how to use rpm and key to install Red Hat 9 Source CD

weshutchins · 08-30-2010, 08:27 AM

Hi,
I want to look at Red Hat 9 source code on the same PC I installed RH9 on. Yes, I know that is old. The CD package has 3 source CDs and each has a key. I try using:
rpm -i package_name.rpm

and I get warning saying NO_KEY. Also, where is the source installed?

thanx!

MensaWater · 08-30-2010, 10:55 AM

RH9 isn't old - it is ancient. RH9 was the last of the old releases before they rebranded as RHEL and they're already up to RHEL5 (also RHEL6 is already out in beta).

RedHat doesn't support RH9 (or even RHEL2) any longer so rather than trying to get a key you should seriously think about moving on. RH9 due to its age is very insecure because it has gotten no security fixes in a very long time.

If you can't buy new RHEL you might want to look at Fedora which is a bleeding edge distro used for testing what eventually goes into RHEL or at CentOS which is a binary compile of the RHEL sources. Neither of those requires keys.

weshutchins · 08-30-2010, 11:24 AM

As I said, I'm aware it is an old version.... I do use CentOS as well as many other OSes.

I am working with a customer that has a large installed base that uses a 2.4.20 kernel so I was wanting to look at RH9 source for a particular driver since it would be close.

knudfl · 08-30-2010, 11:32 AM

The missing ( or outdated ) keys can be because of age.
Not important.

Setting up an unprivileged "rpm source" / build account in /home/<name>/:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...1-a-766486/#13
.... then the sources are unpacked to /home/<name>/rpms/SOURCES/,
which is much safer, and more convenient than /usr/src/redhat/..
..

weshutchins · 08-30-2010, 02:35 PM

I ended up just using newer linux version (Open SUSE 10.3) to read the CD and it's file manager was able to open and extract RPM files with no problem. yea, I know, Open SUSE 10.3 is ancient too

thanx for your comments and help!

John VV · 08-30-2010, 06:55 PM

weshutchins

Quote:

I am working with a customer that has a large installed base that uses a 2.4.20 kernel so

STRESS to your customer that it is VERY VERY DANGEROUS ( and should be criminally libel ) to use a VERY DEAD os on a server
there are just way TOO MANY security holes that will NEVER be fixed in RH9 .

MensaWater · 08-31-2010, 08:46 AM

If it is a matter of requiring 2.4 kernel only then you might want to look at RHEL3 which at least is still in last level of support from RedHat and has a 2.4 kernel.