Red Hat licensing...how does it work?
 

hi all,

i just installed linux red hat enterprise server x86 6 on a VM using vmware...and i am aware that it does require licensing...

i installed it to play with as i am busy doing RHEL administrator course and am reading a book about it.

i went to licensing in my vm and see that i am not licensed. (obviously) it says not subscribed.

is this going to hinder me? is there a decrease in functionality till you buy a license.

am i better off installing a clone like centOS or similar

any info appreciated
sninja

Use centos, unless you need the support of redhat which only a company would in most cases, use CentOS or FC. both of these are red hat distrobutions. The lack of a redhat license will prevent you from being able to access the core repositories for your packages and you will be unable to apply any security, bug, or errata patches as they become available.

I used CentOS for almost 4 years prior to logging into a RHEL machine for the first time, I saw almost no differences, with the exception of some of the cool red hat tools like satellite that you get as apart of the subscription.

Don't worry though, everything you need to learn to pass a red hat certification/course can be done with CentOS.

hey Kustom42 thanks for the reply...and quick answer

would you rate Cent over FC

thanks again

There is no need to rate one over the other...they are two different things.

Fedora is a fast-development/release cycle, about six months, designed to test and implement new features. CentOS is like RHEL...designed to have a life cycle of YEARS, so you can implement a server, and stay in production a long time (and be SUPPORTED for a long time), before needing to upgrade.

Yep another good explanation from TB0ne, I should've touched on that. Thanks for the follow up.

understood...thanks

I can't tell from the RH site what the status of it is. It does seem to exceed the agreed time to evaluate but I never saw the required disposition at end. I might have missed it too. RH's web links are off.

You'd think that some phrase like "must remove said software" or some such phrase would be in there. Seems that only your right to service is ended.

Scientific and Centos are really the best choices that almost match RH. Not all RH work is open. Some companies must use their product. Fine. RH coders and support need work too.