Install an RPM Package
RPM
packages have file naming conventions like package-5.1-7.i868.rpm, which
include the package name (package), version (2.0), release (4), and
architecture (i386). Also notice that RPM understands FTP and HTTP protocols
for installing and querying remote RPM files.
rpm -ivh package-5.1-7.i868.rpm
rpm -i
ftp://ftp.redhat.com/pub/redhat/RPMS/package-1.0-1.i386.rpm
rpm -i
http://oss.oracle.com/projects/firewire/dist/files/kernel-2.4.20-18.10.1.i686.rpm
Un-install an RPM Package
To
un-install an RPM package, we use the package name package, not the name of the
original package file package-5.1-7.i868.rpm above.
rpm -e package
Upgrade an RPM Package
To
upgrade an RPM package, RPM automatically un-installs the old version of the package
package and installs the new package. It is safe to always use rpm -Uvh to
install and upgrade packages, since it works fine even when there are no
previous versions of the package installed! Also notice that RPM understands
FTP and HTTP protocols for upgrading from remote RPM files.
rpm -Uvh package-1.0-2.i386.rpm
rpm -Uvh
ftp://ftp.redhat.com/pub/redhat/RPMS/package-1.0-1.i386.rpm
rpm -Uvh
http://oss.oracle.com/projects/firewire/dist/files/kernel-2.4.20-18.10.1.i686.rpm
Query all Installed Packages
Use
RPM to print the names of all installed packages installed on your Linux
system.
rpm -qa
Query an RPM Package
Querying
an RPM package will print the package name, version, and release number of the
package package only if it is installed. Use this command to verify that a
package is or is not installed on your Linux system.
rpm -q package
Display Package Information
RPM
can display package information including the package name, version, and
description of the installed program. Use this command to get detailed
information about the installed package.
rpm -qi package
List Files in Installed Package
The
following command will list all of files in an installed RPM package. It works
only when the package is already installed on your Linux system.
rpm -ql package
Which package owns a file?
Use
the following command to determine which installed package a particular file
belongs to.
rpm -qf
/usr/bin/mysql
For
example:
# rpm -qf
/usr/bin/mysql
mysql-3.23.52-3
List Files in RPM File
Use
RPM to query a (possibly) un-installed RPM file with the use of the the "-p"
option. You can use the "-p" option to operate on an RPM file without
actually installing anything. This command lists all files in an RPM file you
have in the current directory. Also note that RPM can query remote files
through the FTP and HTTP protocols.
rpm -qpl
kernel-2.4.20-18.10.1.i686.rpm
rpm -qpl
ftp://ftp.redhat.com/pub/redhat/RPMS/package-1.0-1.i386.rpm
rpm
-qpl http://oss.oracle.com/projects/firewire/dist/files/kernel-2.4.20-18.10.1.i686.rpm
Verify an Installed Package
Use
RPM to list all files that do NOT pass the verify tests (done on size, MD5
signature, etc).
rpm --verify
mysql
Where
a file does NOT pass, the output is listed using the following codes that
signify what failed:
S
File size
M
Mode (includes permissions and file type)
5
MD5 sum
L
Symlink
D
Device
U
User
G
Group
T
Mtime
Take
for example the following:
# rpm --verify
mysql
S.5....T c /etc/my.cnf
This
example indicates that file /etc/my.cnf failed on:
File
size
MD5
Sum
Modified
Time
However,
the "c" tells us this is a configuration file so that explains the
changes. It should still be looked at to determine what the changes were.
Check
an RPM Signature Package
RPM
can be used to check the PGP signature of specified packages to ensure its
integrity and origin. Always use this command first before installing a new RPM
package on your system. Also, GnuPG or Pgp software must be already installed
on your system before you can use this command.
rpm --checksig
package
