Chapter 8. Activating simple content access

To activate simple content access with Satellite, the process includes changing the content access mode from the traditional per-system, entitlement mode to the new per-organization mode and updating your subscription allocations.

Do these steps

  1. To enable simple content access with Satellite, see the following information:

Learn more

8.1. Enabling simple content access with Red Hat Satellite

The process of enabling simple content access includes enabling simple content access for the organization, enabling simple content access for one or more allocations, and refreshing manifests for the allocations where simple content access is enabled. After the systems are refreshed, you then complete additional, post-enablement steps related to activation key, host group, and host configuration.

Use the following steps to enable simple content access.

8.1.1. Enabling simple content access on an existing Satellite allocation and manifest

When you enable simple content access, you change the content access mode. You stop using the traditional mode, where you must attach a subscription to a system as a prerequisite of gaining access to content. You start using a new mode, where you can consume content regardless of the presence of an attached subscription.

Prerequisites

  • The organization administrator (org admin) role for the organization
  • Red Hat Satellite 6.5 or later

Solution

To enable simple content access on an existing allocation and manifest:

  1. Log in to the Red Hat Customer Portal.
  2. Click My Subscriptions. When the page refreshes, click Subscription Allocations.

  3. In the simple content access banner, set the Simple Content Access switch to Enabled.

    Note

    This action enables simple content access at the organization, or account, level. The result of this action is that organization administrators (org admins) can then enable individual allocations for simple content access. It is only when an allocation is enabled for simple content access and the manifest for that allocation is refreshed that simple content access goes into effect for that allocation.

  4. For each allocation that you want to be enabled for simple content access, click the allocation and view the Details page.

    1. In the Subscriptions section, set the Simple Content Access switch to Enabled.

      Note

      This action enables simple content access for the allocation. However, this change does not go into effect until the manifest for that allocation is refreshed in Satellite.

    2. From Satellite, refresh the manifest for the allocation by using the step that applies to a connected or disconnected Satellite configuration.

      • If your Satellite can connect to access.redhat.com, open the Satellite web UI and ensure that the correct organization is selected. Then, click Content > Subscriptions in the navigation. Select the options to manage and refresh the manifest.
      • If your Satellite cannot connect to access.redhat.com, click Export Manifest to export the refreshed manifest to a location that your Satellite Server can access. Then, open the Satellite web UI and ensure that the correct organization is selected. Then, click Content > Subscriptions in the navigation. Select the options to manage a manifest and browse to the refreshed manifest that you exported.
  5. Repeat these steps for each allocation that you want to be enabled for simple content access.

8.1.2. Completing post-enablement steps for Satellite

After you enable simple content access for an allocation, the way that you interact with some subscription management tools, including Satellite, differs. You must make some changes in Satellite to accommodate these different workflows and the individual behaviors within them.

Currently, Satellite and other subscription management tools are rapidly evolving to more seamlessly integrate the effects of simple content access into their workflows. Red Hat Customer Portal articles are available at access.redhat.com to provide in-depth knowledge of the effects of enabling simple content access and to provide instructions on the changes that you must make in Satellite for your Satellite enabled allocations.

See the following articles for more information and next steps:

8.2. What is simple content access?

Simple content access is a set of capabilities that enables a change in the way Red Hat manages its subscription and entitlement enforcement model. With simple content access, the enforcement model changes from a per-system requirement, where you must attach a subscription to a system before you can access content, to a per-organization requirement that is based on your Red Hat Satellite deployment, where you can access content on a system without attaching a subscription to that system.

In its simplest form, simple content access provides unlimited access to any content for which you have at least one subscription.

8.3. What are the benefits and limitations of simple content access?

Simple content access offers a less restrictive and more flexible way to consume your Red Hat subscriptions. However, that flexibility does include some limitations.

8.3.1. Benefits

If you are a new customer, this new organizational-level enforcement model enables you to consume content in a far more flexible way, without consideration of the artificial and arbitrary boundaries that can arise from the older system-level enforcement model. In turn, this flexibility enables you to design your IT environment in manner that is more responsive to your business needs.

If you are an existing customer, the new model allows you to consume content on your systems without strict entitlement enforcement. This process change allows a number of workflows to be handled that previously have been considered difficult or impossible, including the following examples:

  • Simplifying activation key setup. One of the more complex setup tasks for Satellite 6 in the older enforcement model is the assignment of activation keys that guide subscriptions to systems. Correct key setup is of paramount importance, because without the correct subscription the system does not have access to content. The new enforcement model simplifies this process by requiring only the creation of a host record in Satellite.
  • Allowing Satellite to support more systems than it has valid subscriptions for, a scenario that is useful in true-up, buffer, and other complex purchasing arrangements.
  • Allowing systems to consume content that was previously downloaded when some, but not all, of the subscriptions have since expired.
  • Making the renewal process simpler. Instead of having to reattach subscriptions to every host, you can simply add new valid subscriptions to a subscription allocation or manifest and refresh within Satellite.

8.3.2. Limitations

Although simple content access allows much more freedom in the consumption of your subscriptions, you should note the following limitations for content access:

  • Simple content access does not provide access to repositories that you have not previously purchased.

    • For example, if you have subscriptions for RHEL only, simple content access does not provide access to any other Red Hat product subscription, such as a Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform subscription.

  • Simple content access does not provide access within Satellite to repositories that are not included in the subscription manifest. The subscription manifest contains the following information:

    • A list of subscriptions and attached quantities.
    • Metadata and certificates that Satellite uses to synchronize the repositories.