Linux Redhat License issue

[Niclas Zetup]

Hello

I have a customer who purchased 2x RHEL 5 standard licenses some time ago but never used them. Then he realized he needed Advanced plattform (clustering) so he upgraded those licenses to AP and at the same time he bought 2 more RHEL5 AP licenses.

Now he has 2x RHEL5 AP licenses with en expiration date in about 1 year and 2x RHEL5 AP licenses who expires in about 2 years.
Before he retrieved the new subscription numbers he began with the installation of two of the servers (which he wanted the latest licenses connected to, that is 2 year expiration date) But since he didnt had the subscription numbers he skipped that part and registrated the server through rhn_register after the installation. Now it seems like he got the old licenses (1 year expiration) to this installation.

Is there a way afterwards to explecit tell a RedHat installation exactly which subscription those installation should be connected to? Or does Redhat network just lock tha first available subscription to this installation?
And if so, is there a way to change this? I know a reinstallation might do the trick if he then enters the subscription number to the correct license during installation but he would really like to not have to reinstall the systems now.
Best regards
Niclas

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom,

The answer is painful.

1) Contact Red Hat and resolve the actual license issue. Make sure licensing is proper.

2) Go to RHN and drop registration of these systems. Then add them in anew, using the user id and password you got from step 1.

You are done, you can now install any software from RHN you are licensed for.

SEP

[Niclas Zetup]

Thank you for the quick response.

I'm not sure I got my question out right.

The thing is, customer have 4x RHEL AD licenses who are working prefectly fine. The only thing is that there are different expire dates on those subscriptions.

The first two server who was installed last week was done without entering the subscription number, and because of this (I think) the first two subscriptions was used for these installations, but customer want to use the 2 other subscriptions instead.

Is the only way to fix this to reinstall the servers and enter correct subscription number at installation?

Best regards
Niclas

[Steven E. Protter · Accepted solution]

Shalom,

No you need not reinstall the servers.

Installation number is an annoyance, an attempt by Red Hat to "microsoft" people in an attempt to let them audit software use.

IMO its an attempt by them to sell software they have no right to sell. All the guts of Red Hat are based on open source and you can use them for free with the CentOS product which is pure RHEL AS, no ES.

The license model however is based on number of systems connected to the Red Hat network.

Top be able to install the full range of available software and update, you do not need an installation number. You need RHN access set up for the systems. 4.x and 5.x is not a factor.

The RHN id you use to update the systems must reflect the newer, longer term license, then you have a full range of options just like if you had done the stupid installation number in the first place.

I have NEVER used a RHEL installation number for 5.x installations. I skipped it each and ever time at my recently ended engagement with News Corp. All 5.x systems were fully licensed and capable if using clustering and GFS, the features we licensed.

You might wish to actually speak on this issue. If you use the contact form at http://www.isnamerica.com or http://www.hpuxconsulting.com and give me a US phone, I can give you a call.

SEP

[Niclas Zetup]

Sorry for the late response. I agree with you Steve about centos and I appreciate your answer very much.
Unfortenatly I did never get a straqight answer from RH and had to make the customer create their own support case for this. No idea how it whent though.