Backing Up The Satellite - Red Hat NETWORK SATELLITE 5.2 Installation Manual

Chapter 8. Maintenance
RHN Satellite Server updates, especially if they involve the database. In such cases,
the advisory will contain specific and detailed information about necessary steps that
may be required.
If instead of installing new Satellite packages, you are attempting to update the server's RHN
Entitlement Certificate, such as to increase its number of client systems, refer to
Entitlements
for instructions.

8.3. Backing Up the Satellite

Backing up an RHN Satellite Server can be done in several ways. Regardless of the method chosen,
the associated database also needs to be backed up. For the Stand-Alone Database, consult your
organization's database administrator. For the Embedded Database, refer to
DB Control"
for a complete description of this process and the options available.
Here are the minimum files and directories Red Hat recommends backing up:
• /rhnsat/ - Embedded Database only (never to be backed up while the database is running - refer
Section 8.4.2, "Backing up the
to
• /etc/sysconfig/rhn/
• /etc/rhn/
• /etc/sudoers
• /etc/tnsnames.ora
• /var/www/html/pub/
• /var/satellite/redhat/1 - custom RPMs
• /root/.gnupg/
• /root/ssl-build/
If possible, back up /var/satellite/, as well. In case of failure, this will save lengthy download
time. Since /var/satellite/ (specifically /var/satellite/redhat/NULL/) is primarily a
duplicate of Red Hat's RPM repository, it can be regenerated with satellite-sync. Red Hat
recommends the entire /var/satellite/ tree be backed up. In the case of disconnected satellites,
/var/satellite/ must be backed up.
Backing up only these files and directories would require reinstalling the RHN Satellite Server ISO
RPMs and reregistering the Satellite. In addition, Red Hat packages would need to be resynchronized
using the satellite-sync tool. Finally, you would have to reinstall the /root/ssl-build/\
rhn-org-httpd-ssl-key-pair-MACHINE_NAME-VER-REL.noarch.rpm.
Another method would be to back up all of the files and directories mentioned above but reinstall
the RHN Satellite Server without reregistering it. During the installation, cancel or skip the RHN
registration and SSL certificate generation sections.
The final and most comprehensive method would be to back up the entire machine. This would save
time in downloading and reinstalling but would require additional disk space and back up time.
54
Database")
Chapter 5,
Section 8.4, "Using RHN