8.3 The rpm Command
RPM
packages are built, installed, uninstalled, and queried with the
rpm command. Like other command-line
facilities, the rpm command gives
you almost complete control over its operation. So, you can use the
rpm command to accomplish feats not
possible using the package management tool. For instance, you can use
the rpm command to install or remove
individual packages, install packages from non-Red Hat media, and
install packages other than those built by Red Hat. On the other
hand, the rpm command is sometimes
much less convenient to use than the package management tool. So, you
use can either the GUI or command line, according to your needs and
preferences.
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.
8.3.1 General rpm Options
The following rpm options can be
used with all modes:
- --ftpport port
-
Use port as the FTP port.
- --ftpproxy host
-
Use host as 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).
- --quiet
-
Display only error messages.
- --version
-
Print the version number of rpm.
- -vv
-
Print debugging information.
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