[mdlug] Centralized package management tools update

Thu Dec 11 08:32:29 EST 2008

Okay...  here is what I did thus far.
1. Standard install, followed directions on the Wiki.
2. Created a new 'activation key' within Spacewalk GUI.
    Systems --> Activation Keys --> Create new key
    Using these values...
    Description: Default Key
    Key: <blank>
    Usage: <blank>
    Base Channels: Spacewalk Default
    Add-On Entitlements: <nothing checked>
    Universal Default: Checked
3. Created software channel using python script
    Example:
    create_channel.py --label "centos-5.2-i386" --name "CentOS 5.2 
32-bit" --summary "32-bit CentOS 5.2 channel"
4. Attempt to join a client to spacewalk (failed)
    Example:
    rhnreg_ks --verbose --force --activationkey="<default key created with 
spacewalk GUI " --serverUrl http://myspacewalk.server.local/XMLRPC
5. Disabled firewall on spacewalk server.
6. Retry the join (failed)
7. Admin --> Spacewalk Configuration --> Restart (takes about 5 minutes on 
our system)
8. Verify spacewalk is up and running, then retry join (Success!)

-Mike

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Michael ORourke
To: MDLUG's Main discussion list
Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 5:00 PM
Subject: Re: [mdlug] Centralized package management tools

I'm currently doing a reinstall, and I plan on taking better notes this 
time.
Strange thing, I was able to register a system with my spacewalk server, but 
I was not able to join any channels.  Until I created a channel manually 
with that script.  Were you able to register a client with your spacewalk 
server?
I don't remember the exact steps I took to be able to register and join the 
channel, but I did have it working.  This time around, I should have some 
better notes that I can share regarding the proceedure.  Hopefully I can get 
it working again!  :-)

-Mike

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Wojtak, Greg
  To: MDLUG's Main discussion list
  Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 2:04 PM
  Subject: Re: [mdlug] Centralized package management tools

  It sounds like we are having the same problems.  I can't get a channel
  created - when I click on the Manage Entitlement Channels link it takes
  me to the Overview page, so I had to use the python script to create the
  channel manually.  Still no go, I can't get a client registered.  I
  asked about it on the Spacewalk list but haven't heard back about that
  particular issue.  How did you get a client registered?

  -----Original Message-----
  From: mdlug-bounces at mdlug.org [mailto:mdlug-bounces at mdlug.org] On Behalf
  Of Michael ORourke
  Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 1:33 PM
  To: MDLUG's Main discussion list
  Subject: Re: [mdlug] Centralized package management tools

  Greg,

  You have any luck with Spacewalk?
  It is not an easy tool to install and configure, that's for sure..
  Also, the wiki docs seem a bit disorganized.  It took me several
  attempts to get it installed and working.  Then I had trouble with the
  channels.  Mainly adding clients to a channel.  I was finally able to
  add a client to a channel, populate it with a few RPMs, and push the
  RPMs to the client.  Also, I noticed that the rhnsd client daemon wakes
  up every 240 minutes (default) and checks the spacewalk server for any
  actions.  I had initially thought that was 240 seconds.  So an "apply
  now" action could really be hours later.

  -Mike
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Wojtak, Greg
    To: MDLUG's Main discussion list
    Sent: Monday, December 01, 2008 9:38 AM
    Subject: Re: [mdlug] Centralized package management tools

    Ah, the holy grail for CentOS/RHEL systems (aside from paying Red Hat
    $13,000 a year for a satellite server!).

    I am looking for the same thing (and I'm sure any other Linux Sysadmin
    is) for years.  I'm still using the strategy of "install updates on
  dev
    server, keep the rpm's that were downloaded, move them to test, then
    production, and pray to God that the same packages are in sync across
    all environments."

    Not very efficient.  I've been looking into building a yum server and
    configuring the yum-updatesd to download the packages that I roll out.
    A little better than using cron, but not by much.

    I'd be interested to hear if you find anything.

    Greg Wojtak

    -----Original Message-----
    From: mdlug-bounces at mdlug.org [mailto:mdlug-bounces at mdlug.org] On
  Behalf
    Of Michael ORourke
    Sent: Monday, December 01, 2008 9:29 AM
    To: MDLUG's main mailing list
    Subject: [mdlug] Centralized package management tools

    Lug nuts,

    I'm looking for some recommendations, specifically for the CentOS 5.2
    distribution, for a centralized package management system or tools.
    I've
    spent some time doing vaious Google searches, but haven't found what I
    was
    looking for aside from basic tools such as 'yum' and 'up2date', which
    are
    designed to run on a single host.  I was hoping that I would stumble
    upon
    some existing tools that could be leveraged in an existing
  environment.
    What I would really like is:
    * Gui tools (browser based).
    * Internal centralized server (package repository).
    * Centralized management (for development, QA, & production).
    * Ability to schedule updates and manually push updates.
    * Auditing capabilities (which servers have what packages installed).
    * Ability to manage servers by group (e.g. Dev App servers).

    Running 'yum -update' from cron on each server isn't a good strategy,
    especially when it comes to production systems.  I would like to have
    the
    capability to pull down patches to a centralized server, then push the

    patches/updates to the development/QA environment, and finally out to
    the
    production systems after testing is completed.
    Is that too much to ask for.  :-)
    Any suggestions/recommendations/ideas?

    Thanks,
    Mike

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[mdlug] Centralized package management tools *update*

[mdlug] Centralized package management tools update