Chapter 1.
Introduction
1.1. Red Hat Network
Red Hat Network (RHN) is the environment for system-level support and management of
Red Hat systems and networks of systems. Red Hat Network brings together the tools,
services, and information repositories needed to maximize the reliability, security, and per-
formance of their systems. To use RHN, system administrators register the software and
hardware profiles, known as System Profiles, of their client systems with Red Hat Network.
When a client system requests package updates, only the applicable packages for the client
are returned (based upon the software profile stored on the RHN Servers).
Advantages of using Red Hat Network include:
•
Scalability — with Red Hat Network, a single system administrator can set up and main-
tain hundreds or thousands of Red Hat systems more easily, accurately, and quickly than
they could maintain a single system without Red Hat Network.
•
Standard Protocols — standard protocols are used to maintain security and increase
capability. For example, XML-RPC gives Red Hat Network the ability to do much more
than merely download files.
•
Security — all communication between registered systems and Red Hat Network takes
place over secure Internet connections.
•
View Errata Alerts — easily view Errata Alerts for all your client systems through one
website.
•
Scheduled Actions — use the website to schedule actions, including Errata Updates,
package installs, and software profile updates.
•
Simplification — maintaining Red Hat systems becomes a simple, automated process.
1.2. RHN Proxy Server
An RHN Proxy Server is a package-caching mechanism that reduces the bandwidth re-
quirements for RHN and enables custom package deployment. Proxy customers cache
RPMs, such as Errata Updates from Red Hat or custom RPMs generated by their organi-
zation, on an internal, centrally-located server. Client systems then receive these updates
from the Proxy rather than by accessing the Internet individually.
