Patching Open Enterprise Server with rug/Red Carpet FAQ

(Last modified: 09Aug2006)

This document (10097537) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

goal

Patching Open Enterprise Server Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)

fact

Open Enterprise Server

rug Red Carpet

View a multi-media presentation on patching Open Enterprise Server at: http://support.novell.com/additional/tutorials/tid10097537/

fix

Where can I get an evaluation code for OES?
Should I use rug or Red Carpet to manage updates?
Why don't I see a service listed for OES?
When I open Red Carpet, most commands are disabled. Why?
How do I activate and subscribe to the oes channel?
Are activation codes reusable? What if I reinstall my system?
Does it matter what email address I use?
What is the difference between a patch and an update?
What is the proper way to install patches on the system?
Why doesn't the oes channel show up after activation?
How do I set up a proxy for rug?

symptom

Q: Where can I get an evaluation code for OES?

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A: The evaluation code is listed on the download page for OES in the Novell Portal. Visit the OES evaluation page at http://www.novell.com/products/openenterpriseserver/eval.html for details.

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Q: Should I use rug (command line interface) or Red-Carpet (gui interface) to manage updates?

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A: Prior to OES SP2 rug should be used to manage OES patches. In the OES SP2 prepatch script, the patching software is updated and now allows use of the Red Carpet GUI. See http://www.novell.com/documentation/oes/index.html?page=/documentation/oes/install_linux/data/bxlu3xh.html for more details. When using the Red Carpet GUI make sure to use the "Patches" tab (not the "Updates" tab) to select patches you wish to install.

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Q: Why don't I see a service listed for OES?

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A: In certain situations, the OES update URL doesn't get added as a service during installation---usually when the internet connection isn't active during the install.

The URL for OES updates is https://update.novell.com/data.

To see if the OES service is already added, enter rug service-list at the terminal.

If the OES service isn't present, add it with rug sa https://update.novell.com/data

symptom

Q: When I open Red Carpet, most commands are disabled. Why?

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A: This problem is usually caused by the OES service is not present in the services list. Rarely the problem is caused by Red Carpet needing to be run as root.

To run Red Carpet as root, sux to root and then run /opt/gnome/libexec/red-carpet. Using the Red Carpet menu in SuSE | System | Configuration | Red Carpet.

Alternately, from the desktop use Alt+F2 to bring up a "Run Command" window and enter kdesu red-carpet. You should then be prompted for the root password.

To add the OES service in Red Carpet, select Edit | Services and then add https://update.novell.com/data to the service list.

symptom

Q: How do I activate and subscribe to the OES channel?

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A: To activate the OES service, do the following:

1.Verify the OES service has been added by entering rug service-list. If https://update.novell.com/data is not in the returned list, add it with rug sa https://update.novell.com/data.

2.Using the number of the OES service in the service list, activate the service by entering rug act -s service-list-number [activation_code] [email_address]. For example rug act -s 1 1234567890 jim@myemail.com.

To subscribe to the OES channel, do the following:

1.List available channels by entering rug ch.

2.Subscribe to the oes channel by entering rug sub oes

symptom

Q: Are activation codes reusable? What if I reinstall my system?

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A: Most activation codes are multi-use codes, which means they can be used multiple times on multiple systems. Volume license customers will receive a single activation code for use on all the systems included in their order. Be careful not to activate more systems that are licensed, as that would break the license agreement.

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Q: Does it matter what email address I use?

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A: The activation code is not tied to a specific email address. Use an address that will allow Novell to contact you if needed.

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Q: What is the difference between a patch and an update?

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A: An update usually refers to a package RPM. A patch is the way SUSE traditionally updates its products and includes a patch-xxxx file and one or many RPMs. It is what YaST Online Update uses.

OES should only be updated with the rug pin command. Do not install updates that show up in the channel. The updates showing up in the channel is a side effect of how the patches are implemented on the server. Again, never install updates, only patches.

symptom

Q: What is the proper way to install patches on the system?

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A: To see the patches available for installation, use the command rug pl

To see information about a patch in the channel, enter rug pi patch_name

To install a patch from the list, enter rug pin patch_name

To install all of the patches in the list, enter rug pin --entire-channel oes

Please note that using rug pin oes:* will break certain services like Cluster Services.

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Q: Why doesn't the OES channel show up after activation?

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A: The problem is probably caused by the /etc/novell-release file. See http://support.novell.com/cgi-bin/search/searchtid.cgi?/10098375.htm

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Q: How do I use a proxy with rug?

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A: See http://support.novell.com/cgi-bin/search/searchtid.cgi?/10098376.htm

document

Document Title:	Patching Open Enterprise Server with rug/Red Carpet FAQ
Document ID:	10097537
Solution ID:	NOVL101961
Creation Date:	28Apr2005
Modified Date:	09Aug2006
Novell Product Class:	Linux

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