This section describes how to install ZENworks Linux Management client systems. Each system that is managed by your server must have the client software installed and configured.
Whether you are installing one client machine or hundreds, the process is similar:
The following sections of this manual will show you how to install, configure, and activate client machines.
First, we explain the process of installing and configuring a single machine, then discuss ways to automate the deployment process. Finally, we discuss activation and configuration of the clients.
The Red CarpetTM client is supported on the following platforms and architectures:
The Red Carpet Graphical User Interface (GUI) is supported on all client platforms, with the exception of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1 AS, ES, and WS.
Get the latest stable version of rug, rcd, and rcd-modules for the client operating system.
You can find the packages at the Ximian Red Carpet FTP site (ftp://ftp.ximian.com/pub/redcarpet2) or on your ZENworks Linux Management Installation CD.
Become root with the su command.
Install the packages using the following commands:
rpm -Uvh rug
rpm -Uvh rcd
rpm -Uvh rcd-modules
After the installation has completed, run the following command to start the Red Carpet daemon:
/etc/init.d/rcd start
The rcd daemon is added to the system startup services to load automatically when the machine is started.
By default, rcd requires verified SSL certificates. If you do not want to require certificate checking at this time, run the following command to disable it:
rug set require-verified-certificates false
This setting is stored in /etc/ximian/rcd.conf.
Run the following command to configure rcd to contact your ZENworks Linux Management server for updates:
rug service-add https://yourZLMserver/data
This setting is stored in /var/lib/rcd/services.xml
If you are using a proxy, you must run the following commands to configure the proxy:
rug set proxy-url [http://hostname:port]
rug set proxy-username [username]
rug set proxy-password [password]
The Red Carpet daemon is now ready to be activated.
There are two common situations for large numbers of installations:
If you are deploying completely new operating systems, you can install client software along with the operating system using your distribution's deployment automation tools (Kickstart or AutoYaST, for example). In that case, you will add the client packages rug, rcd and rcd-modules to the install set, and add the setup commands to the post-install scripts. Check the documentation for your install automation tools for details.
For client machines which are already deployed, you may find it more convenient to place the individual package files on a network shared volume and install them with a combination of shell scripts and command line package tools.
It is possible to manually create an rcd.conf file, but in most cases it is easier to run a script to configure the client software. If you edit the configuration file you must restart the daemon to force it to read the changes.
Before a client can receive software from your ZENworks Linux Management server, it must be activated. Activations: Granting Client Access contains a discussion of the available activation methods, and Creating Activations explains how to create activations using the Web interface.