Question

Managing many RHEL "Installation Numbers"

Asked by: forrie

I work in an environment that has many "installation numbers" --
anyone familiar with this knows the dread I experience when I go to
install a new system.

Redhat tells me there is no way to consolidate these entitlements into
or under one "installation number", which puzzles me.  But anyway ...

I wonder how others have managed to work with, around, under this
process -- to make it more sane.  Or if that's even possible.

I thought about just caching the RPMs locally and pointing my systems
to that instead.  But that would be even more work.  There has to be a
better way.

I've not used kickstart yet -- and I'm not sure you could really do anything
about it at that level.

I would appreciate some feedback, suggestions, etc.

Thanks...

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Asked On
2009-10-08 at 12:18:05ID24797183
Tags

redhat linux rhel configuration installation

Topics

Red Hat Linux

,

Linux Setup

Participating Experts
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Answers

 

by: TintinPosted on 2009-10-08 at 12:52:43ID: 25529399

I'm not really sure what you mean by "installation numbers".

Is you question more about managing/install multiple RHEL versions, or more to do with management of RHEL licenses?

 

by: forriePosted on 2009-10-09 at 12:54:26ID: 25538292

When you install RHEL, it asks you for an "Installation number" before proceeding.  After you enter that number, it validates it.  I believe it connects to RH's servers to see if you have any open entitlements.

Now, as I described, in my situation, we have several systems that have been installed over time.  Each time we purchase a new entitlement (or a group of them), we have yet another "installation number" to keep track of.   It's really a stupid system, but I digress.

As I review my question, I'm seeing that this is pretty moot -- as there really isn't anything you can do about -- unless of course you chose to surreptitiously create a local cache of RH rpms and point your systems there instead... which would probably not be kosher.
 

 

by: mwecomputersPosted on 2009-10-11 at 08:56:08ID: 25546327

We actually deployed Red Hat's Satellite server internally, thus it handles all of the installation numbers as it can be used for kickstarting, provisioning, deploying packages & updates as well. We combined our setup with CFengine, thus can deploy additional packages not found in the Red Hat repository (i.e. EPEL, RPMForge, etc). The RHEL channels are actually created by yourself, thus you can limit the number of 'Installation Numbers' you want to keep up with:

Red Hat Enterprise Linux:
    Server (v5)             :    123-xxx-456-abc
    Advanced Platform (v5)      :    123-xxx-456-def
    Desktop (v5)            :    123-xxx-456-ghi

Red Hat Network Satellite
http://www.redhat.com/red_hat_network/

 

by: forriePosted on 2009-10-11 at 09:40:33ID: 25546451

I've heard of the Satellite Server a couple of years ago.  I think our reason for not pursuing it was it's cost - there was also some concern about adding yet another dependency to our production environment (kindof a given, it happens).

I just checked RH's website and they don't really post any current pricing.

I'll read up more on this and see if it may be worth pursuing.

I wonder if there is another alternative.   For CentOS, in example, you can simply cache the RPMs locally, set up your own yum repository and off you go.   Doing that under RH is probably a violation of the license?

Thank you!

 

by: mwecomputersPosted on 2009-10-11 at 12:16:43ID: 25546982

Red Hat Satellite is expensive (around $13k per year), but it does save a lot of headaches in the end -- especially if you are having to manage several RHEL servers. Running RHN Satellite is having your own RHN on site.

Red Hat Network Architectural Overview
http://www.redhat.com/rhn/rhndetails/architecture/

Red Hat Satellite FAQ
http://www.redhat.com/red_hat_network/faq/

---

The other alternative is to use the RHN Proxy Server ($2,500 annually). The RHN Proxy Server is a service deployed within a corporate network with advanced Red Hat Network functionality, such as a package-caching mechanism for reduced bandwidth usage and customizable channels enabling custom package deployment.

This service allows a business or corporation to cache RPM Updates on an internal, centrally located RHN Proxy Server and have the client systems download the updates from that server instead of from one of the RHN Servers over the Internet. The clients' System Profiles and user information are stored on the secure, central RHN Servers, which also serve the RHN website (rhn.redhat.com). The Proxy does not serve the website itself; It acts as a go-between for client systems and Red Hat Network. Only the RPM files are stored on the RHN Proxy Server. Every transaction is authenticated, and the Red Hat Update Agent checks the GPG signature of each package retrieved from the local RHN Proxy Server.

Red Hat Satellite FAQ
http://www.redhat.com/red_hat_network/faq/


---

If you also run Fedora and/or CentOS, then you should also look at 'Spacewalk'. Spacewalk is an open source (GPLv2) Linux systems management solution. It is the upstream community project from which the Red Hat Network Satellite product is derived.

Spacewalk Project
http://www.redhat.com/spacewalk/

Spacewalk vs Satellite:
http://www.redhat.com/spacewalk/faq.html#compare

---

Can I use Spacewalk to sync my entitlements for Red Hat Enterprise Linux and other Red Hat software products?

No. At this time, in order to be able to connect to rhn.redhat.com and satellite-sync Red Hat software content, you will need the Satellite product with an active Satellite certificate.

 

by: forriePosted on 2009-10-11 at 14:36:49ID: 25547516

Thank you guys for these excellent suggestions and input.  I didn't realize that Satellite was derived from an open source project -- this may open up avenues for us.

You rock :-)

 

by: forriePosted on 2009-10-11 at 14:37:50ID: 31638927

The suggestions went beyond what I was asking for and opened up other possibilities I hadn't been aware of.

 

by: mwecomputersPosted on 2009-10-11 at 15:24:48ID: 25547690

Actually it's vice-versa...

Red Hat Network (RHN) first started in 2001 as a hosted service. RHN later spawned a stand-alone product called Red Hat Network Satellite. Spacewalk as a project officially became an open source, community driven project in June 2008 -- it is the upstream for the Red Hat Network Satellite & Proxy products.

Reference:
http://www.redhat.com/spacewalk/faq.html#howlong

 

by: forriePosted on 2009-10-11 at 15:31:39ID: 25547711

This is their typical business model -- it allows them to outsource coding, debugging and other development to a public base, then take the product refined and charge for support, etc.

 

by: mwecomputersPosted on 2009-10-11 at 15:42:42ID: 25547744

If you have some time on your hands, you might want to look at setting up a Spacewalk server.

I also recommend reading these two threads...
https://www.redhat.com/archives/spacewalk-list/2009-June/msg00078.html
https://www.redhat.com/archives/spacewalk-list/2009-August/msg00088.html

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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