Update Services: Red Hat Network (RHN)

Overview

Red Hat Network (RHN) is an automated software update service for Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems. This service provides your Red Hat Enterprise Linux system with software updates to reduce system administration load and ensure your machine is always running the latest system software with the most current security updates. Taking these updates makes your machine less vulnerable to break-ins and resulting disruptions of service.

Recommendation

IS&T strongly recommends Red Hat Enterprise Linux customers register and use IS&T's RHN Service to automatically update their workstations regularly.

Software

There is no software to download. The Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system has fully integrated RHN support.

Price

While RHN is a fee-based service when purchased directly from Red Hat, IS&T offers the same service locally for free with registration.

How to Obtain

Simply register and follow the activation instructions provided in the registration confirmation email.

Your Red Hat Enterprise Linux system will be granted access to an MIT-maintained Red Hat Network Satellite server that provides downloads of the latest system software and security updates. Be sure to configure your workstation for automatic updates to ensure you always have the latest software.

Known Issues

Upgrading from RHEL 4 to RHEL 5
In Red Hat Enterprise 5, the protocol and the programs used to perform system updates has changed. The up2date program has been replaced by a new command, with new syntax and features, called yum.

Previously IS&T recommended installing the mit-up2date-config RPM to set up periodic updates. The new yum-based update system does this automatically. Unfortunately, you must re-register for RHN after upgrading from RHEL 4 to RHEL 5. Customers upgrading from RHEL 4 to RHEL 5 should follow the instructions in the stock answer, How do I transition my RHN setup from up2date to yum?

If you do not follow these instructions, you will not receive system updates. Instead, you will receive email every day saying that the up2date command could not be found.

Switch from Proxy Server to Satellite Server
On June 2, 2005 IS&T switched from offering RHN via a Proxy server to a more feature-filled Satellite Server.

On June 30, 2005, the MIT Red Hat Network Proxy Server will shut down and it is expected that all users will have switched to the MIT RHN Satellite Server by then. IS&T had previously recommended that customers see Red Hat's Rhn-outage-list -- Announcements Related to RHN Service Interruptions to add themselves to the Red Hat email list that announces RHN outages. Since those outages will not affect the MIT RHN Satellite Server Service, we now recommend that users who joined the list re-visit the subscription site to remove themselves from the rhn-outage list.