IBM BigFix to deprecate Patches for RHEL sites and the RHEL download plug-in on July 31, 2017

Usage and Config Patch
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IBM BigFix is deprecating the RHEL download plug-in and several Patches for RHEL sites on July 31, 2017.

Deprecation of the RHEL download plug-in
The RHEL download plug-in is being deprecated and replaced by the RHSM download plug-in. After July 31, 2017, BigFix will no longer support the RHEL download plug-in.
Since 2016, IBM BigFix has been gradually moving from the earlier version of the download plug-in and releasing the new RHSM download plug-in among the various Patches for RHEL sites. This was in anticipation of the Red Hat transition from the Red Hat Network (RHN) hosted interface to the Red Hat Subscription Management (RHSM) interface.

Patches for RHEL site deprecation
IBM BigFix is deprecating the following sites:

  • Patches for RHEL 5 – Native tools
  • Patches for RHEL 6z
  • Patches for RHEL 7z

The Patches for RHEL 5 – Native tools will be deprecated as BigFix support for RHEL 5 ends on July 31, 2017, subsequent to the end of life of RHEL 5.

If you haven’t done so, upgrade to the later versions of applicable BigFix Patches for RHEL sites.

  • Patches for RHEL 6 Native tools
  • Patches for RHEL 7
  • Patches for RHEL RHSM 6 on System z
  • Patches for RHEL RHSM 7 on System z
  • Patches for RHEL PPC64LE 7
  • Patches for RHEL PPC64BE 7

Enable the site from the License Overview dashboard and subscribe your endpoints to the site.
If you are using baselines or custom sites, you must create new ones with the RHSM sites.

Actions to take:
Upgrade to the later versions of BigFix Patches for RHEL sites.
Enable the site from the License Overview dashboard and subscribe your endpoints to the site.
If you are using baselines or custom sites, you must create new ones with the RHSM sites.

References:
To see the latest BigFix reminder post about the RHEL 5 end of life, see http://bit.ly/2nEwWyT
To learn more about the RHSM download plug-in, see https://ibm.co/2tP2BnG.

Application Engineering team
IBM BigFix

Errata: This post was updated to indicate “Patches for RHEL 6 Native tools” instead of 'Patches for RHEL 6".

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For Patches for RHEL 6 fixlets. I am still showing the name of the RHEL 6 fixlet site is still:

“Patches for RHEL6 Native Tools”

on the License Overview dashboard within the Console.

The URL the server gathers these fixlets on is:
http://sync.bigfix.com/cgi-bin/bfgather/patchesforrhel6nativetools

This site name and URL does not seem to have changed. However, in the list of sites you posted, you say that the site with the name of “Patches for RHEL 6” is the site that is current. However, I cannot find a site name in my License Overview dashboard with that name. And the site with the name of “Patches for RHEL6 Native Tools” has not had its name changed.

Is the site named “Patches for RHEL6 Native Tools” the current site for which Red Hat 6 Os patch fixlets should be deployed from? Or has it been deprecated?

Also, does the RHSM download plugin supported downloads for patch downloads for the RHEL 6 systems?

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Hi,

You’re right, the current site for Red Hat 6 is Patches for RHEL 6 Native Tools (as indicated in the License Overview Dashboard). It hasn’t been deprecated or renamed. Apologies for the oversight.

And yes, the RHSM download plug-in supports RHEL 6.

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