These steps will get you going quickly along the path towards having a managed RHEL operating system on your computer. Clicking on the link labelled More details... after each step will provide a deeper description (and hopefully a deeper understanding) of what you are accomplishing with each task.

1. Request a Red Hat Network (RHN) account using the ISU RHN Account Request Form
   After submitting your request, you will receive an e-mail containing your RHN login and password, along with your personal activation key. Your RHN username/password should be used only for accessing the RHN web site. Do not use it for registering your system. Use only the registration method shown in step 3 below. More details...

   If you are an ISU IT staff member and are installing RHEL on University owned machines, you should also request one or more group activation keys using the RHN Special Request form. Group activation keys are used for managing groups of machines. Also, these keys can be shared by several staff members.

   Note: Please do not register a machine with the RHN until you receive either a personal or group activation key issued by Iowa State University.

2. Install RHEL on your computer. More details...
3. Register the system with the RHN and update the software: More details...
   1. Login as root
   2. Obtain a copy of bootstrap.sh script

      # wget cyclops.iastate.edu/pub/bootstrap.sh

   3. Run the bootstrap.sh script to register the system

      # sh bootstrap.sh --register XXXXXXXXXXXX

      where XXXXXXXXXXXX is replaced by either your personal or group activation key.
      
   4. Update the up2date system:

      # up2date -u up2date

Once the system has been registered using your activation key and the up2date software has itself been updated, your machine can be managed using the Red Hat Network. Visit the site and log in using the RHN username/password that should have been sent to you. Change your password. Then you can begin managing your system with RHN.