1.2. Creating and Managing Custom Channels

There are many channels in Red Hat Satellite. Some are available to all users, some are available to users in a particular organization, and some are available only if subscriptions have been purchased for access to specific channels. Channels fall into these main categories:
  • Paid Service Channels - These channels are available if the organization has purchased access to them either directly or in conjunction with a particular Red Hat solution. Red Hat Enterprise Linux is an example of a paid service channel.
  • Custom Channels - These channels are created by the organizational administrator to manage custom packages. These channels, also known as private channels, by default, appear only to the organization who creates them; they can never be accessed by anyone else. However, private channels can be shared across organizations by setting up Organizational Trusts and sharing the channel.
Custom channels allow administrators to use the Red Hat Satellite infrastructure to deploy packages built and maintained by their organizations. All channel and package management activities take place in the Channels tab of the Red Hat Satellite web interface.

Note

Because of the potential problems that may arise from deploying untested packages throughout the production environment, Red Hat strongly recommends creating beta channels covering select systems that can be used for staging.
For example, if the organization has a system group of Web servers that receives a set of custom packages, create temporary channels to install the packages on a non-critical subset of representative systems first. These might be development or staging servers, not live production systems. These temporary channels are then deleted using the steps described in Section 1.2.11, “Deleting Software Channels”.

1.2.1. Tools, Repositories, and Practices

Before creating and managing channels, note the differences between the various tools and repositories at your disposal. This is especially important when deploying both a Red Hat Satellite Server and Red Hat Satellite Proxy Server, as this increases the utilities and storage locations available. Furthermore, a Proxy-Satellite combination offers certain best practices for optimal performance.
The following package management tools are used in Red Hat Satellite:
  • Red Hat Network Package Manager - Use this to push custom packages into custom channels on your Red Hat Satellite Proxy Server.
  • Red Hat Network Push - Use this to push custom packages into custom channels on your Red Hat Satellite Server.
  • Red Hat Satellite Synchronization Tool - Use this to import and synchronize standard packages from Red Hat Network Classic to the Red Hat Satellite server at your location. This is done via the Internet or CD/DVD ISO images.
Each of these tools has a corresponding package repository. Both Red Hat Network Package Manager and Red Hat Network Push require the creation of a temporary staging directory for placement of custom packages that are uploaded to the Proxy or Satellite. Delete these staging directories after use.

Note

Red Hat recommends archiving custom packages externally from Red Hat Satellite.
When using both Red Hat Satellite Proxy Server and Red Hat Satellite, use only Red Hat Network Push and Red Hat Satellite Synchronization Tool. The Proxy-Satellite combination requires custom packages and channels be uploaded to the Satellite only. From there, the Proxy obtains the packages and distributes them to client systems.

1.2.2. Creating a Software Channel

Before uploading packages to the server, a custom channel can be created to house them. See Section 1.2.12, “Uploading and Maintaining Custom Packages” for instructions. Once uploaded, packages may be reassigned through the website, as described in Section 1.2.3, “Assigning Packages to Software Channels”.
Channels are created on the Red Hat Satellite website as follows:
  1. Log in to the Red Hat Satellite website as a Channel Administrator.
  2. On the top navigation bar, click the Channels tab and then click the Manage Software Channels button on the left navigation bar.
  3. On the Software Channel Management page, click create new software channel at the top-right corner. Red Hat Satellite Server administrators are presented with the option to clone channel. See Section 1.2.8, “Cloning Software Channels” for instructions.
  4. On the New Channel page, define the details of the channel following the instructions on the page. For most channel management actions, the Channel Label is used to identify the channel, so select a meaningful label. View the details of existing channels for ideas.
    The GPG key URL must be the location of the key on the server, as defined during the client configuration process. See the Red Hat Satellite Client Configuration Guide. The GPG key ID is the unique identifier, such as "DB42A60E", while the GPG key fingerprint is similar to "CA20 8686 2BD6 9DFC 65F6 ECC4 2191 80CD DB42 A60E". Notice that the key ID is the same as the last pair of quartets in the key fingerprint.
  5. When finished, click Create Channel at the bottom of the page.

1.2.3. Assigning Packages to Software Channels

When packages are initially uploaded, they can be assigned to a custom channel, multiple custom channels, or no channel at all. See Section 1.2.12, “Uploading and Maintaining Custom Packages” for instructions. Once uploaded, packages may be reassigned between custom channels and the No Channels repository.
These functions can be made available by following these steps:
  1. Click on the Channels tab in the top navigation bar and then Manage Software Channels on the left navigation bar.
  2. In the Software Channel Management page, click the name of the channel to receive packages.
  3. In the Basic Channel Details page, click the Packages tab and then the Add subtab. To associate packages with the channel being edited, select the option containing the packages from the View dropdown menu and click View.

    Note

    Packages already associated with the channel being edited are not displayed. Packages not assigned to a specific channel are found in the Packages in no channels menu item. Selecting All managed packages presents all available packages.
  4. Select the checkboxes of the packages to be assigned to the edited channel and click Add Packages at the bottom-right corner of the page. A confirmation page appears with the packages listed.
  5. Click Confirm to associate the packages with the channel. The List/Remove subtab of the Managed Software Channel Details page then appears with the new packages listed.
Once packages are assigned to a channel, the errata cache is updated to reflect the changes. This update is delayed briefly so that users may finish editing a channel before all of the changes are made available. To initiate changes to the cache manually, click the commit your changes immediately link within the text at the top of the List/Remove subtab.

1.2.4. Managing Channel Management Privileges

In order to perform any channel management tasks, users must have obtained the proper permissions as a Channel Administrator. These permissions can be modified through the Red Hat Satellite website. Permissions are assigned to users by Organization Administrators, the highest level of administrator. Channel Administrator privileges are assigned as follows:
  1. Log in to the Red Hat Satellite website as an Organization Administrator.
  2. On the top navigation bar, click the Users tab and then click the name of the user who is performing channel management functions.
  3. On the User Details page, scroll down to the Roles section and select the checkbox labeled Channel Administrator. Then click Submit at the bottom of the page. Note that Organization Administrators are automatically granted channel administration privileges.
  4. Have the user log in to the Red Hat Satellite website, click the Channels tab on the top navigation bar, and ensure the Manage Software Channels button appears on the corresponding left navigation bar.

1.2.5. Changing Custom Channel Permissions

Custom channels can be restricted to specific organizations and systems. Situations where this would be useful would include:
  • Restricting channel content to specific organizations and systems for qualifying purposes like testing different software configurations before production
  • Controlled distribution of licensed or third-party packages

1.2.5.1. Modifying Custom Channel User Permissions

Prerequisites

It is assumed that there is an existing channel that needs permission changes.

  1. Log in to the Satellite server as a channel or organization administrator.
  2. Click Channels → Manage Software Channels.
  3. Click the channel whose permissions need to be modified.
  4. Scroll down to the Channel Access Control → Per-User Subscription Restrictions and Only selected users within your organization may subscribe to this channel.
  5. Click Update Channel to save the changes.
  6. Click the Subscribers subtab and select the users that should be able to subscribe to the channel.
  7. Click Update.

1.2.5.2. Modifying Custom Organization Permissions

Prerequisites

It is assumed that there is an existing channel that needs permission changes.

  1. Log in to the Satellite server as a channel or organization administrator.
  2. Click Channels → Manage Software Channels.
  3. Click the channel whose permissions need to be modified.
  4. Scroll down to the Channel Access Control → Organization Sharing. Choose either of the following:
    • This channel is private and cannot be accessed by any other organization.
    • This channel is protected and may only be accessed by specific trusted organizations.
    • This channel is public and may be accessed by any of the trusted organizations trusted by this organization.
  5. Click Update Channel.
  6. (Optional) If you chose protected channel, the Satellite server will ask to confirm the channel sharing modification that was made. Since systems maybe subscribed to the channel that will be removed because of the change in channel permissions. Choose either to:
    • Click on Deny Access and Confirm to unsubscribe any systems previously subscribed from trusted organizations.
    • Click on Grant Access and Confirm to keep the systems from trusted organizations subscribed.
    • Click Cancel if you wish to review the systems and trusted organizations before taking action.

1.2.6. Manage Software Channels

In addition to the buttons and pages available to standard Red Hat Satellite users a user with Organization or Channel Administrator roles can click on Channels to allow Red Hat Satellite Server and Red Hat Satellite Proxy Server customers to access Manage Software Channels on the left navigation bar. This button opens the Software Channel Management page, where all custom software channel management work occurs.

Warning

When using both Red Hat Satellite Proxy Server and Red Hat Satellite Server, manage custom channels and packages only on the Satellite, since the Proxy servers receive updates directly from it. Manually managing packages and channels on a Proxy in this combined configuration risks putting the servers out-of-sync.
The different subtabs within the Software Channel Management list takes you to different tabs of the Basic Channel Details page.

1.2.7. Basic Channel Details

Virtually all custom channel management tasks are carried out within the Basic Channel Details page, accessed by clicking Manage Software Channels on the left navigation bar and then selecting the name of channel to be altered. This page offers several tabs:
  • Details - Provides basic information about the channel, such as its parent channel, name, summary, and description. Some of this information is modifiable. In addition, a Per-User Subscription Restrictions combobox can be seen by Organization Administrators and Channel Administrators. This signifies the default behavior of every channel allowing any user to subscribe systems to it. Unchecking this box and clicking Update Channel causes the appearance of a Subscribers tab, which is used to grant certain users subscription permissions to the channel.
  • Organizations - Provides a list of organizations in which the channel has granted access to view and consume content in the channel. These organizations are listed because of the organizational trust your Organization has with them. Access to this channel by organizations can be modified here. Select the checkbox and click on Modify Access to remove an organization's access. Note that Organization Administrators and Channel Administrators automatically have subscription access to all channels.
  • Managers - Lists users who have management permissions to the custom channel. This tab appears for Organization Administrators and Channel Administrators. Select the checkboxes of the users to be allowed full administration of this channel and click Update. This status does not enable the user to create new channels. Note that Organization Administrators and Channel Administrators automatically have management access to all channels.
  • Errata - Provides the errata associated with each of your custom channels. Just as Red Hat Network produces and delivers errata updates to Red Hat Enterprise Linux software, you deliver errata updates to your custom channels as part of updating your servers with the latest code. This tab contains subtabs that allow you to view, add, remove, and clone erratum: List/Remove, Add and Clone. Note that cloning errata can be done only via Red Hat Satellite Server.
    • List/Remove - Displays all of the errata currently associated with the custom channel and provides a means to cancel that association. To remove errata from the channel, select their checkboxes and click Remove Errata on the bottom right-hand corner of the page. A confirmation page appears listing the errata to be removed. Click Confirm to complete the action.
    • Add - Enables the addition of errata to the channel. All of the errata potentially applicable to the channel are listed. To add errata to the channel, select the appropriate checkboxes and click Add Errata. See Chapter 5, Errata Management for a discussion of errata management.
    • Clone - Allows Satellite customers to replicate errata and associated packages for a cloned channel. This subtab immediately appears populated for channels that were cloned with either the original state or select errata option. The Clone tab also gains errata whenever one is issued for the target (that is, originating) channel. This makes it useful for channels cloned with the current state option, as well. See Section 1.2.8, “Cloning Software Channels” for a discussion of cloning options.
      To include errata from the target channel in the cloned channel, select either Merge or Clone from each advisory's dropdown menu. The Merge option exists only if the erratum has been previously cloned. Use it to associate the erratum across channels and avoid duplicate entries. Use the Clone option to create a new entry, such as when modifying it from the previous clone.
      By default, cloned errata inherit the label of the original Red Hat advisory with the "RH?" prefix replaced with "CL". For example, RHSA-2003:324 becomes CLA-2003:324. Subsequent clones of the same advisory have their second letters sequenced to denote their order, such as "CM" and "CN". These labels can be altered through the Errata Management page. See Chapter 5, Errata Management for instructions.
      In addition to the Merge option, previously cloned errata contain values within the Owned Errata column. The erratum label is linked to its details page. The pub and mod flags within parentheses identify whether the cloned erratum has been published or modified from the original advisory. A plus sign + before the flag indicates affirmative, the cloned errata has been published. A minus sign - before the flag denotes negative. For example, (-mod) may mean a package has been deleted. To find out more about publishing and editing custom errata, See Chapter 5, Errata Management.
      To exclude errata from the cloned channel, select Do Nothing from the dropdown menus. When satisfied with the changes, click Clone Errata. Review the impending changes on the confirmation page and click Update Errata.
    • Sync - Displays the errata packages that were not included in the initial channel cloning but have since been updated. This page is where cloned channels can be synchronized with current errata by marking the desired checkbox and clicking Sync Errata.
  • Packages - Provides the packages associated with each of the custom channels. This tab contains the following subtabs that allow organizations to view, add, and remove packages: List/Remove, Add, and Compare.
    • List/Remove - Displays all of the packages currently associated with the custom channel and provides a means to cancel that association. To remove packages from the channel, select their checkboxes and click Remove Packages on the bottom right-hand corner of the page. A confirmation page appears with the packages to be removed listed. Click Confirm to complete the action.

      Important

      The list displayed on this page differs from the standard package list available in the Software Channel Details page. It displays all versions of a package remaining in the database rather than just the latest. It is possible to revert to a previous version of a package simply by removing the latest version.
    • Add - Enables the addition of packages to the channel. To see available packages, select an option from the View dropdown menu and click View. To add packages to the channel, select the appropriate checkboxes and click Add Packages. See Section 1.2.3, “Assigning Packages to Software Channels” for more information about this process.
    • Compare - Enables the comparison of package lists between different channels. To see the differences, select another channel from the Compare to: dropdown menu and click Compare. A list appears showing all packages not contained by both channels and indicating the existing channel location of each.
  • Repositories - Select Manage Repositories to assign yum repositories to the channel and synchronize repository content.
    • Add / Remove — Lists configured repositories. Repositories can be added and removed by selecting the checkbox next to the repository name and clicking Update Repositories.
    • Sync — Lists configured repositories. The synchronization schedule can be set using the dropdown boxes, or an immediate synchronization can be performed by clicking Sync Now.

1.2.8. Cloning Software Channels

Red Hat Satellite Server Channel Administrators also have the ability to clone software channels for easy package association. Cloning offers a complete replica of another channel, enabling immediate association of appropriate packages and errata with a custom software channel.
To access this functionality:
  1. Click the Channels tab on the top navigation bar then the Manage Software Channels on the left navigation bar. This takes you to the Software Channel Management page.
  2. Click clone channel at the top-right corner to begin cloning.
    Three cloning options are presented: current state of the channel, original state of the channel, or select errata. These options are described fully on the webpage itself but are summarized as:
    • Current state of the channel - All of the errata and all of the latest packages now in the target channel.
    • Original state of the channel - All of the original packages from the target channel but none of the errata or associated update packages.
    • Select Errata - All of the original packages from the target channel with the ability to exclude certain errata and associated update packages.
  3. Select the option desired using the radio buttons within the Clone field, identify the target channel using the Clone From dropdown menu, and click Create Channel.
  4. On the New Software Channel page, complete the fields as described in Section 1.2.2, “Creating a Software Channel”. The default values will suffice.
  5. Click Create Channel. If either the original or current option is selected, the Details tab of Managed Software Channel Details page will appear. Alter the settings for the new channel. See Section 1.2.7, “Basic Channel Details” for instructions.
    If the select errata option to clone the channel is selected, it will redirect to the Clone subtab of Managed Software Channel Details page instead. Errata and associated packages for cloning may have to be individually selected for cloning and inclusion in the new channel. See Section 1.2.7, “Basic Channel Details” for specific instructions.

Note

There is a command that clones all errata, within a given channels based on date to ensure a consistent reproducible package sets. This command is called spacewalk-clone-by-date.

1.2.9. Creating Custom Channels From Specific Update Levels

The following situations may require custom channels with specific update levels:
  • A controlled environment with systems that require only minor release updates instead of the latest updates
  • A test environment with a specific package set
  • Systems with applications that require specific versions to function
Prerequisites

To implement the solution below, the Satellite Server must be subscribed to the Red Hat Network Tools channel and the spacewalk-remote-utils must be installed on the Satellite Server. The package is included in the Red Hat Network Tools channel.

  1. Log in as root to the Satellite server.
  2. Create the custom channel from a specific update level on Red Hat Satellite: 
    # spacewalk-create-channel --user=admin --server=localhost --version=6 --update=GOLD --release=Server --arch=x86_64 --destChannel=gold-rhel6
 You have not specified a source channel, we will try to determine it from inputs
 Trying with source channel: rhel-x86_64-server-6
 Creating channel, gold-rhel6, with arch x86_64 2797 packages in source file to push.
 Pushing 2797 packages, please wait.
 Successfully pushed 2797 packages out of 2797

# spacewalk-create-channel -l admin -s localhost -d update1-rhel6 -D /usr/share/rhn/channel-data/6-u1-server-x86_64
 Password:
 You have not specified a source channel, we will try to determine it from inputs
 Trying with source channel: rhel-x86_64-server-6
 Creating channel, update1-rhel6, with arch x86_64 2857 packages in source file to push.
 Pushing 2857 packages, please wait.
 Successfully pushed 2857 packages out of 2857
    Where:
    • -lUSER, --user=USER - The username to connect to the server.
    • -sSERVER, --server=SERVER - The hostname or IP address of the Satellite or Spacewalk server to connect to. Defaults to localhost.
    • -vVERSION, --version=VERSION - The version of the channel to create (e.g. 6, 5, 4).
    • -rRELEASE, --release=RELEASE - The release of the channel to create (e.g. AS, ES, WS, Server, Client, Desktop).
    • -uUPDATE_LEVEL, --update=UPDATE_LEVEL - The update level of a channel to create (e.g. GOLD, U1, U2, U3, U4, U5, U6, U7, U8, U9), where GOLD stands for the initial release.
    • -aARCH, --arch=ARCH - The arch of the channel to create (e.g. i386, ia64, ppc, s390, s390x, x86_64).
    • -dDEST_CHANNEL, --destChannel=DEST_CHANNEL - The label of the destination channel. This will be created if not present.
    • -DDATAFILE, --data=DATAFILE - Path to a list of rpms to move to the destination channel, only used if version, release, update, and arch are not specified.(Optional)

Note

Only applicable to Red Hat Satellite 5.3 and newer.

1.2.10. Removing Software Packages

In addition to adding and removing packages within channels, there is also the option of deleting packages entirely from both the database and file system. Removal from the file system is delayed by about one hour. This can be done through the Package Management page, accessed by clicking Manage Software Packages on the left navigation bar.

Warning

Although deleting packages from the database can be undone by uploading them again, the packages lose their association with any errata. Upon reloading, they must be re-associated with errata manually. See Chapter 5, Errata Management for instructions.
To remove packages from the database:
  1. Go to the Package Management page and select an option containing the packages from the dropdown menu and click View Packages.
  2. Select the appropriate checkboxes and click Confirm Deletion. A confirmation page appears with the packages listed. Click Delete Package(s) to delete the packages entirely.

Note

If using the Red Hat Network Package Manager to upload packages to a Red Hat Satellite Proxy Server, the actual packages are stored on the Proxy Server. Custom packages cannot be downloaded through the Red Hat Satellite, although they are listed. To remove the packages from the local disk you will need to login to the Satellite Proxy Server. See the Red Hat Satellite Proxy Installation Guide for details on where these packages are stored.

1.2.11. Deleting Software Channels

Red Hat Satellite Server and Red Hat Satellite Proxy Server administrators have the ability to remove unused channels. This action is conducted within the Channels → Manage Software Channels page. Click delete software channel at the top-right corner of the page to remove the channel. On the following page, click Delete Channel to finish the action.

Note

The Channels → Manage Software Channels page is described in detail in Section 1.2.7, “Basic Channel Details”.

Important

Packages do not get deleted together with the channel. To delete packages from Red Hat Satellite, please See Section 1.2.10, “Removing Software Packages”.
The following factors should be taken into consideration before removing a channel via the website:
  • Packages from the channel will remain on the server even if the channel is removed. There is an option to delete them after.
  • Any errata related to the channel may be orphaned after the channel deletion.
  • The Satellite server will not delete a parent channel if a child channel exists. Delete all child channels before deleting the parent.
  • Kickstart distributions must be dissociated from the channel or deleted before deleting the channel.
  • If the established channel on the Proxy is connected to a Satellite, delete the channel on the Red Hat Satellite Proxy Server.

1.2.12. Uploading and Maintaining Custom Packages

Depending upon which Red Hat Network service is used, there are two different mechanisms for uploading packages to private channels.
Customers of Red Hat Satellite Proxy Server use the Red Hat Network Package Manager application, which sends package header information to the central Satellite Server and places the package itself into the local repository of the Proxy that invokes Red Hat Network Package Manager.
Customers of Red Hat Satellite Server use the Red Hat Network Push application, which sends package header information to the local Red Hat Satellite Server and places the package into the local repository of the Satellite that invoked Red Hat Network Push.
This section discusses both of these tools in detail.

Warning

If you use both Red Hat Satellite Proxy Server and Red Hat Satellite Server, use only Red Hat Network Push. The Proxy-Satellite combination requires custom packages and channels to be uploaded to the Satellite only. From there, the Proxy servers obtain the packages and distribute them to client systems.

1.2.12.1. Uploading Packages to Red Hat Satellite Proxy Server

Red Hat Network Package Manager allows an organization to serve custom packages associated with a Satellite channel privately through the Red Hat Satellite Proxy Server. Client systems that communicate to the Satellite via the Proxy will be able to download the package if they are subscribed to the channel. Systems that are not communicating to the Satellite via the Proxy, if subscribed to the channel, will only receive yum package meta-data and an error when trying to retrieve the package as the Satellite does not have a copy of the package on its local repository. If the organization wants the Red Hat Satellite Proxy Server to serve only official Red Hat Enterprise Linux packages and Organization owned packages do not install the Red Hat Network Package Manager.
To use the Red Hat Network Package Manager, install the spacewalk-proxy-package-manager RPM package and its dependencies. This package is available to registered Red Hat Satellite Proxy Server systems and is installed by running yum install spacewalk-proxy-package-manager.

Note

Only the header information for the packages is uploaded to the Red Hat Satellite Server. The headers are required so that Red Hat Network can resolve package dependencies for the client systems. The actual package files (*.rpm) are stored on the Red Hat Satellite Proxy Server. For this reason, custom packages cannot be downloaded through the Red Hat Satellite website, although they are listed. They must be retrieved by the client system using yum install.
1.2.12.1.1. Configuring and Using the Red Hat Network Package Manager
Before using Red Hat Network Package Manager to upload packages into Red Hat Satellite, manually copy the packages to the Proxy server itself. For example, from a development host, use scp: 
# scp foo.rpm root@rhnproxy.example.com:/tmp
When using Red Hat Network Package Manager to upload the packages into Red Hat Satellite, point to the files previously copied to the server.

Note

Create at least one private channel to receive custom packages prior to upload into Red Hat Satellite, since a channel is required for systems to obtain the packages.
Run the following command on your Satellite Proxy Server to upload the package headers to the Red Hat Satellite Server and copy the packages to the Satellite Proxy Server repository: 
# rhn_package_manager -c label_of_private_channel pkg-list
The label_of_private_channel is the custom channel created to receive these packages. Be sure to use the precise channel label specified during its creation. If one or more channels are specified (using -c or --channel), the uploaded package headers are linked to all the channels identified. If a channel is not specified, the packages are deposited in the No Channels section of the Package Management page. See Section 1.2.3, “Assigning Packages to Software Channels” for instructions on reassigning packages.
The pkg-list reference represents the list of packages to be uploaded. These packages must already be physically copied to the Proxy host. Alternatively, use the -d option to specify the local directory that contains the packages to be added to the channel. Red Hat Network Package Manager can also read the list of packages from standard input (using --stdin).
Other options are specified in a configuration file, such as the Red Hat Satellite Server URL, the HTTP proxy username and password (if the HTTP proxy requires authentication), and the top directory where packages live. This special configuration must not be edited and is located at /etc/rhn/default/rhn_proxy_package_manager.conf. The choices can be overridden in the default configuration file with settings in the main configuration file /etc/rhn/rhn.conf or via command line options passed to Red Hat Network Package Manager.
Parameters not set in this file are read from .rhn_package_manager in the home directory of the user currently logged in and finally from /etc/rhn/rhn_package_manager.conf. Make sure all of these files have the appropriate permissions to prevent others from reading them.
After uploading the packages, check to see if the local directory is in sync with the Red Hat Satellite Server's image of the channels: 
# rhn_package_manager -s -c name_of_private_channel
This -s option lists all the missing packages, which are packages uploaded to the Red Hat Satellite Server but not present in the local directory. You must be an Organization Administrator to use this option. The application prompts you for your Red Hat Satellite username and password.
The --copyonly option copies the file listed in the argument into the specified channel without uploading to the Satellite. This is useful when a channel on a Red Hat Satellite Proxy Server is missing a package and you don't want to reimport all of the packages in the channel. 
# rhn_package_manager -c channel-name --copyonly /path/to/missing/file
Use Red Hat Network Package Manager to retrieve a list of packages in a channel, as they are stored by the Red Hat Satellite Server: 
# rhn_package_manager -l -c name_of_private_channel
The -l option lists the package name, version number, release number, architecture, and channel name for each package in the specified channel(s). See Section 1.2.12.1.1, “Configuring and Using the Red Hat Network Package Manager” for additional options.
Section 1.2.12.1.1, “Configuring and Using the Red Hat Network Package Manager” is a summary of all the command line options for Red Hat Network Package Manager (rhn_package_manager):

Table 1.1. rhn_package_manager options

Option Description
-v, --verbose Increase verbosity of standard output messages.
-d, --dir DIRECTORY_NAME Process packages from this directory.
-c, --channel CHANNEL_NAME Specify the channel to receive packages. Multiple channels may be specified using multiple instances of -c (e.g.: -c channel_one -c channel_two)
-n, --count NUMBER Process this number of headers per call - the default is 32.
-l, --list List the packages in the specified channel(s).
-s, --sync Check if local directory is in sync with the server.
-p, --printconf Print the current configuration and exit.
--newest Push only the packages that are newer than those on the server. Note that source packages are special in that their versions are never compared to each other. Their newness is dependent on their associated binary packages. Using this option with Red Hat Network Package Manager and just a source package does upload the package, but the source package does not appear in the Red Hat Satellite Web interface until the associated binary package has been uploaded. Contrast this with --source. Using --source --newest together does update the stand-alone source package with newer packages and does not require an associated binary package to be uploaded first.
--source Upload the indicated source packages. Doing this treats them as plain, stand-alone packages and not as special source packages associated with another, pre-existing binary package. For example, use this when application sources need to be distributed to developers and testers outside of regular source control management.
--stdin Read the package names from standard input.
--nosig Don't fail if packages are unsigned.
--no-ssl Turn off SSL (not recommended).
--stdin Read the package names from standard input.
--username USERNAME Specify the Red Hat Satellite username. If the username is not provided, you will be prompted for the username of a valid Channel Administrator.
--password PASSWORD Specify the Red Hat Satellite password. If the password is not provided, you will be prompted for the password of a valid Channel Administrator.
--dontcopy In the post-upload step, do not copy the packages to their final location in the package tree.
--copyonly Only copy the packages, do not re-import them.
--test Only print a list of the packages to be pushed.
-?, --help Display the help screen with a list of options.
--usage Briefly describe the available options.
--copyonly Only copy packages

Note

These command line options are also described in the rhn_package_manager manual page: man rhn_package_manager.

1.2.12.2. Uploading Packages to Red Hat Satellite Server

The Red Hat Network Push application allows organizations to serve custom packages associated with a private Red Hat Network channel through the Red Hat Satellite Server. If the Red Hat Satellite Server is only going to serve official Red Hat Enterprise Linux packages, there is no need to install Red Hat Network Push.
To use Red Hat Network Push, install the rhnpush package and its dependencies. This package is available to registered Red Hat Satellite Server systems and is installed by running yum install rhnpush.
Red Hat Network Push uploads RPM header information to the Red Hat Satellite Server database and places the RPM in the Red Hat Satellite Server package repository. Unlike the Red Hat Satellite Proxy Server's Red Hat Network Package Manager, Red Hat Network Push never distributes package information, even the headers, outside of the Red Hat Satellite Server database.

Note

If the Satellite installation is enabled to support Solaris OS systems, it is possible to use Red Hat Network Push from a Solaris client to upload Solaris package content to custom Solaris channels.
1.2.12.2.1. Configuring the Red Hat Network Push Application
When Red Hat Network Push is installed, a central configuration file is installed in /etc/sysconfig/rhn/rhnpushrc. This file contains values for all the options contained in Section 1.2.12.2.1, “Configuring the Red Hat Network Push Application”.
These distinct configuration files are useful in varying settings depending on the directory from which the rhnpush command is issued. Settings in the current directory (./.rhnpushrc) take precedent over those in the user's home directory (~/.rhnpushrc), which are used before those in the central configuration file (/etc/sysconfig/rhn/rhnpushrc).
For instance, the current directory configuration file can be used to specify:
  • The software channel to be populated
  • The home directory configuration file to include the username to be invoked
  • The central configuration file to identify the server to receive the packages
Section 1.2.12.2.1, “Configuring the Red Hat Network Push Application” contains all command line options for the rhnpush command:

Table 1.2. rhnpush options

Option Description
-v --verbose Increase verbosity, option can be used multiple times, that is, -vv, -vvv, and so forth.
-d, --dir DIRECTORY Process packages from this directory.
-c, --channel=CHANNEL_LABEL Specify the channel to receive packages. Note that this is required and is not the same as the channel's name. Multiple channels may be specified using multiple instances of -c (e.g. -c CHANNEL_ONE -c CHANNEL_TWO).
-n, --count N_HEADERS_PER_CALL Process this number of headers per call. Must be an integer. The default number is 25.
-l, --list List only the specified channels.
-r, --reldirRELATIVE_DIRECTORY Associate this relative directory with each file.
-o, --orgidORGANIZATION_ID Include the organization's ID number. Must be an integer.
-u , --username USERNAME Include the Red Hat Satellite username of the user that has administrative access to the specified channel. If not provided, rhnpush prompts for the username of a valid Channel Administrator. The username and password are cached in ~/.rhnpushcache for a limited time, five minutes being the default. Use --new-cache to force a new username and password.
-p , --password PASSWORD Include the Red Hat Satellite password of user that has administrative access to the specified channel. If not provided, rhnpush prompts for the password of a valid Channel Administrator. The username and password are cached in ~/.rhnpushcache for a limited time, five minutes being the default. Use --new-cache to force a new username and password.
-s, --stdin Read package list from standard input, for example from a piped ls command.
-X, --exclude GLOB Exclude packages that match this glob expression.
--force Force upload of a package, even if a package of that name and version currently exists in the channel. Without this option, uploading a pre-existing package returns an error.
--nosig Don't fail if packages are unsigned.
--new-cache Forces Red Hat Network Push to drop the username and password cache, then accept or ask for new ones. This is useful if mistakes are entered the first time.
--newest Push only the packages that are newer than those on the server. Note that source packages are special in that their versions are never compared to each other. Their newness is dependent on their associated binary packages. Using this option with Red Hat Network Push and just a source package does upload the package, but the source package does not appear in the Red Hat Satellite Web interface until the associated binary package has been uploaded. Contrast this with --source. Using --source --newest together does update the stand-alone source package with newer packages and does not require an associated binary package to be uploaded first.
--header Upload only the headers.
--source Upload the indicated source packages. Doing this treats them as plain, stand-alone packages and not as special source packages associated with another, pre-existing binary package. For example, use this when you want to distribute application source to developers and testers outside of regular source control management.
--server SERVER Specify the server to which packages are uploaded. Currently, a value of http://localhost/APP is necessary. This parameter is required.
--test This only prints a list of the packages to be pushed, it doesn't actually push them.
-h, --help Briefly describe the options.
-?, --usage View the usage summary.

Note

These command line options are also described in the rhnpush manual page: man rhnpush.
1.2.12.2.2. Using the Red Hat Network Push application

Note

It is recommended to create at least one private channel to receive custom packages prior to upload, since a channel is required for systems to obtain the packages.
The following command uploads package headers to the Red Hat Satellite Server and copies the packages to the Red Hat Satellite Server package repository: 
# rhnpush -c label_of_private_channel pkg-list
The Red Hat Network Push configuration file settings can be overridden by specifying options and values on the command line: 
# rhnpush -c label_of_private_channel --server=localhost pkg-list
The label_of_private_channel is the custom channel created to receive these packages. Be sure to use the precise channel label specified during its creation. If one or more channels are specified (using -c or --channel), the uploaded package headers are linked to all the channels identified. If there is no channel specified, the packages are deposited in the No Channels section of the Package Management page. See Section 1.2.3, “Assigning Packages to Software Channels” for instructions on reassigning packages.
The --server option specifies the server to which the packages are installed, and is required. Red Hat Network Push can be installed on external systems, but running Red Hat Network Push locally on the Red Hat Satellite Server is recommended.
The pkg-list reference represents the list of packages to be uploaded. Alternatively, use the -d option to specify the local directory that contains the packages to be added to the channel. Red Hat Network Push can also read the list of packages from standard input (using --stdin).