Chapter 2. Client Applications
In order to utilize most enterprise-class features of Red Hat Network, such as registering with a RHN Satellite, configuration of the latest client applications is required. Obtaining these applications before the client has registered with Red Hat Network can be difficult. This paradox is especially problematic for customers migrating large numbers of older systems to Red Hat Network. This chapter identifies techniques to resolve this dilemma.
 | Important |
|---|---|
Red Hat strongly recommends that clients connected to a RHN Proxy Server or RHN Satellite Server be running the latest update of Red Hat Enterprise Linux to ensure proper connectivity. |
2.1. Deploying the Latest Red Hat Network Client RPMs
Red Hat Update Agent (up2date) and Red Hat Network Registration Client (rhn_register) are prerequisites for using much of Red Hat Network's enterprise functionality. It is crucial to install them on client systems before attempting to use RHN Proxy Server or RHN Satellite Server in your environment.
There are several sensible approaches to accomplish this update of the RHN client software. One of which involves storing the RPMs in a location that is accessible by all client systems and deploying the packages with the simplest command possible. In nearly all cases, a manual deployment of up2date and rhn_register (if RHEL 2.1) do not need to be performed. Those client tools should have no issues connecting to your RHN Satellite or Proxy environment. These discussion below assumes that the "out of box" up2date and rhn_register are not the latest and do not work for your environment.
Remember, only systems running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1 must use the Red Hat Network Registration Client to register with RHN. Systems running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 and later can use the registration functionality built into the Red Hat Update Agent.
This document presumes that the customer has installed at least one RHN Satellite Server and/or RHN Proxy Server on their network. The example below demonstrates a simple approach of deploying up2date and rhn_register for the first time by an administrator assuming the machines don't already have a working RHN. The administrator has populated the /var/www/html/pub/ directory with a copy of the up2date and rhn_register (for RHEL 2.1 systems) RPMs that his client systems need, and then has simply deployed those RPMs onto his client systems with a simple rpm -Uvh command. Run from a client, this command installs the RPMs to that client, assuming the domain name, paths, and RPM versions are correct:
rpm -Uvh \ http://your_proxy_or_sat.your_domain.com/pub/rhn_register-2.9.12-1.2.1AS.i386.rpm \ http://your_proxy_or_sat.your_domain.com/pub/rhn_register-gnome-2.9.12-1.2.1AS.i386.rpm \ http://your_proxy_or_sat.your_domain.com/pub/up2date-2.9.14-1.2.1AS.i386.rpm \ http://your_proxy_or_sat.your_domain.com/pub/up2date-gnome-2.9.14-1.2.1AS.i386.rpm |
Note the inclusion of the associated gnome RPMs. Keep in mind, the architecture (in this case, i386) may need to be altered depending on the systems to be served.