Stay Connected:

Switching from RHN to ULN

Updated: 5 Jan 2024

Switching from Red Hat Network (RHN) to Oracle Unbreakable Linux Network (ULN)

Introduction

PLEASE READ:

  • The instructions below are for switching from the Red Hat Network to the Oracle Unbreakable Linux Network, which is part of a simple switch from Red Hat Enterprise Linux to Oracle Linux.
  • We recommend Oracle Linux consulting services to ensure a smooth transition from Red Hat support to Oracle Linux support.
  • Work with your local Oracle Linux representative to learn more.

This document describes how to connect to the Oracle Unbreakable Linux Network (ULN) to obtain software updates. It outlines the steps needed to switch a server running Red Hat Enterprise Linux from Red Hat Network (RHN) to Oracle's Unbreakable Linux Network (ULN).

Note : You need to migrate only one server to ULN and for rest of the servers either create a local ULN mirror or use Oracle Linux Manager.

Want to switch a CentOS system to Oracle Linux instead?

Activating a Server installed with Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server

If you have a server installed with Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server, you need to perform the following steps to obtain software updates via Oracle's Unbreakable Linux Network:

  • Ensure you have a valid Oracle Linux Services Agreement
  • Download and install the rpms required for registering your system to ULN
  • Import Oracle's GPG key (not required for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 and later)
  • Create a ULN account
  • Register your server

Ensure you have a valid support Oracle Linux Services Agreement

Support contracts for Oracle Linux can be purchased through the Oracle Linux Store, from your sales representative or via an authorized reseller.

Installation steps

Red Hat Release Installation Steps
Enterprise Linux 9
  1. Ensure you have downloaded the required packages 
    # wget https://linux-update.oracle.com/rpms/uln_register_ol9.tgz
# wget https://linux-update.oracle.com/rpms/uln_register-gnome_ol9.tgz
  2. To upgrade the existing packages already on your server, use the following command (assuming both the tar files are in the current directory): 
    # tar -xzf uln_register_ol9.tgz
# tar -xzf uln_register-gnome_ol9.tgz (only if rhn-setup-gnome is already installed)
# cd uln_migrate
# rpm -Uvh *.rpm --force
    Note: if you don't have rhn-setup-gnome installed, use the following command: 
    # tar -xzf uln_register_ol9.tgz
# cd uln_migrate
# rpm -Uvh *.rpm --force
  3. Download and verify the Oracle Linux GPG Key: 
    # wget https://yum.oracle.com/RPM-GPG-KEY-oracle-ol9 -O /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-oracle
# gpg --import --import-options show-only /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-oracle
# cp /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-oracle /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY
  4. Create a ULN account here: linux.oracle.com/register
  5. Register your system to ULN by running following command as root: 
    # uln_register
    6. Note: Upon the first system update the --allowerasing option could be required, for example: 
    # dnf update --allowerasing -y
Enterprise Linux 8
  1. Ensure you have downloaded the required packages 
    # wget https://linux-update.oracle.com/rpms/uln_register_ol8.tgz
# wget https://linux-update.oracle.com/rpms/uln_register-gnome_ol8.tgz
  2. To upgrade the existing packages already on your server, use the following command (assuming both the tar files are in the current directory): 
    # tar -xzf uln_register_ol8.tgz
# tar -xzf uln_register-gnome_ol8.tgz (only if rhn-setup-gnome is already installed)
# cd uln_migrate
# rpm -Uvh *.rpm --force
    Note: if you don't have rhn-setup-gnome installed, use the following command: 
    # tar -xzf uln_register_ol8.tgz
# cd uln_migrate
# rpm -Uvh *.rpm --force
  3. Download and verify the Oracle Linux GPG Key: 
    # wget https://yum.oracle.com/RPM-GPG-KEY-oracle-ol8 -O /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-oracle
# gpg --import --import-options show-only /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-oracle
# cp /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-oracle /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY
  4. Create a ULN account here: linux.oracle.com/register
  5. Register your system to ULN by running following command as root: 
    # uln_register
    6. Note: Upon the first system update the --allowerasing option could be required, for example: 
    # dnf update --allowerasing -y
Enterprise Linux 7
  1. Ensure you have downloaded the required packages 
    # wget https://linux-update.oracle.com/rpms/uln_register_ol7.tgz
# wget https://linux-update.oracle.com/rpms/uln_register-gnome_ol7.tgz
  2. To upgrade the existing packages already on your server, use the following command (assuming both the tar files are in the current directory): 
    # tar -xzf uln_register_ol7.tgz
# tar -xzf uln_register-gnome_ol7.tgz (only if rhn-setup-gnome is already installed)
# cd uln_migrate
# rpm -Uvh *.rpm --force
    Note: if you don't have rhn-setup-gnome installed, use the following command: 
    # tar -xzf uln_register_ol7.tgz
# cd uln_migrate
# rpm -Uvh *.rpm
  3. Download and verify the Oracle Linux GPG Key: 
    # wget https://yum.oracle.com/RPM-GPG-KEY-oracle-ol7 -O /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-oracle
# gpg --import /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-oracle
# cp /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-oracle /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY
  4. Create a ULN account here: linux.oracle.com/register
  5. Register your system to ULN by running following command as root: 
    # uln_register
    6. Optional: Update your system by yum 
    # yum update -y
Enterprise Linux 6
  1. Ensure you have downloaded the required packages 
    2. # wget https://linux-update.oracle.com/rpms/uln_register.tgz
# wget https://linux-update.oracle.com/rpms/uln_register-gnome.tgz
  2. To upgrade the existing packages already on your server, use the following command (assuming both the tar files are in the current directory): 
    # tar -xzf uln_register.tgz 
# tar -xzf uln_register-gnome.tgz (only if rhn-setup-gnome is already installed)
# cd uln_migrate 
# rpm -Uvh *.rpm
    Note: if you don't have rhn-setup-gnome installed, use the following command: 
    # tar -xzf uln_register.tgz
# cd uln_migrate
# rpm -Uvh *.rpm

  3. Create a ULN account here: linux.oracle.com/register
  4. Register your system to ULN by running following command as root: 
    # uln_register
  5. Run following command if libreport-plugin-rhtsupport package is installed: 
    # yum shell
> remove libreport-plugin-rhtsupport
> update libreport abrt
> run
> quit
Enterprise Linux 5
  1. Ensure you have downloaded the appropriate up2date RPM(s) for your server's architecture
    • i386 
      # wget https://linux-update.oracle.com/rpms/up2date-5.10.1-40.14.el5.i386.rpm
# wget https://linux-update.oracle.com/rpms/up2date-gnome-5.10.1-40.14.el5.i386.rpm
    • x86_64 
      # wget https://linux-update.oracle.com/rpms/up2date-5.10.1-40.14.el5.x86_64.rpm
# wget https://linux-update.oracle.com/rpms/up2date-gnome-5.10.1-40.14.el5.x86_64.rpm
    • ia64 
      # wget https://linux-update.oracle.com/rpms/up2date-5.10.1-40.14.el5.ia64.rpm
# wget https://linux-update.oracle.com/rpms/up2date-gnome-5.10.1-40.14.el5.ia64.rpm
  2. To upgrade the existing up2date packages already on your server, use the following command: 
    # rpm -Uvh up2date-5.10.1-40.14.*.rpm up2date-gnome-5.10.1-40.14.*.rpm
    3. Note: if you don't have up2date-gnome installed, use the following command: 
    # rpm -Uvh up2date-5.10.1-40.14.*.rpm
  3. Import Oracle's GPG Key by running the following command as the root user: 
     # rpm --import /usr/share/rhn/RPM-GPG-KEY
  4. Create a ULN account here: linux.oracle.com/register
  5. Register your system to ULN by running following command as root: 
    # up2date --register

Known Issues

  1. up2date -u on ia64 results in RPM error (Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 and 5 only)

    You may see the following harmless error for the first time you run up2date -u on a ia64 server after switching to ULN: 

    There was a fatal RPM error. The message was:
Failed running rpm transaction

    Please run up2date -p if you see this error.

  2. Previous custom configurations

    If you have previously customized your configuration file /etc/sysconfig/rhn/up2date, installing above mentioned packages will leave your configuration file intact. Configuration file designed to work with ULN will be placed in /etc/sysconfig/rhn/up2date.rpmnew To register with ULN, please put the appropriate configuration file in place as follows: 

     cd /etc/sysconfig/rhn
 cp up2date up2date.bak
 cp up2date.rpmnew up2date

Additional Assistance

Technical information

Oracle Linux Support

Connect

Contact Us

software.hardware.complete
Subscribe | Careers | Contact Us | Legal Notices | Terms of Use | Your Privacy Rights