Installation guide

Chapter 1. Introduction to Red Hat Satellite Proxy
1.1. Red Hat Sat ellit e Proxy Server
Red Hat Satellite Proxy Server is a package-caching mechanism that reduces the bandwidth
requirements for Red Hat Satellite and enables custom package deployment. Satellite Proxy
customers cache RPM packages, such as Errata Updates from Red Hat or custom packages
generated by their organization, on an internal, centrally-located server. Client systems then receive
these updates from Red Hat Satellite Proxy rather than by accessing the Internet individually.
Although the packages are served by Red Hat Satellite Proxy, clients' system profiles and user
information are stored on a secure, central Red Hat Satellite Server. The Satellite Proxy acts as a go-
between for client systems and the Red Hat Satellite Server. Only the package files are stored on the
Satellite Proxy. Every transaction is authenticated, and the R ed Hat Up d ate Agent checks the
GPG signature of each package retrieved from the local Satellite Proxy.
In addition to storing official Red Hat packages, the Satellite Proxy Server can be configured to
deliver an organization's own custom packages from private channels. For example, an organization
could develop its own software, package it in an RPM, sign it with its own GPG signature, and have
the local Satellite Proxy Server update all of the individual systems in the network with the latest
versions of the custom software.
Advantages of using Satellite Proxy Server include:
Scalability: one organization can support multiple local Red Hat Satellite Proxies.
Security: a secure connection is maintained from the client systems to the local Satellite Proxy,
and from there to the Red Hat Satellite servers.
Saves time: packages are delivered significantly faster over a local area network than the Internet.
Saves bandwidth: packages are only downloaded once from Red Hat Satellite (using the local
Satellite Proxy Server's caching mechanism), instead of downloading each package separately
to each client system.
Customized updates: create an automated package delivery system for custom software
packages, as well as official Red Hat packages required for the client systems. Customized,
private Red Hat Satellite channels allow an organization to automate delivery of in-house
packages.
Customized configuration: restrict or grant updates to specific architectures and operating system
versions.
Report a bug
1.2. Archit ect ure and Operat ions
The Red Hat Update Agent or Packag e Upd ater on the client systems does not directly contact a
Red Hat Satellite Server. Instead, the client (or clients) connects in turn to a Satellite Proxy Server that
connects to a Red Hat Satellite Server. Thus, the client systems do not need direct access to the
Internet. They need access only to the Satellite Proxy Server.
⁠Chapt er 1 . Int roduct ion t o Red Hat Sat ellit e Proxy
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