Re: Using RHN to update systems

[Ed Wilts <ewilts ewilts org>]

On Wed, Mar 15, 2006 at 11:01:59AM -0500, Tom Spec wrote:
> I have just recently starting using the RHN web interface to install
> updated packages.  I figured out how to install multiple packages  on
> a single system as one event.  I have also figured out how to  install
> a single package on multiple systems.  I'm not sure  though, how I can
> install multiple packages on multiple systems without  creating an
> event for each package one at the time.
>   
>   Is there a way for me to select multiple packages to be installed on
>   multiple systems?

If your RHN subscriptions include the management modules (i.e. they say
"Management" instead of "Update"), then you can create system groups and
manage your systems as a group.  For example, say you had 10 identical
web servers.  Throw them all into 2 groups and then you can tell all 5
to go update themselvess, 1 group first perhaps so that you don't shoot
yourself in the foot, and then the next 5.  Or you can do all 10 in one
group.  You can manage thousands of sytems this way.

The system groups are also nice just to be able to see the status of
your systems.  I use so that I can quickly see what the status of my
mail server group is since they're managed by me, and have them separate
from a set of servers managed by a different group.

The groups also allow you to have different administrators for different
groups - you could manage one group but not a different group.

It's powerful stuff, but does require the additional fee of the
Management module.

-- 
Ed Wilts, RHCE
Mounds View, MN, USA
mailto:ewilts ewilts org
Member #1, Red Hat Community Ambassador Program