Installation guide

Chapter 3. Registering Red Hat Systems with Red Hat Network

Red Hat Enterprise Linux features an application called rhn_register. This application works with the

yum -based Red Hat Network Hosted and Red Hat Satellite client called Package Updater (or pup) that

replaces up2date.

The rhn_register application normally runs as part of the firstboot configuration process just

after installation. The first time a newly-installed Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 or 6 system is booted, the

firstboot command runs rhn_register to register the system with Red Hat Network.

You also need to use the rhn_register command in the following circumstances:

You skipped the registration process during the initial installation

You are reinstalling the system

You are moving the system to a new account

3.1. Using the Graphical Interface to Register with Red Hat

Network

This section describes how to use the graphical version of the Package Updater to register your system

with Red Hat Network.

Note

If the system has not yet been registered, the /etc/sysconfig/rhn/system id file should not

exist. In this case, when you run the Package Updater command, it triggers the

rhn_register command.

If this file does exist, you might see a warning that the system is already registered, and that if

you continue, it might produce duplicate entries on Red Hat Network. If you are certain you want to

reregister with the possibility of duplicating the system on Red Hat Network, continue with the

registration. If not, use rhnreg_ks and activation keys instead.

Procedure 3.1. T o Use the GUI to Register wit h Red Hat Network:

1. On the main panel, click Syst em → Administration → Red Hat Network Registration and

enter the root password when prompted.

The Registering for Software Updates page summarizes the steps involved in the

registration process. T o learn more about the benefits of Hosted and Satellite, click Why Should

I Connect to Red Hat Network. Otherwise, click Forward to continue.

2. Use the Choose an Update Location page to select the source of your software updates -

either Red Hat Network Hosted, or Satellite Server or Proxy Server. For Satellite or Proxy, select

the associated radio button and enter the URL of your Satellite or Proxy into the Red Hat

Network Location field.

If you connect to the internet through an HT T P Proxy, click Advanced Network

Configuration and enter the details for your HTTP proxy. If your proxy requires authentication,

enter the user name and password here, and then click Close to return to the Choose an

Update Location page. Click Forward to continue.

3. Use the Enter Your Account Inform ation page to enter your Red Hat Network login

information. If you do not have an account and your organization has one, ask the Organization

Administrator to create an account for you. Otherwise, you might not be associated with your

Red Hat Satellite 5.6 Client Configuration Guide