How to subscribe a RHEL client system to the child channels like Tools, Optional, or Supplementary

Solution Verified - Updated

Environment

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server/Client 5
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server/Client 6
  • Red Hat Satellite 5.x

Issue

  • How to subscribe a RHEL system to the Tools, Optional, or Supplementary channels in Red Hat Satellite
  • How do I verify RHEL is subscribed to Desktop/Workstation channel?

Resolution

  1. Log into Red Hat Satellite (as a user with System Administrator role, with access to the system and Channel).

  2. Click on the Systems tab at the top of the screen.

  3. Choose the relevant system in the system list.

  4. Click on Alter Channel Subscriptions.

  5. Select the desired channel(s) from:

    • RHN Tools for RHEL5/6
    • Server/Workstation Optional for RHEL5/6
    • Optional Productivity Apps (RHEL5)
    • RHEL Server/Workstation Supplementary
    • RHEL Supplemental (RHEL5)

  6. Click the Change Subscriptions button at the bottom of the page:

  • On the RHEL client system, run yum clean all then yum makecache to download new channel information.
  • Packages can be searched/installed with yum search or yum provides and install packages with yum install.

Root Cause

  • Systems are not subscribed to the RHN Tools, Optional or Supplementary channels by default.

Support Status

  • Red Hat provides these additional software packages (RPMs) for the convenience of our customers.
  • The Optional channel contains open source software and the Supplementary channel contains proprietary licensed software.
  • Packages from these channels are not supported by Red Hat Global Support Services, nor are the ABIs guaranteed.
  • Refer to the This content is not included.Scope of Coverage Details for more information.

How to access Optional and Supplementary channels, and -devel packages using Red Hat Subscription Management(RHSM)?

Diagnostic Steps

  • List the enabled repos on the system:

      # yum repolist
SBR
Product(s)
Components
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