Please help me update a RHEL4 server using alternate source
 

Hi,

A few years ago I setup my first file server. Didn't know much about Linux and I bought a RHEL4 licence. Successfully setup, with some tech support, a 4 disk RAID5 and it has worked pretty well all this time.

However the update package never worked and I did not have the time to debug it. Now the licence is expired and no budget to renew, and besides I am migrating to Ubuntu. Somewhere I read it was possible to redirect what site the RPM update manager was pointing to but can no longer find the details. Other than updating the software on this I would also like to install Ksensors to monitor my CPU temperature. Last month, when I ran Fileroller to compress contents of certain partitions, the machine would just abruptly shutdown. Have replaced the power supply, casing fan and CPU fan. Now I want to monitor it before starting to use Fileroller again. Also not sure what maximum safe CPU temperature I should be looking for.

Hope my question is of interest to others too. :scratch:

You can't mix distros like that. Back up your data and do a fresh install of Ubuntu.
If you're used to RHEL and still like it, go Centos, which is a free copy of RHEL, hence without support, but you do get updates.
Latest of Centos is 5.3, 5.4 due within about a mth.

Hi Chris,

Sorry was not clear. Have moved other machines to Ubuntu. The file server is mover of a "moving project". On top of the RAID 5 I'm running the LVM. I have space on the RAID to install Ubuntu in a sperate partition(s). Do you think I can point the existing data partitions with a new Ubuntu installation?

About the update I did not mean to immply I was going to mix distros. The point was to get stuff updated on the RHEL until it's migrated and Ksensors. I searched and searched and cannot locate the thread that mentioned that I could give alternate sources to redhat for s/w updates and it would work but not sure where that is. Can you help?

Thx


xian

If the RHEL license has expired, you need to do one of:

1. renew license
2. remove RHEL, install Centos
3. try(!) pointing RHEL repo files (somehwre under /etc/up2date iirc) to point at the equiv Centos version.

Personally I wouldn't do (3), given a choice. I'd go with (1) or (2).
There are threads here at LQ that explain (3), but essentially, as I said, find that dir/files and change the content to point at the equiv Centos repos.
http://www.centos.org/
I get the impression that you might only be able to download the whole OS and then use the createrepo cmd to create a local repo; IOW, they don't have online repos for 4.x.
This shows you how: http://wiki.centos.org/HowTos/CreateLocalRepos

you can use the cent repos but it is not the best way
cent4 and RHEL 4 are binary compatible BUT not 100% of the repos are .
READ the centOS wiki page
http://wiki.centos.org/AdditionalResources/Repositories


but this is not recommended but can be done.

Gents!

Thx for the suggestion but the question is not being addressed. In RHEL4 the software is updated as you know with "up2date", which somewhere has a configuration file as to source locations to get its updates. I've been told that other sources can be used to update things like OpenOffice or add programs from SourceForge. What I'm asking is how to add sources for up2date.

Thx


xian

Configuration file for up2date should be /etc/sysconfig/rhn/up2date.
You can also check with man up2date.