Understanding Software Installation and package management

RHEL-based distributions (Red Hat Enterprise Linux, CentOS, Fedora, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux, Oracle Linux) use the RPM (Red Hat Package Manager) package format and associated tools for software management.

An RPM package is a file with .rpm extension containing:

• Compiled binaries

• Configuration files

• Documentation

• Metadata (name, version, dependencies, architecture)

• Pre/post installation scripts

package-name-version-release.architecture.rpm

Example: httpd-2.4.37-43.el8.x86_64.rpm

httpd = package name

2.4.37 = version

43 = release number

el8 = Enterprise Linux 8

x86_64 = architecture (64-bit Intel/AMD)

• x86_64 - 64-bit Intel/AMD

• i686 - 32-bit Intel/AMD

• noarch - Architecture independent

• aarch64 - 64-bit ARM

• src - Source RPM

# Install a package

sudo rpm -ivh package.rpm

# -i = install

# -v = verbose

# -h = hash marks (progress bar)

# Install without dependencies check (not recommended)

sudo rpm -ivh --nodeps package.rpm

# Upgrade a package (install if not present)

sudo rpm -Uvh package.rpm

# Freshen (upgrade only if already installed)

sudo rpm -Fvh package.rpm

# Force installation (overwrite existing)

sudo rpm -ivh --force package.rpm

# Remove a package

sudo rpm -e package_name

# Remove without checking dependencies (dangerous)

sudo rpm -e --nodeps package_name

# Remove and show progress

sudo rpm -evh package_name

# List all installed packages

rpm -qa

# List with pipe to search

rpm -qa | grep package_name

# Query specific package

rpm -q package_name

# Get detailed information about installed package

rpm -qi package_name

# Get information from RPM file (not installed)

rpm -qip package.rpm

# List files in installed package

rpm -ql package_name

# List files in RPM file (not installed)

rpm -qlp package.rpm

# Find which package owns a file

rpm -qf /path/to/file

# Show package dependencies

rpm -qR package_name

# Show what packages require this package

rpm -q --whatrequires package_name

# List documentation files

rpm -qd package_name

# List configuration files

rpm -qc package_name

# Show changelog

rpm -q --changelog package_name

# List recently installed packages

rpm -qa --last | head -20

# Verify a package (check for modifications)

rpm -V package_name

# Verify all packages

rpm -Va

# Verify from RPM file

rpm -Vp package.rpm

S = File size differs

M = Mode differs (permissions)

5 = MD5 checksum differs

D = Device major/minor number mismatch

L = readLink path mismatch

U = User ownership differs

G = Group ownership differs

T = mTime differs

P = caPabilities differ

# Import RPM GPG key

sudo rpm --import /path/to/RPM-GPG-KEY

# List imported keys

rpm -qa gpg-pubkey*

# Show key details

rpm -qi gpg-pubkey-<key-id>

Overview

• High-level package manager

• Handles dependencies automatically

• Works with repositories

• Used in RHEL/CentOS 7 and earlier

# Install a package

sudo yum install package_name

# Install multiple packages

sudo yum install package1 package2 package3

# Install specific version

sudo yum install package_name-version

# Install from local RPM (resolves dependencies)

sudo yum localinstall package.rpm

# Remove a package

sudo yum remove package_name

# Remove with dependencies

sudo yum autoremove package_name

# Update all packages

sudo yum update

# Update specific package

sudo yum update package_name

# Check for updates without installing

sudo yum check-update

# Upgrade all packages (obsoletes old packages)

sudo yum upgrade

# Reinstall a package

sudo yum reinstall package_name

# Downgrade a package

sudo yum downgrade package_name

# Search for a package

yum search keyword

# Show package information

yum info package_name

# List all available packages

yum list available

# List installed packages

yum list installed

# List updates available

yum list updates

# Show which package provides a file

yum provides /path/to/file

yum whatprovides */filename

# List package groups

yum grouplist

# Get group information

yum groupinfo "Group Name"

# Install package group

sudo yum groupinstall "Development Tools"

# Remove package group

sudo yum groupremove "Group Name"

# List enabled repositories

yum repolist

# List all repositories (enabled and disabled)

yum repolist all

# Enable a repository for single command

sudo yum --enablerepo=repo_name install package_name

# Disable a repository for single command

sudo yum --disablerepo=repo_name install package_name

# Add repository

sudo yum-config-manager --add-repo repository_url

# Enable repository

sudo yum-config-manager --enable repo_name

# Disable repository

sudo yum-config-manager --disable repo_name

Overview

• Modern replacement for YUM

• Default in Fedora, RHEL 8+, CentOS 8+

• Better performance and dependency resolution

• Uses libsolv for dependency solving

• Lower memory usage

• Supports modular repositories

Basic DNF Commands

# Install package

sudo dnf install package_name

# Install with automatic yes

sudo dnf install -y package_name

# Remove package

sudo dnf remove package_name

# Update all packages

sudo dnf update

# Update specific package

sudo dnf update package_name

# Upgrade (same as update in DNF)

sudo dnf upgrade

# Check for updates

sudo dnf check-update

# Reinstall package

sudo dnf reinstall package_name

# Downgrade package

sudo dnf downgrade package_name

# Install local RPM

sudo dnf install ./package.rpm

# Autoremove orphaned dependencies

sudo dnf autoremove

RPM stands for Red Hat Package Manager. File extension is .rpm

• httpd = package name

• 2.4.37 = version

• 43 = release number

• el8 = Enterprise Linux 8

• x86_64 = 64-bit architecture

sudo rpm -ivh package.rpm

• -i = install

• -v = verbose

• -h = hash marks (progress)

• rpm -U (Upgrade): Installs package if not present, upgrades if exists

• rpm -F (Freshen): Only upgrades if package is already installed

rpm -qa

rpm -qf /path/to/file

rpm -ql package_name

rpm -V package_name (or rpm -Va for all packages)

• S = File size differs

• M = Mode differs (permissions)

• 5 = MD5 checksum differs

RPM is a low-level tool that doesn't handle dependencies automatically. YUM/DNF are high-level tools that automatically resolve and install dependencies.

sudo yum install package_name

sudo yum update

• yum update: Updates packages

• yum upgrade: Updates packages AND removes obsolete packages

yum search keyword