Mastering RPM and YUM: Essential Commands for Linux Package Management

Package Naming Rules

RPM packages follow the pattern name-Version-release.arch.rpm. Common classifications include the main package ( Application-Version-Arch.rpm), development package ( Application-devel-Version-Arch.rpm), utilities ( Application-utils-Version-Arch.rpm), and libraries ( Application-libs-Version-Arch.rpm).

Viewing Binary Dependencies

Use ldd BINARY_FILE to list the shared libraries required by a binary.

Viewing Loaded Libraries

Run ldconfig -p to display the cache of libraries currently known to the system.

The configuration files that define library search paths are /etc/ld.so.conf.d/*.conf and /etc/ld.so.conf.

Package Manager Overview

RPM provides installation, removal, query, upgrade, and verification operations. An RPM package consists of the payload files, metadata, and optional scripts. The RPM database resides at /var/lib/rpm.

RPM Commands

Installation: rpm {-i|install} [options] PACKAGE_FILE Common options: -v (verbose), -h (progress bar).

Verification of package integrity: rpm -K PACKAGE_FILE Import a signing key: rpm --import KEY_FILE Query operations:

rpm -q PACKAGE_NAME               # query by name
rpm -qa                           # list all installed packages
rpm -ql PACKAGE_NAME               # list files installed by a package
rpm -qf FILE_PATH                  # find which package owns a file
rpm -qi PACKAGE_NAME               # detailed package info
rpm -qd PACKAGE_NAME               # list documentation files
rpm -qc PACKAGE_NAME               # list configuration files
rpm -p PACKAGE_FILE                # query an uninstalled package

Removal: rpm {-e|--erase} [options] PACKAGE_NAME Verification options:

rpm -V [select-options] [verify-options]
    S  file size
    M  mode (permissions)
    5  MD5 digest
    T  timestamp
    U  user ownership
    G  group ownership

Extract an RPM package:

rpm2cpio PACKAGE_FILE | cpio -idv

YUM Repository Management

Repository files are stored in /etc/yum.repos.d/; cache resides in /var/yum/cache. Create a new repo by adding a *.repo file with appropriate baseurl (http, ftp, or file).

YUM Commands

Basic usage:

yum [options] command

yum repolist                     # list all repositories
yum install PACKAGE_NAME         # install a package
yum remove PACKAGE_NAME          # remove a package
yum search KEYWORD               # search packages
yum list                         # list packages (installed, available)
yum info PACKAGE_NAME            # show package details
yum history                      # show command history
yum clean all                    # clean all caches
yum groupinstall GROUP_NAME      # install a package group
yum groupremove GROUP_NAME       # remove a package group

Common command‑line options: --nogpgcheck (skip GPG verification), -y (auto‑answer yes), -q (quiet), --disablerepo=repoid, --enablerepo=repoid, --noplugins.

Compilation of C/C++ Packages

Typical build steps:

./configure [options]   # generate Makefile
make                     # compile source
make install             # install binaries

Configure scripts check dependencies and enable selected features before generating the final Makefile.