Hi guys,
I recently got a copy of RHEL 5 from a friend of mine.... to just try out the differences between the RHEL and Fedora 7 that i'm presently using.
To my surprise as the installation started i was asked a installation number of which i knew nothing...when i called up my friend he had no idea (bloody windows guy)
Can any of u help me with a solution

Prasanna

You may safely skip the registration number. You won't be able to login to Red Hat Network, though. So you can't get updates or packages from the net.

Alternatively you may register an evaluation version of RHEL [1].

Also you may use the free community version of Fedora or try out CentOS, an enterprise distribution that recompiles the source RPMs of RHEL.

[1]http://www.redhat.com/rhel/details/eval/

Hi thanks for your reply
I'm presently using Fedora 7 in my PC. i just wanted to try out an ENTERPRISE version of REDHAT....

I've no probs using Fedora except for the fact that i'm unable to play my mp3's video CD's and DVD. I use it only for programming.

I'm blessed with DIAL-UP in my PC and my motorola SM56 dial-up modem doesn't work with Fedora... So no updates from Fedora end also. I'm pretty hung up on my way. I just wanted to use FEDORA for EVERYTHING.

Pls help me out
Thanks one again for your time.
Prasanna

(removed for violating the LQ Rules)

good luck..it works for on of my friend..

Bumping this thread.

Guys - what is Red Hat up to with this installation number crap?

Anyway...

I *do* have an installation number - but now when I try to get my system updated, it's asking me for an SSL certificate?

Wha?

To expand on BrianMcGee's post;
There are other posts around that go into this in more detail (eg http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...estion-622512/), but basically:

1. RHEL is NOT free, except for the (30 day?) eval version. You pay, you get an install num which gives you access to the RHEL update system and various forms of support, depending on how much you paid. long support cycle (5 yrs?)

2. Centos is a free copy of RHEL, sans RH logos and support.

3. Fedora is totally free SW only (does not inc proprietary codecs), sans support. Short upgrade cycle (every 12 mths?)
bleeding edge, so not recommended for production systems.
If you look around on LQ, it is possible to get the proprietary codecs/audio-visual drivers you need eg Mplayer etc.

HTH