Linux Pocket Guide

Name

rpm [options] [files] — rpm

Synopsis

/bin stdin stdout - file -- opt --help --version

If you prefer to install RPM packages by hand, use rpm, the same package-management program that up2date runs behind the scenes. rpm not only installs the software, but also makes sure your system has all prerequisites. For example, if package superstuff requires package otherstuff that you haven’t installed, rpm will not install superstuff. If your system passes the test, however, rpm completely installs the software.

RPM filenames typically have the form name-version.architecture.rpm. For example, emacs-20.7-17.i386.rpm indicates the emacs package, Version 20.7-17, for i386 (Intel 80386 and higher) machines. Be aware that rpm sometimes requires a filename argument (like emacs-20.7-17.i386.rpm) and other times just the package name (like emacs).

Common commands for manipulating RPM packages are:

rpm -q package_name

Find out if package_name is installed on your system, and what version. Example: rpm -q textutils. If you don’t know the name of the package (a chicken-and-egg problem), list all packages and use grep to search for likely names:

$ rpm -qa | grep -i likely_name

rpm -ql package_name

List the files included in the given, installed package. Try rpm -ql emacs.

rpm -qipackage_name

Get general information about the package.

rpm -qlp package.rpm

List the contents of an RPM file, not necessarily installed yet. Use -qip for general information about the RPM file.

rpm -qa

List all installed RPM packages. ...