RPM packages are built, installed,
uninstalled, and queried with the rpm command. RPM package names generally end
with a .rpm extension. rpm
has several modes, each with its own options. The general
format of the rpm command is:
rpm[options] [packages]
The first option generally specifies the rpm mode (e.g., install, query, update, build, etc.); any remaining options pertain to the specified mode.
The rpm command has built-in FTP and HTTP clients. So, you can specify an ftp:// or http:// URL to identify an RPM package stored on a remote host.
Unless the system administrator has specially configured the system,
any user can query the RPM database. Most other RPM functions require
root privileges. Strictly speaking, it’s
not necessary for you log in as root to install
an RPM package; however, your user account must be authorized to
access and modify the files and directories required by the package,
including the RPM database itself. Generally, the easiest way to
ensure such access is by logging in as root.
The following rpm options can be used with all modes:
- - -dbpath path
-
- -ftpport
port -
- -ftpproxy
host Use
hostas a proxy server for all transfers. Specified if you are FTPing through a firewall system that uses a proxy.- - -help
Print a long usage message (running rpm with no options gives a shorter usage message).
- - -justdb
Update only the database; don’t change any files.
-
- -pipe
command Pipe the rpm output to
command.- - -quiet
Display only error messages.
-
- -rcfile
filename Use
filename,not the system configuration file/etc/rpmrcor$HOME/.rpmrc,as the configuration file.-
- -root
dir Perform all operations within directory
dir.- - -version
Print the version number of rpm.
- -vv
Print debugging information.