Hi guys.

I have to install a server in production with redhat, critical application running on the server.

I have to download redhat but when I go the redhat site, it show RH 5 update 9 Beta..

I havent use RH enterprise before (paid).. so not sure is this Beta version is stable enough or if go and download the 5.8 version, which I guess is stable. or am I wrong?

as long as the server is going to be properly registered with RHN just pick 5.8 and it will upgrade to the latest packages when they come out of beta. Note that these point releases, i.e. 5.8 vs 5.9 are nothing more than baselines up updates. If it's kept up to date, they'll both end up being 5.9, then 5.10 etc. in due course.

and if you're NOT paying to use RHN... DO NOT USE RHEL AT ALL. Use CentOS instead.

and why EL5 instead of EL6? Why are you picking an old major release?

unless you 100% need the old RHEL5 for legacy software it would be advisable to install the current RHEL6.4 and buy the server license
https://www.redhat.com/apps/store/server/
from $349 to over $18,000 USD

or

install CentOS
the older 5 series is 5.9 with the current CentOS 6.4

yes, the application developer says it has to be RHEL 5.

I downloaded the 5.8 from redhat but after installation it says Beta..

#more /etc/redhat-release.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server release 5.8 Beta (Tikanga)

Am I downloading the wrong one or what?, I had to go the older versions in redhat site and selected the 5.8...


1- Does this version 5.8 has support? for how long it will have support from redhat?

for red hat support see their web site
with the paid for support contract it is required, you must buy it !
https://access.redhat.com/support/po...pdates/errata/

RHEL 5.9 is the very last minor upgrade
and is in "Production 2"
so rhel 5.9 is supported until 2020

but you must have the required server license

or
install CentOS 5.9
http://centos.org/
-- the 5.9 iso or torrent download --
-- the 64 bit version ---
http://mirrors.arsc.edu/centos/5.9/isos/x86_64/
----------------------
normally for the dvd this is all that is needed
"CentOS-5.9-x86_64-bin-DVD-1of2.iso "
or the torrent download--
CentOS-5.9-x86_64-bin-DVD.torrent
---------------------
It is a free rebuild but YOU are your own tech support
there is no 24/7 red hat support
and cent will only support "CentOS 5.9" until the end of "Production 3" in 2017


you can install rhel 5.8
then buy the license
register the install
and upgrade to 5.9

also you can contact red hat sales
http://www.redhat.com/contact/sales.html

It looks like you've downloaded the wrong version; as above 5.8 & 5.9 are in production release.
Technically 5.8 is superseded by 5.9, so get the prod version of that if it HAS to be 5.x.

We have support.

I run #rhn_register, configure my account with support and then did yum update..

it updated RH to the 5.9 (not BETA).

isnt there any problem with the support if I instaled a beta version and then update to stable?

the only issue now is the system is running from a sas storage with multipath.. and it wont boot with the new kernel.. but it boot with the old one...

I think I would have to run mkinitrd to recreate the image and tray again. I will try tomorrow.


or is it better to install the 5.9 beta and run yum update?

thank you for the help.. I appreciate it.

Forget Beta..
You likely need a special driver if it needs to read an SAS drive during the initial boot stage (see initrd in grub.conf).
Given you've got support, ask RH how or you could try googling mkinitrd.

Here's an example from the RH manual
See also Section VI here http://www.linuxtopia.org/online_boo...ion/index.html