Channels; Software Channels - Red Hat NETWORK SATELLITE 5.1.1 Reference Manual

Chapter 6. Red Hat Network Website

6.6. Channels

If you click the Channels tab on the top navigation bar, the Channels category and links appear.
The pages in the Channels category enable you to view and manage the channels and packages
associated with your systems. In addition, you can obtain ISO images here.

6.6.1. Software Channels

The Software Channels page is the first to appear in the Channels category. A software channel is a
list of Red Hat Enterprise Linux packages grouped by use. Channels are used to choose packages to
be installed on a system.
There are two types of software channels: base channels and child channels.
6.6.1.1. Base Channels
A base channel consists of a list of packages based on a specific architecture and Red Hat Enterprise
Linux release. For example, all of the packages in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 for the x86 architecture
make up a base channel. The list of packages in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 for the Itanium
architecture make up a different base channel.
A system must be subscribed to one base channel only. This base channel is assigned automatically
during registration based upon the Red Hat Enterprise Linux release and system architecture selected.
In the case of public free channels, the action will succeed. In the case of paid base channels, this
action will fail if an associated entitlement does not exist.
6.6.1.1.1. Extended Update Support (EUS)
In addition to base channels for major versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, there are channels for
update versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, which are also separated by architecture and which
can have child channels. These Extended Update Support (EUS) channels are for administrators
who want to stay with one major or update version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux and customize their
package updates for their particular version, rather than upgrade their systems to a new update
version that installs new software, hardware drivers, and features on production systems.
For example, administrators can standardize their desktop systems to Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.1 for
x86, while managing servers on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.5 for AMD64 and EM64T. Administrators
can stay on their version for the duration of the EUS support lifecycle, assured of the behavior of their
software version. Additionally, administrators can install critical software updates without introducing
bugs from untested new features or software.
6.6.1.2. Child Channels
A child channel is a channel associated with a base channel that contains extra packages. For
instance, an organization can create a child channel associated with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 for
the x86 architecture that contains extra packages needed only for the organization, such as a custom
engineering application.
A system can be subscribed to multiple child channels of its base channel. Only packages included
in a system's subscribed channels can be installed or updated on that system. Further, RHN Satellite
Server and RHN Proxy Server customers have channel management authority. This authority
gives them the ability to create and manage their own custom channels. Refer to the RHN Channel
Management Guide for details.
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