Red Hat NETWORK - USER 1.2 Product information sheet

Red Hat Network
User Reference Guide 1.2

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RHN User Reference Guide(EN)-1.1-Print-RHI (2000-10-05T10:31-0400)
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ii

Contents
Red Hat Network
Chapter 1 What is Red Hat Network? .................................... 5
1.1 Automatic Notifications........................................................... 6
1.2 Security, Quality Assurance, and Red Hat Network .......................... 7
Chapter 2 Registration............................................................. 9
2.1 Starting the Red Hat Network Registration Client............................. 9
2.2 Registering a User Account ..................................................... 12
2.3 Registering a System Profile.................................................... 16
2.4 Finishing Registration............................................................ 20
2.5 Text Mode RHN Registration Client............................................. 22
Chapter 3 Red Hat Update Agent Configuration.................. 25
3.1 Configuring the Red Hat Update Agent ........................................ 25
3.2 Retrieval/Installation Settings ................................................... 25
3.3 Package Exceptions Settings ................................................... 27
Chapter 4 Red Hat Update Agent........................................... 29
4.1 Starting the Red Hat Update Agent ............................................ 29
4.2 Choosing Packages to Update.................................................. 31
4.3 Installing Updated Packages .................................................... 34
4.4 Update Agent Finished........................................................... 36
4.5 Command Line Mode Red Hat Update Agent................................. 37
Chapter 5 Red Hat Network Web Application....................... 39
5.1 Logging into Red Hat Network Web Application .............................. 39
5.2 Viewing Your Notifications ....................................................... 40
5.3 Adding a System Profile ......................................................... 40
5.4 Viewing Your Network Group.................................................... 42
5.5 Viewing Individual System Pages............................................... 44
iii

5.6 Downloading Updated Packages ............................................... 45
5.7 Customizing Preferences........................................................ 46
5.8 Searching Errata.................................................................. 48
5.9 Viewing Online Help.............................................................. 49
5.10 Navigation......................................................................... 50
Chapter 6 Red Hat Network Daemon..................................... 53
Chapter 7 Frequently Asked Questions................................ 55
iv

What is Red Hat Network? 5
1 What is Red Hat Network?
Have you ever read about a new version of a software package and wanted to install
it but could not find it?
Have you ever tried to find an RPM through an Internet search engine or an RPM
Repository and been linked to a site that you have never heard of?
Have you ever tried to find an RPM but instead you are only able to find the source
files that you have to compile yourself?
Have you ever spent hours or even days visiting different websites to see if you have
the latest packages installed on your system, only to have to do it again in a few
months?
Those days are over with Red Hat Network (RHN). RHN provides the solution to all
your system software management needs.
Launched in September 2000 with Red Hat Linux 7.0, Red Hat Network (RHN) is an
Internetsolutionfor managing a RedHat Linux system or anetworkofRedHat Linux
systems. All security patches, bug fixes, and software package enhancements can be
downloaded directly from Red Hat using the Red Hat Update Agent standalone
applicationorthroughaWebbrowserusingthe RedHatNetworkWebApplication.
The three main components of Red Hat Network are as follows:
• The Red Hat Network Registration Client
• The Red Hat Network user interface
• The Red Hat Network Daemon
The Red Hat Network Registration Client allows you to create a unique RHN user
name and password and probes the hardware and software on your system to create a
System Profile. The System Profile is sent to RHN and RHN returns a unique System
ID to your system (see Chapter 2, Registration for further information).
You can use either of the two Red Hat Network user interfaces:

6 Chapter 1:What is Red Hat Network?
• The Red Hat Network Web Application
• The Red Hat Update Agent
Both the Red Hat Network Web Application and the Red Hat Update Agent al-
low you to view all security alerts, bug fixes, and package enhancements included
in the Red Hat errata list. Only packages relevant to your system are shown. The
Red Hat Network Web Application and Red Hat Update Agent can also be con-
figured to verify packages once downloaded. Red Hat Update Agent allows for a
few basic configuration options such as choosing to ignore update notifications for
certain packages. The Red Hat Network Web Application includes more features
such as viewing up to five systems simultaneously, viewing package details before
downloading them, and adding a system to your group without using the Red Hat
Network Registration Client.
Red Hat Update Agent is a standalone application that runs locally on your system.
All the software dependencies it requires are shipped with Red Hat Linux 7. The
Red Hat Network Web Application runs inside a SSL-enabled Web browser such
as Netscape and does not have software dependencies.
The Red Hat Network Daemon (rhnsd) runs in the background as a service and
probes the Red Hat Network for notifications and updates at set time intervals (see
Chapter 6, Red Hat Network Daemon for further information).
1.1 Automatic Notifications
During registration, you can configure Red Hat Network to send you email notifica-
tions of new and updated software packages. Automated notifications of the latest
updates
• Reduce the time and effort required by system administrators to stay on top of the
Red Hat errata list
• Minimize security vulnerabilities in your network by providing the patches as
soon as Red Hat releases them
• Filter out package updates not relevant to your network

Section 1.2:Security, Quality Assurance, and Red Hat Network 7
• Provide a reliable method of managing multiple systems with similar configura-
tions
1.2 Security, Quality Assurance, and Red Hat
Network
Red Hat Network provides significant benefits to your network including security
and quality assurance. All transactions made between you and Red Hat Network are
encrypted, and all RPM packages are signed with Red Hat’s GNU Privacy Guard
(GPG) signature to ensure authenticity.
Red Hat Network incorporates the following security measures:
1. The Red Hat Network Web Application is only accessible with the correct user
name and password.
2. A Digital Certificate stored on the client system in the file /etc/syscon-
fig/rhn/systemid after registration is used to authenticate the system dur-
ing each transaction between the client and Red Hat Network.
3. All notifications and information messages are signed by Red Hat with an elec-
tronic signature using GPG. The rpm utility can be used to verify the authenticity
of the package before it is installed.
4. All transactions are encrypted using a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection.
5. All packages are tested and verified by the Red Hat Quality Assurance Team
before they are added to the Red Hat errata list and Red Hat Network.

8 Chapter 1:What is Red Hat Network?

Section 2.1:Starting the Red Hat Network Registration Client 9
2 Registration
Before you begin using Red Hat Network, you need to create a user name, pass-
word, and System Profile. The Red Hat Network Registration Client will walk
you through this process.
2.1 Starting the Red Hat Network Registration Client
You must be root to register a system with RHN. If you start the Red Hat Network
Registration Client as a standard user, you will be prompted to enter the root pass-
word before proceeding. To start the Red Hat Network Registration Client in Red
Hat Linux 7, use one of the following methods:
1. On the GNOME desktop, go to the Main Menu Button (on the Panel) => Programs
=> System => RHN Registration
2. On the KDE desktop, go to the Main Menu Button (on the Panel) => Red Hat =>
System => RHN Registration
3. Type the command rhn_register at a shell prompt (for example an xterm or
gnome-terminal)
4. If you are not running the X Window System, type the command rhn_reg-
ister at a virtual console or remote terminal. Please refer to Section 2.5, Text
Mode RHN Registration Client for further details.

10 Chapter 2:Registration
CAUTION
You must use Python 1.5.2-24or later with Secure Sockets
Layer (SSL) support. If not, the information you transfer
will not be encrypted. If you have an earlier version of
Python, you will see the message shown in Figure 2–1,
Use Python 1.5.2-24 or later. To determine the version
of Python on your system, use the command rpm -q
python. It is strongly recommended you use Python
1.5.2-24 or later.
Figure 2–1 Use Python 1.5.2-24 or later
The opening screen for the Red Hat Network Registration Client gives you a brief
overview of the services available and the steps required to register (see Figure 2–2,
Welcome Screen). Click Next to continue with the registration process. If you click
Cancel, the registration process will end and no information will be sent.

Section 2.1:Starting the Red Hat Network Registration Client 11
Figure 2–2 Welcome Screen
Red Hat is committed to protecting your privacy (see Figure 2–3, Red Hat Privacy
Statement. The information gathered during the Red Hat Network Registration
process is used to create a System Profile. The System Profile is essential if you
wish to receive update notifications about your system. If you have any questions
about how your information is being used, please contact us at feedback@red-
hat.com.

12 Chapter 2:Registration
Figure 2–3 Red Hat Privacy Statement
2.2 Registering a User Account
Before you can create a System Profile, you must create a user account. The only
required information in this section is a unique user name and password.
2.2.1 Required User Account Information
In the screen shown in Figure 2–6, Create a Unique User Name and Password, you
must choose a user name and password. Once logged into Red Hat Network, you can
to modify your preferences, view your existing System Profile, or obtain the lastest
Red Hat software packages. You must choose a unique user name. If you enter one
already in use, you will see an error message (see Figure 2–4, Error: Username
Already Exists) until you have successfully chosen a unique user name and password
combination.

Section 2.2:Registering a User Account 13
Figure 2–4 Error: Username Already Exists
Please Note
If you are already a member of redhat.com, you can use
the same user name and password. However, you will still
need to continue with the registration process to create your
System Profile.
Your user name and password have the following restrictions:
• Must be at least four characters long
• Are case-insentitive
• Can not contain any spaces
• Can not contain any tabs
• Can not contain any line feeds
• Can not contain the characters &, +, %, or ’
If you have already registered and wish to update your System Profile, you can run
the Red Hat Network Registration Client again and enter your existing user name
and password. If you choose to do this, the dialog box shown in Figure 2–5, Warning:

14 Chapter 2:Registration
This System Already Registered will appear. Click Yes to start the Red Hat Network
Registration Client and update your System Profile.
Use your existing user name and password. If you do not, a
new user account will be created, and the new user account
you create will not have the same support Service Plan for
which you have already registered.
Figure 2–5 Warning: This System Already Registered
If you have already registered a machine and created a System Profile, you can add
a new machine to your System Profile. Run the Red Hat Network Registration
Client on the new machine you wish to add and enter your existing Red Hat Network
user name and password. The new machine will be added to your existing System
Profile, and you can log into the Red Hat Network Web Applicationwith your user
name and password to view all your systems simultaneously.
Currently, you are allowed to add up to five machines. Once again, it is important
to use your existing user name and password combination when registering an ad-
ditional system. If you do not you will not have the same Service Plan for which
you registered and you will not be able to login with one user name to view all your
systems.

Section 2.2:Registering a User Account 15
Figure 2–6 Create a Unique User Name and Password
2.2.2 Optional User Account Information
You can also choose whether to receive email notifications about updates relevant to
your system by selecting the box next titled I want to receive email notification for updates
to my System Profiles. When selected, the Email address: text area will no longer be
shaded and you can enter the email address where notifications will be sent. The
email address can be changed at any time.
If you purchased Red Hat Linux 7, Deluxe Workstation, or Professional Server, enter
your Registration Number to activate your Free Support Services Trial.
Click Next to continue creating a User Account.

16 Chapter 2:Registration
After successfully creating a user name and password, you are prompted for your
contact information. This information is optional. If you would like to receive infor-
mationabout specialoffersfrom Red Hat’s partners or receivetheRed Hate-Newslet-
ter, please fill out the relevant information (see Figure 2–7, Optional User Account
Information).
Figure 2–7 Optional User Account Information
2.3 Registering a System Profile
Now that you have a user account, you can create a System Profile that consists of
hardware and software information about your Red Hat Linux system. The software
System Profile information is used by Red Hat Network to determine what software
update notifications you receive.

Section 2.3:Registering a System Profile 17
2.3.1 Hardware System Profile
After creating a user name and password for your Red Hat Network account, the Red
Hat Network Registration Clientprobes your system for the followinginformation:
• Red Hat Linux version
• Hostname
• IP address
• CPU model
• CPU speed
• Amount of RAM
• PCI devices
• Disk sizes
• Mount points
The next step is choosing a profile name for your system as shown in Figure 2–8,
System Profile - Hardware. This name is used to identify the system in the Red Hat
Network Web Application. The default value is the hostname for the system. You
may modify this to be a more descriptive string such as Email Server for Support
Team if you find it more helpful.
If you do not wish to include information about your hardware or network in your
System Profile, deselect Include information about hardware and network (see Figure 2–8,
System Profile - Hardware).
Click Next to continue with the registration process.

18 Chapter 2:Registration
Figure 2–8 System Profile - Hardware
2.3.2 Software System Profile
The software System Profile consists of a list of RPM packages for which you wish
to receive notifications. The Red Hat Network Registration Client shows you a
list of all RPM packages listed in the RPM database on your system and then allows
you to customize the list by deselecting packages.
Gathering RPM Database Information
Only those packages you choose during this part of the registration will be included
in in your System Profile, and you will only receive notifications about the packages
in your System Profile. Thus, if you use an older version of a package and deselect
it from the list, it will not be replaced with a newer version. This RPM list can be
modifed later by running the Red Hat Network Registration Clientagain, by using
the Red Hat Network Web Application, or by using the Red Hat Update Agent.

Section 2.3:Registering a System Profile 19
As shown in Figure 2–9, Registration Wizard , querying the RPM database may take
some time depending on your system.
Figure 2–9 Registration Wizard
Once the RPM package list is built, the list will be displayed as shown in Figure 2–10,
RPM Package Information. Deselecting Include RPM Packages installed on this system in
my System Profile will omit this information from your System Profile.
Figure 2–10 RPM Package Information

20 Chapter 2:Registration
Choosing Which RPM Packages to Exclude from the System Profile
By default, all RPM packages in your RPM database are included in your System
Profile to be updated by Red Hat Network. To exclude a package, uncheck the pack-
age from the list by clicking the X beside the package name. For example, Figure
2–11, Choose which RPM Packages to Exclude from System Profile shows that the
procmail,procps, and psgml packages have been omitted from the package list.
Choose which packages to exclude from the system profile, and click Next to continue
with the registration process.
Figure 2–11 Choose which RPM Packages to Exclude from System Profile
2.4 Finishing Registration
As seen in Figure 2–12, Finished Collecting Information for System Profile, the last
step of registration is to confirm that you want to send your System Profile to the Red