Red Hat Network Satellite (RHNS)
ITS maintains a license with Red Hat that provides the University with a limited number of licenses to install and maintain various Red Hat operating systems. While the operating system itself is a free open source Linux distribution, obtaining current patches and updates can only be done through a Red Hat network subscription. ITS is capable of providing this service and tracking our licenses via the Red Hat Network Satellite (RHNS) service.
The Campus Red Hat Network Satellite (RNHS) service provides a mechanism for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) based hosts to download installation media and receive entitlements, patches and updates. This campus service obviates the need for individual departments, colleges, and schools to purchase Red Hat subscriptions. This campus service enables University-owned computers to install and run a licensed copy of RHEL, and to receive, apply, and manage the latest patches and updates for RHEL. Also, campus based hosts that use this service will not use external bandwidth to receive their updates.
- Eliminates the need for departments to purchase licenses for Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating systems
- Provides vendor supported patches and updates
- Allows a single management point from a web console for departments with 10 or more Red Hat hosts
- Safe download from University hosted installation media
- Campus Red Hat Network Satellite now supports RHEL 7
Campus RHNS is available to Technical Support Contacts (TSC) to register, manage, and apply Red Hat provided updates to University-owned hosts on campus networks at no charge.
Key Metrics
- Availability: 99.78%
- Download and provide appropriate patches: 1 business day
- Fulfill request to create RHNS group: 2 business days
Intended users
The Campus Red Hat Network Satellite (RNHS) service can be used by faculty and staff ("Subscribers") on University-owned computers. Departmental units (“Departments”) with a need to manage more than 10 hosts can, via their TSCs, request and use an RHNS Group.
Supported computing environment
This service supports Red Hat Enterprise Linux based hosts with updates for Red Hat products. The Campus RHNS service supports the following:
Operating Systems Updates and Patches
ITS will download and make available for distribution, updates provided by the vendor (Red Hat) as they are released. The Campus RHNS service is set to synchronize with Red Hat once a day, every day, between 1:00 am and 3:00 am. ITS will download patches for supported products as prescribed by Red Hat here.
Technical support
Both Tier 1 and Tier 2 technical support is available during normal business hours. Routine requests are typically addressed within one business day.
Tier 1
Subscribers should start with Tier 1 technical support. Any user can call the UT Service Desk at 512-475-9400. Requests by Departments for creation of RHNS groups should be sent to the RHNS Request Email.
Tier 2
Departments and the UT Service Desk may escalate issues to Tier 2.
Maintenance
ITS will notify Subscribers about both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance using the Alerts and Outages page of service availability and service delivery issues. Services may not be available during the maintenance periods.
Scheduled maintenance occurs every Tuesday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. To the maximum extent possible, installation of service, application, and security updates will be performed during scheduled maintenance.
Unscheduled maintenance tasks that require service downtime will be announced as soon as possible on the Alerts and Outages page.
Change notification: ITS will notify customers using the Alerts and Outages page of service availability and service delivery issues for Campus RHNS. ITS staff will announce the availability of major updates by sending e-mail to it-talk@utlists.utexas.edu.
User responsibilities
Subscribers of the service and identified owners/administrators agree to be aware of and adhere to the university's Acceptable Use Policy.
Campus Red Hat Satellite Network (RHNS) Subscribers agree to:
- Configure clients to use the Campus RHNS server properly
- Not distribute activation keys to unauthorized users