1.142. rhn-client-tools

Updated rhn-client-tools packages that fix several bugs and add various enhancements are now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.

RHN Client Tools provides programs and libraries that allow a system to receive software updates from Red Hat Network (RHN) or Red Hat Network Satellite.

This update fixes the following bugs:

* Previously, when sending a hardware profile to RHN or Red Hat Network Satellite, the rhn-profile-sync command did not report virtual IP addresses if they were configured on an active network interface. This was caused by an incorrect use of the ethtool.get_devices() function. The underlying source code has been modified to use the ethtool.get_active_devices() function instead, and rhn-profile-sync now works as expected. (BZ#624748)

* After a failed login into RHN, the rhn_register utility still showed a busy cursor. This happened even after pressing "Ok" or "Back" to acknowledge the error message. Now, a normal arrow cursor appears. (BZ#649208)

* The manual page was missing for the rhn-channel utility. This problem has been fixed and the rhn-channel(8) manual page is now included. (BZ#651778)

* When removing or adding a wrong channel, the rhn-channel utility incorrectly reported successfully completed operation. This has been fixed: rhn-channel now informs, that the wrong channel cannot be added or removed. (BZ#651790)

* When used with an incorrect option combination, the rhn-channel program failed with a traceback report.The report has been replaced by a simple, informative error message. (BZ#651858)

* Previously, the rhnreg_ks utility failed with a traceback report, when users tried to run rhnreg_ks on clients using Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6). The problem has been solved and rhnreg_ks now works properly. (BZ#665013)

* The file /usr/share/application/rhn_register.desktop was missing in the previous version of the rhn-setup-gnome package. Therefore, there was a menu item missing in the graphical user interface of the rhn_register utility. This problem has been fixed: the file is now included and the utility works as expected. (BZ#688627)

* Previously, the Tab key did not work to select items in one of the screens of the firstboot utility. This prevented users from using a keyboard and they had to use a mouse instead. This problem has been solved: both a mouse and a keyboard can now be used. (BZ#707938)

As well, this update adds the following enhancements:

* This update sets the firstboot registration method by default to RHN Classic. (BZ#694908)

* Previously, when changing a channel subscription, the rhn-channel program accepted a username and a password only as parameters on the command line. As a consequence, other people could have read personal data. Now, users are prompted for the username and the password if they are not entered as parameters. (BZ#641029)

* Names related to the new way of subscriptions have been changed in the rhn_register utility. This applies to changing the subscription title from Red Hat Network to the new Red Hat Network Classic or Red Hat Network Satellite. Also, warning and informational messages were changed or added in dependency on a used subscription method. Subscription Manager is now introduced as an alternative for registration. (BZ#675217, BZ#707288, BZ#676916)

* Due to the change of the RHN subscription methods, several texts in manual pages were changed. This applies to the rhn_register and rhnreg_ks utilities, where Red Hat Network has been replaced with Red Hat Network Classic. (BZ#675218)

Users are advised to upgrade to these updated rhn-client-tools packages, which fix these bugs and add these enhancements.