98 Chapter 6. Red Hat Network Website
different base channel. A child channel is a channel associated with a base channel but contains extra
packages. For instance, an organization can create a child channel associated with Red Hat Enterprise
Linux 2.1 for the x86 architecture that contains extra packages needed only for the organization, such
as a custom engineering application.
A system must be subscribed to one base channel only. This base channel is assigned automatically
during registration based upon the Red Hat Enterprise Linux release and system architecture selected.
In the case of public free channels, the action will succeed. In the case of paid base channels, this
action will fail if an associated entitlement doesn’t exist.
A systemcan be subscribed to multiple child channels of its basechannel. Only packages included in a
system’s subscribed channels can be installed or updated onthat system. Further, RHNSatellite Server
and RHN Proxy Server customers have channel management authority. This authority gives them the
ability to create and manage their own custom channels. Refer to the RHN Channel Management
Guide for details.
Channels can be further broken down by their relevance to your systems. Two such lists emerge:
Relevant and All.
6.6.1.1. Relevant Channels
As shown in Figure 6-6, the Relevant Channels page is shown by default when you click Software
Channels in the left navigation bar. It displays a list of channels now associated with your systems.
Links within this list go todifferent tabs ofthe Software Channel Details page. Clicking on a channel
name takes you to the Details tab. Clicking on the packages number takes you to the Packages tab.
And clicking on the systems number takes you to the Subscribed Systems tab. Refer to Section
6.6.1.4 Software Channel Details for details.
Figure 6-6. Relevant Channels
