[cobalt-users] Managing software updates centrally

["Karri Puumanen" <karri.puumanen@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi

I am working with a client who has hundreds of installed Cobalt servers.
Currently they have no centralized methods of controlling what
software/updates are installed on those servers. Since I'm quite paranoid
about having the latest security updates installed especially with Linux OS,
I came up with an idea:

-A cron job runs hourly on the Cobalt servers comparing the installed RPMs
with a central database.
-If the cron job (script) notices that a newer version is available it sends
mail to a ticket system (Remedy/ARS).

Questions:
-Does such a tool exist? ( RPM comparing with central server )
-Has anyone done such a system before?

I know that it should not be too difficult to build a script to do the job
but I try not to reinvent the wheel again.

All help is higly appreciated.

--

++karri