Using Rhn Bootstrap; Preparation - Red Hat NETWORK SATELLITE 5.1.0 - CLIENT Configuration Manual

Chapter 5.

Using RHN Bootstrap

Red Hat Network provides a tool that automates much of the manual reconfiguration described
in previous chapters: RHN Bootstrap. This tool plays an integral role in the RHN Satellite
Server Installation Program, enabling generation of the bootstrap script during installation.
RHN Proxy Server customers and customers with updated Satellite settings require a bootstrap
tool that can be used independently. RHN Bootstrap, invoked with the command
/usr/bin/rhn-bootstrap
Satellite Server and RHN Proxy Server.
If used correctly, the script this tool generates can be run from any client system to conduct the
following tasks:
• Redirect client applications to the RHN Proxy or Satellite
• Import custom GPG keys
• Install SSL certificates
• Register the system to RHN and particular system groups and channels with the help of
activation keys
• Perform miscellaneous post-configuration activities, including updating packages, performing
reboots, and altering RHN configuration
Customers should note, however, the inherent risks of using a script to conduct configuration.
Security tools such as SSL certificates are installed by the script itself; therefore they do not yet
exist on the systems and cannot be used to process transactions. This allows for the possibility
of someone impersonating the Satellite and transmitting bad data. This is mitigated by the fact
that virtually all Satellites and client systems operate behind customer firewalls and are
restricted from outside traffic. Registration is conducted via SSL and is therefore protected.
The bootstrap script
bootstrap.sh
/var/www/html/pub/bootstrap/
downloaded and run on all client systems. Note that some preparation and post-generation
editing is required, as identified in the following sections. Refer to
Options" for the tool's complete list of options. Finally, refer to the
Bootstrap Script for an example script.

1. Preparation

Since RHN Bootstrap (
infrastructure to properly configure client systems, those components must be prepared before
script generation. The following list identifies suggested initial measures:
, serves that purpose and comes installed by default on both RHN
is automatically placed in the
directory of the RHN Server. From there it can be
) depends on other components of the Red Hat Network
rhn-bootstrap
Section 4, "RHN Bootstrap
Appendix A, Sample
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