Tip en Tricks about RPM Commands

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Question: How  to user RPM  command  in Redhat , Fedora,  Centos, SL (Scientific Linux), Mandriva  ..and  other  rpm based  OS.  ?

 Answer:

• Install an RPM Package

RPM packages have file naming conventions like abc-2.0-4.i386.rpm, which include the package name (abc), 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 abc-2.0-4.i386.rpm

rpm -i ftp://ftp.redhat.com/pub/redhat/RPMS/abc-1.0-1.i386.rpm

•  Un-install an RPM Package

To un-install an RPM package, we use the package name abc, not the name of the original package file abc-2.0-4.i386.rpm above.

rpm -e abc

•  Upgrade an RPM Package

To upgrade an RPM package, RPM automatically un-installs the old version of the abc 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 abc-1.0-2.i386.rpm

rpm -Uvh ftp://ftp.redhat.com/pub/redhat/RPMS/abc-1.0-1.i386.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 abc only if it is installed. Use this command to verify that a package is or is not installed on your Linux system.

rpm -q abc

or

 rpm -qa|grep abc

•  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 abc

• 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 abc

•  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/abc-1.0-1.i386.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 abc

If you know more commands, please share them with other readers by commenting the post. Thanks

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