hat Network the ability to do much more
than merely download files.
Security — all communication between registered systems and Red Hat Network takes
•
place over secure Internet connections.
View Errata Alerts — easily view Errata Alerts for all your client systems through one
•
website.
Scheduled Actions — use the website to schedule actions, including Errata Updates,
•
package installs, and software profile updates.
Simplification — maintaining Red Hat systems becomes a simple, automated process.
•

1.2. RHN Proxy Server

An RHN Proxy Server is a service deployed within a corporate network with advanced Red
Hat Network functionality, such as a package-caching mechanism for reduced bandwidth
usage and customizable channels enabling custom package deployment.
This service allows a business or corporation to cache RPM Updates on an internal, cen-
trally located RHN Proxy Server and have the client systems download the updates from
Chapter 1.