Resetting the SUSE or Novell Customer Center system registration

This document (3303599) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

Environment

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10

SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11

SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12

Novell Open Enterprise Server 2 (OES 2)

Open Enterprise Server 2015 (OES 2015) Linux Support Pack 1

Open Enterprise Server 2018 (OES 2018) Linux Support Pack 1

Novell ZENworks Linux Management Linux Management 7 - ZLM7

Situation

Registering another key for the SUSE Linux Enterprise server/desktop (SLES/SLED) or Open Enterprise Server 2 (OES2) is resulting in a quick response of "success". However, the key is still not used and is also not listed.

If the evaluation key was used first to register SLES, SLED or any other subscription based product, the new registration key that is acquired on purchase needs to be changed by following the below steps. The old key needs to be cleared to enable the new key to be used.

The same steps have to be followed if an improper code was supplied during the registration.

Resolution

The key must be cleared from the local server or workstation.

The process for SLES10/SLED10/OES2 is as follows:

Open YaST2 -> "Software" -> "Installation Source" and remove all nu.novell.com update sources.
Remove the nu.novell.com update sources in Zenworks using "rug service-delete https://nu.novell.com"
Stop the Zenworks management daemon using "/etc/init.d/novell-zmd stop".
Remove the zmd cache using "rm -R /var/cache/zmd/*".
Remove the zmd database using "rm /var/lib/zmd/zmd.db".
Remove the device ID using "rm /etc/zmd/deviceid".
Remove the Zen secret using "rm /etc/zmd/secret".
Remove subscriptions file (if there is one) "rm /var/lib/zmd/subscriptions". Attention: this step is normally not needed. It is a last resort and will remove any installation source as well as custom repositories. This step is to ensure that there is no other factor that may be affecting suse_register/zmd from registering the machine correctly. In case you remove the subscriptions file, you have to readd the installation source later, e.g. by using YaST2 -> Installation source.
Restart the Zenworks management daemon using "/etc/init.d/novell-zmd start".
Delete the suseRegister cache file using "rm /var/cache/SuseRegister/lastzmdconfig.cache".

With this complete, restart YaST, and then launch Novell Customer Center Configuration. This will register any new keys that were needed.

The process for SLE11 is as follows:

Find out the alias of the update service by using "zypper ls".
Remove the update service, for example by using "zypper removeservice nu_novell_com".
Remove the NCC credentials using "rm /etc/zypp/credentials.d/NCCcredentials".
Delete the suseRegister cache file using "rm /var/cache/SuseRegister/lastzmdconfig.cache".
With this complete, restart YaST, and then launch Novell Customer Center Configuration. This will register any new keys that were needed. Attention: if you use the suse_register commandline tool instead of YaST (for example by using: suse_register -a regcode-sles=YourActivationCode -a email=YourEmailAddress -a moniker=YourHostname -L /root/.suse_register.log) you may have to refresh the services by running "zypper refresh-services -r" afterwards.
Check if the update repositories have been added correctly by using "zypper lr".

SLE 11 SP3

As of SLE 11 SP3 the -E (--erase-local-regdata) has been introduced to suse_register

suse_register -E

to clean up the entire local registration stack completely.

The process for SLE12 is as follows:

There will be a maintenance update for SUSEConnect including the useful options "--cleanup" and "--deregister". However, until these options are ready (check regularly if there's any update for SUSEConnect), the manual procedure is as follows:

Find out the alias of the update service by using "zypper ls".
Remove the update service, for example by using "zypper removeservice SUSE_Linux_Enterprise_Server_12_x86_64".
rm -f /etc/SUSEConnect
rm -f /etc/zypp/services.d/*
rm -f /etc/zypp/credentials.d/*
SUSEConnect -r <YourActivationCode> -e <YourEmailAddress> --debug &> /tmp/reg.log
Check if the update repositories have been added correctly by using "zypper lr".

Additional Information

Please note: /etc/zmd/deviceid or /etc/zypp/credentials.d/NCCcredentials contains a unique ID that is used to identify the system in the Novell Customer Center. The above steps involve deleting these unique ID but the system registration will not be removed from the respective account. While resetting the registration of one system, the registration in the Novell Customer Center should be deleted as well in order to avoid a wrong license count.

To see how this is done from a Novell Engineer click the link below.
Video Training Module TID 3303599

If switching from SMT to Novell Customer Center the "url=" line in the /etc/suseRegister.conf file must also be modified to point to https://secure-www.novell.com/center/regsvc/

Example:

url = https://secure-www.novell.com/center/regsvc/

Disclaimer

This Support Knowledgebase provides a valuable tool for SUSE customers and parties interested in our products and solutions to acquire information, ideas and learn from one another. Materials are provided for informational, personal or non-commercial use within your organization and are presented "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.