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RedHat Site License

Click here to learn about RedHat Enterprise Linux for Students

The Rules

Users of RedHat Enterprise Linux on the CU-Boulder campus can take advantage of the RedHat site license purchased by the University. This site license entitles you to the software and updates for RedHat Enterprise Linux. By joining the site license program, you can ensure your RedHat Enterprise Linux systems are kept up-to-date with the latest security patches and software updates from RedHat all through the easy and automated up2date program. Since you will receive updates from a local satellite server housed here on CU-Boulder's network, the updates will be fast and reliable.

The price to join the campus RedHat site license program is as follows:

• Desktop: $25.00 per system per year
  
• WS: $25.00 per system per year
  
• ES: $25.00 per system per year
  
• AS: $25.00 per system per year

The maximum amount that will be charged is $2500 per group. For example, if you have 110 systems under your administration, you will only be charged for 100 ($2500).

Contact Us

If you are interested in becoming part of the RedHat community here at CU-Boulder and taking advantage of the campus site license, please contact us and let us know the following information:

• Department name
  
• Address
  
• Phone number
  
• Names and e-mail addresses of the users who you would like to be able to manage your systems. This is typically limited to only the system administrators.
  
• A Speedtype number along with the initial number of systems you will be subscribing.

You will receive a RedHat login name and password that allows you to log in and manage your subscribed systems at http://satellite.colorado.edu. After we send you this information, it is VERY important you log in and change your password to one you will remember as soon as possible (see next step).

Changing Your RedHat Password

After you receive a username and password, you will be able to log into http://satellite.colorado.edu. After logging in, please change your password using the following procedure:

• With your web browser, log into http://satellite.colorado.edu. Accept the certificate if you have not done so already.
  
• Enter your username and password and click Sign In.
  
• Click on Your Account located on the left menu bar
  
• Enter a new password in the Password text box and confirm it by entering it again in the Confirm Password text box.
  
• Click on the Update button at the bottom right.

Register Your RedHat system(s) to use the CU-Boulder up2date RedHat satellite server

You are now ready to start subscribing systems to the CU-Boulder RedHat satellite server. By subscribing your systems and having them download patches and security updates automatically, you will ensure they are kept safe and secure. Here is how to subscribe a system:

If you are using RHEL3 or RHEL4, the following instructions apply:

If you have not installed RedHat Linux yet on your system:

• Install RedHat Linux as you normally would.
  
• On the first reboot after the installation is complete, a Red Hat Login screen will appear. At this screen, check Tell me why I need to register and provide a Red Hat Login and click Next.
  
• At the next screen, check I can not complete registration at this time. Remind me Later.
• Click Next.
  
• Complete the rest of the firstboot menu screens as you normally would.

If you already have RedHat Linux running on your system or you have just installed RedHat Linux:

• Open up a browser and save this file: http://satellite.colorado.edu/pub/bootstrap/bootstrap.sh
  
• Edit this bootstrap.sh file with your favorite editor and do the following:
  
  • Comment out the echo block (lines beginning with the word echo) along with the line right after this block which reads exit 1.
    
  • Find the line beginning with ACTIVATION_KEYS= and enter the ACTIVATION KEY you received here
    
• Save the file and exit from your editor.
  
• Open up a terminal window and run the bootstrap.sh script as root with the command /bin/sh ./bootstrap.sh
  
• When asked if you wish to install the GPG public key, click Yes.

If you are using RHEL5, the following instructions apply:

If you have not installed RedHat Linux yet on your system:

• Install RedHat Linux as you normally would.
  
• On the first reboot after the installation is complete, as you go through the dialogues, a window entitled Set Up Software Updates will come up. Click on Yes, I'd like to register now.
  
• At the next screen, choose I have access to a Red Hat Network Satellite. The location is http://satellite.colorado.edu
  
• At the next screen, you'll use your login credentials for the satellite server.
  
• At the next screen, just click Forward.
  
• Click Forward again.

If you already have RedHat Linux running on your system or you have just installed RedHat Linux:

• Run /usr/sbin/rhn_register as root
  
• Click Forward
  
• At the next screen, choose I have access to a Red Hat Network Satellite. The location is http://satellite.colorado.edu
  
• At the next screen, you'll use your login credentials for the satellite server.
  
• At the next screen, just click Forward.
  
• Click Forward again.

Congratulations, your system is now registered with the CU-Boulder RedHat Satellite server. You may manage your subscribed systems by visiting http://satellite.colorado.edu.

Get Help
IT Service Center
303-735-4357 (5-HELP from an on-campus phone)
help@colorado.edu