Mastering RPM: Essential Commands for Installing, Querying, and Verifying Linux Packages

Overview

RPM (RPM Package Manager) packages compiled programs into one or a few files, enabling installation, removal, upgrade, and query operations.

RPM package naming

Format: name-version-release.arch.rpm. Example: bash-1.1.0-5.el6.x86_64.rpm, where bash is the software name, 1.1.0-5 the version, and el6.x86_64 indicates the target OS release and architecture.

Basic RPM commands

Install : rpm -i /path/to/package.rpm Remove : rpm -e package_name Upgrade (or install if absent) : rpm -U /path/to/package.rpm Common options: -v: show detailed installation progress -h: display progress bar (each “#” = 2%)

Example installation with progress flags: rpm -ivh bash-1.1.0-5.el6.x86_64.rpm Additional options: rpm --test /path/to/package.rpm: test installation without performing it rpm --replacepkgs /path/to/package.rpm: force reinstall, overwriting existing files

Note : Removing a package that other packages depend on will also remove those dependents unless the --nodeps option is used, which may leave dependent software broken.

Common query commands

rpm -qa

: list all installed RPM packages. rpm -qf /path/to/file: find which package owns a specific file. rpm -qi package_name: display detailed information about an installed package. rpm -ql package_name: list files contained in an installed package. rpm -qip /path/to/package.rpm: show information about an RPM file without installing it. rpm -qlp /path/to/package.rpm: list files contained in an RPM file.

Verification and integrity

rpm -V package_name

: verify installed package files; output letters indicate mismatches (S size, M mode, 5 digest, D device, L readlink, U user, G group, T mtime, P capabilities). A dot (.) means no change. rpm -K /path/to/package.rpm: manually check package integrity (e.g., RSA, SHA1 signatures).

Database management

rpm --initdb

: initialize the RPM database if it does not exist. rpm --rebuilddb: rebuild the RPM database, overwriting the existing one.