What is up2date and how do I use it to update my entire Red Hat Enterprise Linux system?

Solution Verified - Updated -

Environment

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4
  • Systems registered with Red Hat Network

Issue

  • what url do we download the latest patches / kernel?
  • How can I update my system?
  • How do I install packages?

Resolution

Note: Red Hat Network has been deprecated, the Subscription Manager mechanism was not available for RHEL4. You might want to manually copy errata to the system and install/update with rpm -ivh <files> or rpm -Fvh <files>. Below instructions are no longer useful, as the RHN server side services are no longer available.

All updates and errata for Red Hat Enterprise Linux were available via Red Hat Network (RHN) and could be downloaded and installed with up2date.  The up2date is a utility provided with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 and earlier releases that downloads packages from RHN and installs them on your system. The advantage of using up2date to update/install packages is that it automatically resolves dependencies and downloads any additional packages that you may need.

To use up2date to install updates, you must first register your system with RHN.  You only need to register your system once to allow it to update, and it requires a current support entitlement for your system.

  • To register your system with Red Hat Network (RHN):
    # rhn_register
    • When prompted to enter your subscription number, enter it if you know it or select, "I do not have a subscription number" and proceed to the next step.
    • If you have not yet activated your subscription you can do so at https://www.redhat.com/activate.html.
  • To list all updates available for your system:
    # up2date -l
  • To download and install all updates:
    # up2date -u
  • To download only all updates(these are stored in /var/spool/up2date directory):
    # up2date -u -d
  • By default, all kernel updates are on the "Skip List" and will not be installed. To force up2date to install any kernel updates you need to include the -f option:
    # up2date -uf

More information can be found in the up2date man pages by typing the command:

# man up2date

More information to update kernel with up2date can be found in following article:
How to upgrade / update the kernel using the up2date agent and Red Hat Network (RHN)?

For Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 servers, the up2date command is not available.  Updates should be made using the yum command.

This solution is part of Red Hat’s fast-track publication program, providing a huge library of solutions that Red Hat engineers have created while supporting our customers. To give you the knowledge you need the instant it becomes available, these articles may be presented in a raw and unedited form.

Comments