Red Hat Update Agent; Starting The Red Hat Update Agent - Red Hat NETWORK SATELLITE 5.3.0 Reference Manual

Chapter 4.

Red Hat Update Agent

The Red Hat Update Agent is your connection to Red Hat Network on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4
It enables you to register your systems, create System Profiles, and alter the settings by which your
organization and RHN interact. Once registered, your systems can use the Red Hat Update Agent to
retrieve the latest software packages from Red Hat. This tool allows you to always have the most up-
to-date Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems with all security updates, bug fixes, and software package
enhancements.
Remember, this tool must be run on the system you wish to update. You cannot use the Red Hat
Update Agent on the system if it is not entitled to an RHN service offering.
Warning
Only systems running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 and later can use the Red Hat Update
Agent to register with RHN. Systems running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1 must use Red
Hat Network Registration Client before starting the Red Hat Update Agent. Refer to
Chapter 2, The rhn_register Client
Hat Update Agent instructions.
Important
You must use Red Hat Update Agent Version 2.5.4 or higher to upgrade your kernel
automatically. It installs the updated kernel and configures LILO or GRUB to boot the new
kernel the next time the system is rebooted. To ensure that you are running the latest
version, execute the command up2date up2date. If you do not have the latest version
installed, this command updates it.

4.1. Starting the Red Hat Update Agent

If you are not running the X Window System or prefer the command line version of the Red Hat
Update Agent, skip to
You must be root to run the Red Hat Update Agent. If started as a standard user, Red Hat Update
Agent prompts you to enter the root password before proceeding. The Red Hat Update Agent can be
started using one of the following methods:
For Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5:
• On the GNOME and KDE desktops, Applications (the main menu on the panel) => Add/Remove
Software.
• At a shell prompt (for example, an xterm or gnome-terminal), type the command system-
config-packages.
For Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4:
• On the GNOME and KDE desktops, go to Applications (the main menu on the panel) => System
Tools => Red Hat Network.
• At a shell prompt (for example, an xterm or gnome-terminal), type the command up2date.
Section 4.3, "Command Line
for instructions, then return to this chapter for Red
Version".
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