[GLLUG] RHN... the Red Hat Notwork

[Mike Rambo]

Edward Glowacki wrote:
> 
> I discovered today that you can only update the software for one RedHat
> machine at a time!  Apparently, unless you pay, the up2date updater will
> only work on the single machine that you have enabled via the website,
> and if you aren't a paying customer, you can't do any updates during
> time of heavy load (like right now, *grumble*).  Since I just installed
> a new RH7.3 server, I want to get the latest security updates so some
> 31337 h4x0r doesn't get a free shot to r00t my box.  But alas I
> cannot... I'm not about to start setting up servers if I can't easily
> update the software at any time I may choose, so I guess we'll take a
> look at Debian and see if we can fare any better... Looks like 3.0 just
> came out and supposedly supports the RAID card on one of the boot
> floppies, so we'll try that and see...
> 
> -ED
> 

Perhaps you might take a look at Mandrake - their update program does't
have the conditions and strings that RedHat's does. Also, the Mandrake
urpmi program has some of the features of Debians apt-get, at least in
that it automatically handles dependencies and can work from an ftp
mirror. From what I've read Mandrake even has a much more slimmed down
server install now than they used to.

If you really want to stick with RedHat (which I can understand as I
also have had that tendancy the past though I've long looked to Mandrake
on the desktop), you might take a look at http://k12ltsp.org as they are
using a current RedHat system but with the LTSP stuff, Open Office, and
some educational packages added. The K12 system however, is updated more
frequently with the latest official RedHat updates (they just released
an updated RH73 based K12 iso last week as I recall). They appear to
have a close relationship with RedHat - their mailing list goes to a
redhat.com address.


-- 
Mike Rambo
mrambo@lsd.k12.mi.us