RHBA-2011:0997 - Bug Fix Advisory

Topic

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

Description

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with a traceback report.The report has been replaced by a simple, informative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.

Solution

Before applying this update, make sure that all previously-released errata
relevant to your system have been applied.

This update is available via Red Hat Network. Details on how to use the Red Hat
Network to apply this update are available at
https://access.redhat.com/kb/docs/DOC-11259

Affected Products

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 5 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 5 ia64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 5 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 5 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 5 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 5 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 5 i386
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems 5 s390x
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Power, big endian 5 ppc
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server from RHUI 5 x86_64
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server from RHUI 5 i386

Fixes

• BZ - 624748 - rhn-profile-sync doesn't report virtal ip adresses
• BZ - 641029 - RFE: allow using `rhn-channel' without having to enter the password on the command line
• BZ - 649208 - RHN client tools: rhn_register shows busy cursor after clicking back
• BZ - 651778 - missing man page for rhn-channel utility
• BZ - 651790 - rhn-channel should report error when adding/removing wrong channel
• BZ - 651858 - rhn-channel: tracebacks at various options combination
• BZ - 676916 - firstboot attempts to register with RHN after selecting entitlement system
• BZ - 688627 - no GNOME menu item for rhn_register GUI
• BZ - 707288 - firstboot is not skipping login screen for already registered systems
• BZ - 707938 - TAB navigation doesn't work in firstboot

CVEs

(none)

References

(none)