Linux Index

RPM package installation

Introduction

Initially developed for Redhat, the package managing has been extended to other distributions. If you want to install a new software easily, look for the '.rpm' package.

A RPM package contains a library of files with the description of the location where the files have to be copied. It also contains a general description of the package. An other interesting characteristic of RPM is that he checks for dependencies.

The command rpm

To install foo.rpm, type
rpm -ivh foo.rpm
To uninstall the package foo, type
rpm -e foo
To query information about the package foo (already installed), type
rpm -qi foo
To query information about the package file foo.rpm, type
rpm -qip foo.rpm
To query the file listing in the package foo, if already installed, type
rpm -ql foo
To query the file listing in the package file foo.rpm, type
rpm -qlp foo.rpm
To update the package foo, type
rpm -U foo.rpm
To identify the package whose the file foofile is belonging, type
rpm -qf foofile