Installation guide

10 Chapter 2. Requirements
Stand-Alone Database Embedded Database
3 GB storage for base install of Red Hat
Enterprise Linux AS
3 GB storage for base install of Red Hat
Enterprise Linux AS
6 GB storage per channel, in the
/var/satellite directory by default but
configurable at install
6 GB storage per channel, in the
/var/satellite directory by default but
configurable at install
Recommended - an external SAN for more
reliable backups
Recommended - an external SAN for more
reliable backups
38 GB storage for the database repository, in the
/rhnsat partition (local storage only)
Strongly recommended - a SCSI drive
connected to a level 5 RAID
Separate partition (or better, a separate set of
physical disks) for storing backups. This can be
any directory specifiable at backup time.
Table 2-1. Stand-Alone Database and Embedded Database Satellite Hardware Requirements
The following hardware configuration is required for the Stand-Alone Database:
• Two processors
• 2 GB of memory
See Section 2.3 Database Requirements for instructions on estimating the tablespace of the database
and setting its environment variables.
Keep in mind, the frequency in which client systems connect to the Satellite is directly related to load
on the Apache HTTP Server and the database. If you do reduce the default interval of four hours (or
240 minutes), as set in the /etc/sysconfig/rhn/rhnsd configuration file of the client systems,
you will increase the load on those components significantly.
Additional hardware requirements include:
• The Stand-Alone Database must not run on the same server as the RHN Satellite Server.
• The package repository may be any large storage device easily and securely accessed by the other
components. The space requirements depend on the number of packages that will be stored. Default
Red Hat channels contain approximately 3 GB of packages each, and that size grows with each
synchronization; customers must also account for the space requirements of packages in their own
private channels. Whatever storage solution the customer chooses, its mount point may be defined
during the installation process.
If you are installing RHN Satellite Server with Embedded Database, skip to Section 2.4 Additional
Requirements.
2.3. Database Requirements
This section applies only to RHN Satellite Server with Stand-Alone Database as the requirements
for the Embedded Database are included in the Satellite machine’s hardware requirements. Red Hat
supports RHN Satellite Server 3.7 installations in conjunction with Oracle 9i R2. The Stand-Alone
Database must not run on the same server as the RHN Satellite Server.
A single 6 GB tablespace is recommended as more than sufficient for most installations. It is possible
for many customers to function with a smaller tablespace. An experienced Oracle database admin-