Self Test | Linux Patch Management: Keeping Linux Systems Up To Date

The following questions will help you measure your understanding of the material presented in this chapter. As no multiple choice questions appear on the Red Hat exams, no multiple choice questions appear in this book. These questions exclusively test your understanding of the chapter. It is okay if you have another way of performing a task. Getting results, not memorizing trivia, is what counts on the Red Hat exams. There may be more than one answer to many of these questions.

The Red Hat Package Manager

What command would you use to install the penguin-3.26.i386.rpm package, with extra messages in case of errors? The package is on the local directory.

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What command would you use to upgrade the penguin RPM with the penguin-3.27.i386.rpm package? The package is on the ftp.remotemj02.abc server.

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If you've downloaded a later version of the Linux kernel to the local directory, and it's kernel-2.6.19.el5.i386.rpm, what's the best way to make it a part of your system?

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Answers

The command that installs the penguin-3.26.i386.rpm package, with extra messages in case of errors, from the local directory, is

 # rpm -iv penguin-3.26.i386.rpm

The command that upgrades the aforementioned penguin RPM with the penguin-3.27.i386.rpm package from the ftp.remotemj02.abc server is

 # rpm -Uv ftp://ftp.remotemj02.abc/penguin-3.26.i386.rpm

If you use the default vsFTP server, the package may be in the pub/ subdirectory. In other words, the command would be

 # rpm -Uv ftp://ftp.remotemj02.abc/pub/penguin-3.26.i386.rpm

Yes, the question is not precise. But that's what you see in real life.

If you've downloaded a later version of the Linux kernel to the local directory, and it's kernel-2.6.18-8.4.4.el5.i386.rpm, the best way to make it a part of your system is to install it-and not upgrade the current kernel. Kernel upgrades overwrite existing kernels. Kernel installations allow kernels to exist side by side; if the new kernel doesn't work, you can still boot into the working kernel. So you'd use a command like this:

 # rpm -iv kernel-2.6.18-8.4.4.el5.i386.rpm

More RPM Commands

What command lists all installed RPMs? What about the RPMs installed when you first installed the local system?

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Assume you have the rpm-build RPM installed. When you install a source RPM, in what directory (and subdirectories) will you find key files?

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If you've downloaded an RPM from a third party and called it third.i386.rpm, how would you validate the associated package signature?

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Answers

The command that lists all installed RPMs is

 # rpm -qa

The file that lists the RPMs installed when you first installed the local system is /root/install.log. The /var/log/rpmpkgs file is complete but is updated only once per day.

When you install a source RPM, the directory in which key files are stored is /usr/src/redhat. One important file is the spec file associated with the RPM in the /usr/src/redhat/SPECS directory.

If you've downloaded an RPM from a third party, call it third.i386.rpm, you'll first need to download and install the RPM-GPG-KEY file associated with that repository. You can then validate the associated package signature with a command like (note the uppercase -V):

 # rpm -V third.i386.rpm

Managing with Pup and the Red Hat Network

If you want official updates for RHEL, to where should you connect your RHEL system?

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Answers

7.	If you want official updates for RHEL, you should connect your RHEL system to the Red Hat Network.

Adding and Removing RPM Packages with yum and pirut

Name at least two tools that can help you download and install updates from the RHN.

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What yum command installs the latest Linux kernel?

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Answers

Three tools can help you download and install updates from the RHN: Pup, pirut, and yum.

This yum command installs a later available version of the Linux kernel:

 # yum install kernel

If you're working with a Xen-based kernel, the command is slightly different:

 # yum install kernel-xen

Using Kickstart to Automate Installation

10.

You're using the Kickstart Configurator to create a ks.cfg file for several computers. Interpret the following directive:

 part /var --size 1000 --grow yes

11.

If your kickstart installation file is on the local CD, and you boot from the USB drive, what would you type at the boot: prompt to start the kickstart installation?

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12.

If your kickstart installation file is on the local hard drive in /dev/sda7, on the top-level directory on that partition, and you boot from the USB drive, what would you type at the boot: prompt to start the kickstart installation?

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Answers

10.

The following directive in ks.cfg configures a partition for the /var directory, of at least 1000MB, but growable-which means it can take up the remaining free space.

 part /var --size 1000 --grow yes

11.

If your kickstart installation file is on the local CD, and you boot from the USB drive, type the following at the boot: prompt to start the kickstart installation:

 linux ks=cdrom:/ks.cfg

12.

If your kickstart installation file is on the local hard drive in /dev/sda7, on the top-level directory, and you boot from the USB drive, type the following command at the boot: prompt to start the kickstart installation:

 linux ks=hd:sda7:/ks.cfg