The Red Hat Network (RHN) Proxy allows computers running Red Hat Linux to retrieve software updates over the University's network. 

UB's RHN Proxy is dependent on the RHN servers running at Red Hat. These servers occasionally are taken offline for maintenance, and during that time updates through RHN will be unavailable. You can subscribe to the RHN outage mailing list to receive notices when an outage is scheduled to occur.

Besides individual system updates, Red Hat Network can be used to remotely update and administer systems registered with Red Hat Network. Systems are placed in groups with a unique activiation key so the system administrator(s) can log in to the RHN Website to schedule updates and other tasks.

For a more detailed description of Red Hat Network features and services.

Your computer must be running Red Hat Enterprise Linux and have an on-campus network (128.205.x.x) or VPN connection to use the RHN Proxy.

Installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 (Desktop and Server) requires activation keys:

• RHEL 5 Desktop (Client ISOs): 61a9-6cf4-61e9-2d6d
• RHEL 5 Desktop with Workstation extras (Client ISOs): fa0c-1c86-fa40-5c1d
  
• RHEL 5 Server (Server ISOs): a125-c3ec-a121-8dc3
  

During the installation process of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 (RHEL 5), you will be prompted to register for the Red Hat Network (RHN). RHN allows your system to receive important security and software updates. However, you should NOT sign up for an account with the RHN, as one is already provided for UB students, faculty and staff.

1. During the "Firstboot" process of RHEN installation, the "Set Up Software Updates " screen appears. Choose No, I perfer to register at a later time, and click Forward.
2. Choose No Thanks, I'll connect later.
3. The Red Hat Configuration will tell you Your System is not setup for software updates. Click Forward.
4. To finish configuring your system, you must register with UB's RHN proxy. You must be either on campus or off campus connected to the off-campus VPN client AnyConnect.

To enable your computer to use the RHN Proxy to retrieve updates, register with UB's RHN proxy. Download the script, open a terminal window, change to the directory to which you downloaded the script, and use superuser privileges to execute the following command:

where ACTIVATIONKEY is the actual activation key. After the script runs, close the terminal window.

1. Select Applications > System Tools > Software Updater.
2. Click Next to start the update.
   
3. You will be prompted with a list of updates. Select the desired updates and click Apply updates.
4. The first time you run the Software Updater it may ask if you want to import the Red Hat key; you can safely accept by clicking Import Key.
5. Once updates have been installed, you will be prompted to reboot. You should reboot as soon as possible.