RPM Command in Linux

The RPM (Red Hat Package Manager) command is a fundamental tool in the world of Linux package management. It is widely used in Red Hat-based distributions like Fedora and CentOS, as well as other RPM-based distributions. The RPM command allows users to install, query, verify, and manage software packages, making it an essential tool for system administrators and Linux enthusiasts. In this article, we will explore the various aspects of the RPM command, including its usage, common options, and real-world examples.

What is RPM?

RPM is a software package management system for installing, updating, and removing software packages on Linux-based systems. Red Hat originally developed it but has been adopted by many other Linux distributions. RPM packages, often denoted with the `.rpm` file extension contains all the necessary files, metadata, and scripts required to install and manage software on a Linux system.

Basic Syntax of RPM in Linux

The basic syntax of the rpm command is as follows:

rpm [options] [package_name]

Here,

[options] represent various command-line options that control the behavior of the rpm command.

[package_name] refers to the name of the RPM package you want to work with.

Options Available in the `rpm` command in Linux

These options provide a wide range of functionalities and control when working with RPM packages on Linux systems. You can use them to install, upgrade, query, and manage packages effectively.

Options	Description
-i, –install	Install an RPM package.
-U, –upgrade	Upgrade an RPM package.
-q, –query	Query RPM package(s) or display information about installed packages.
-a, –all	Used with -q, lists all installed packages.
-V, –verify	Verify the integrity of installed packages.
-e, –erase	Uninstall or erase an RPM package
-F, –freshen	Upgrade packages but only if a package with the same name is already installed.
–nodes	Ignore package dependencies during installation or removal.
–test	Test mode; shows what the rpm command would do without making any changes.
-h, –hash	Display hash marks (#) to indicate progress during installation or removal.
–force	Force installation, even if it overwrites files from other packages or has other issues.
–reinstall	Reinstall an RPM package.
–import	Import a GPG key for package signature verification.
–resign	Resign an RPM package with a new GPG key.
-F, –file	Used with -q, queries which package owns a particular file.
–package	Used with -q, queries information about an RPM file or package.
–setperms	Set permissions of package files to their default values.
–setugids	Set user and group ownership of package files to their defaults.
–nodigest	Skip digest checks when installing or upgrading packages.
–rebuilddb	Rebuild the RPM database.
–testsig	Test the digital signature of an RPM package.
–showrc	Show RPM configuration settings.
-h, –help	Display help information.
–version	Display the RPM version.

Common RPM Commands and Options

1. Installing RPM Packages

To install an RPM package, you can use the `rpm` a command followed by the `-i` (or `--install`) option and the name of the RPM package file. For example:

rpm -i package.rpm

This command installs the specified package on your system.

Here we are installing Jenkins.

rpm -i /root/jenkins-2.282-1.1.noarch.rpm

Installing Packages

2. Upgrading RPM Packages

To upgrade an installed package with a newer version, use the `-U` (or `--upgrade`) option:

rpm -U package.rpm

This command will replace the older version of the package with the new one if it’s already installed

Upgrading Packages

3. To list all installed packages in RPM

To list all installed packages on your system, use the -q (or –query) option with the -a (or –all) flag:

rpm -qa

This will display a list of installed packages along with their names and versions.

Listing Installed Packages

4. Querying RPM Package

To retrieve detailed information about a specific package, use the `-q` (or `–query`) option followed by the package name:

rpm -q package_name

This command will display information like the package name, version, architecture, and more.

Querying Package Information

5. Verifying RPM Package

You can verify the integrity and authenticity of an RPM package without installing it using the `-V` (or `--verify`) option. This checks if the package’s files have been modified or deleted:

rpm -V package_name

This command checks whether the package’s files on disk match the information in the RPM database.

Verifying Package Integrity

6. Uninstalling RPM Packages

To remove an installed package, use the `-e` (or `–erase`) option followed by the package name:

rpm -e package_name

This command will uninstall the specified package from your system.

Uninstalling Packages

Real-World Examples of RPM Command in Linux

Let’s explore some practical examples of using the rpm command:

Installing a Package using RPM Command in Linux

Suppose you want to install a package named example.rpm:

rpm -i example.rpm

This command will install the `example. , rpm` package on your system.

Upgrading a Package using RPM Command in Linux

If you have a newer version of the example.rpm package and want to upgrade it, you can use the following command:

rpm -U example.rpm

This will replace the older version with the newer one.

Checking if a Package is Installed using RPM Command in Linux

To retrieve information about the installed example package:

rpm -q example

This will display details like the package name, version, and architecture.

Verifying Package Integrity using RPM Command in Linux

Check the integrity of the example package:

rpm -V example

This command will report any file discrepancies in the package.

Uninstalling a Package using RPM Command in Linux

To remove the example package from your system:

rpm -e example

This will uninstall the package and its associated files.

Conclusion

In this article, we discussed the RPM command which is a versatile tool for managing software packages on Linux systems, especially in RPM-based distributions. Whether you need to install, query, verify, or upgrade packages, RPM provides many options to meet your package management needs. By understanding and mastering the RPM command, you can efficiently maintain and optimize your Linux system.