I was just wondering ...... why doesn't anyone use the up2date package that comes with RedHat? or maybe nobody mentions it?
Anyway it's a very good piece of software that you can use to keep your system up to date (hence the name up2date) ... it is a free service provided by RHN (RedHat Network) that updates any packages that are vulnerable to exploits, etc.....

rpm -qa | grep ensim

analog-5.1-1ensim2
sendmail-doc-8.11.6-3ensim1
vacation-1.2.6.1-ensim1
mx-2.0.2-1ensim3
Zope-zserver-2.3.3-2ensim3
MySQL-python21-0.3.5-1ensim3
tomcat4-4.0.3-ensim1
apache-devel-1.3.22-2ensim9
php-4.2.2-2ensim5
php-ldap-4.2.2-2ensim5
php-sysvsem-4.2.2-2ensim5
sendmail-cf-8.11.6-3ensim1
xinetd-2.3.3-1ensim2
cronolog-1.6.1-ensim4
perl-Quota-1.4-ensim2
apache-mod_fastcgi-2.2.10-1ensim9
frontpage-5.0-ensim15
postgresql-7.1.3-4ensim3
postgresql-server-7.1.3-4ensim3
postgresql-python-7.1.3-4ensim3
apache-manual-1.3.22-2ensim9
proftpd-standalone-1.2.4-ensim2
mod_ssl-2.8.5-6ensim9
php-devel-4.2.2-2ensim5
php-imap-4.2.2-2ensim5
php-manual-4.2.2-2ensim5
php-snmp-4.2.2-2ensim5
python2-2.1.3-1ensim1
Zope-components-2.3.3-2ensim3
Zope-zpublisher-2.3.3-2ensim3
Zope-ztemplates-2.3.3-2ensim3
ensim-appliance-libs-3.1.0-25
phpMyAdmin-2.2.0-ensim4
mod_jk-1.3-1.0-1.4.0.2ensim2
php-sysvshm-4.2.2-2ensim5
php-pgsql-4.2.2-2ensim5
ensim-appliance-l-3.1.1-12
sendmail-8.11.6-3ensim1
majordomo-1.94.5-2ensim6
gettext-0.10.38-7ensim1
Zope-services-2.3.3-2ensim3
postgresql-libs-7.1.3-4ensim3
postgresql-devel-7.1.3-4ensim3
postgresql-contrib-7.1.3-4ensim3
proftpd-1.2.4-ensim2
apache-1.3.22-2ensim9
php-ftp-4.2.2-2ensim5
php-mysql-4.2.2-2ensim5
php-gettext-4.2.2-2ensim5


Thats one reason why.. Some packages are heavily modified by ensim.. and using up2date will work for some things.. but it can break ensim also...

of course if you have a plain redhat box.. up2date is fine.

Oh i see, I guess since I DO just use a plain redhat box it works great.

Up2date is also useful for ENSIM as long as you DISABLE automatic updates and use it just to download the updates from Redhat. It's easier than typing lots of wgets and making mistakes.

With up2date (with download only!) you only need to

up2date --configure

Make sure
item 8 (retrieve only) is set to yes
item 24 (pkgskiplist) is blank
Save changes

Then do

up2date -u

This command will retrieve packages to /var/spool/up2date.
You should see progress bar as files are downloaded from the


Verify files have been downloaded

cd /var/spool/up2date

then do

rpm -Fvh packagename.rpm

This should only be done by experienced admins who KNOW what packages they can update without breaking ENSIM.

I have one of the Ensim boxes, but I only use the server as a game server. I shouldn't need Ensim correct? So if I use up2date and it breaks ensim I am assuming no big deal. Is that correct?

up2date is very useful for ensim. Just do not let it do things automatially. There are hundreds of RPMS that can be updated without a problem. Things that ensim has installed should be skipped. Also make sure you are installing specific packages. Also make sure you watch for dependicies listing.

For example, you may see mod_ssl upate --- looks good right? Well, it requires a newer version of perl and installing this can toast ensim.