15 practical examples of rpm command usage in Linux

4. Un-install a package

To uninstall an rpm you need the exact name of the rpm which has to be installed. For eg if you have to uninstall gcc43-c++ then in case you run the below command to remove this
# rpm -e gcc43-c
error: package gcc43-c is not installed
As you see you should provide complete name # rpm -e gcc-c++
# echo $?
0

5. Install/Un-install a package without dependencies

Make sure you are fully aware before you use this option since there is a probability that the package won't function properly if the dependencies are not installed. Although you can skip the same using --nodeps
# rpm -ivh kiwi-instsource-5.05.25-616.1.x86_64.rpm
warning: kiwi-instsource-5.05.25-616.1.x86_64.rpm: Header V3 DSA signature: NOKEY, key ID d3668a00
error: Failed dependencies:
        build is needed by kiwi-instsource-5.05.25-616.1.x86_64
# rpm -ivh kiwi-instsource-5.05.25-616.1.x86_64.rpm --nodeps
warning: kiwi-instsource-5.05.25-616.1.x86_64.rpm: Header V3 DSA signature: NOKEY, key ID d3668a00
Preparing...                ########################################### [100%]
   1:kiwi-instsource        ########################################### [100%]
To remove a package you can use the same option

# rpm -e kiwi-tools-5.05.25-616.1
error: Failed dependencies:
        kiwi-tools >= 5.05.25 is needed by (installed) kiwi-5.05.25-616.1.x86_64

# rpm -e kiwi-tools-5.05.25-616.1 --nodeps
Alternatively you can also use --force along with --nodeps

6. Display the Package's File List

Adding -l to rpm -q tells RPM to display the list of files that are installed by the specified package or packages.
# rpm -ql gcc
/usr/bin/cc
/usr/bin/gcc
/usr/bin/gcov
/usr/share/man/man1/cc.1.gz
/usr/share/man/man1/gcc.1.gz
/usr/share/man/man1/gcov.1.gz

7. Display the Package's File List for non-installed rpm

To check this make sure you have access to the rpm of which the content has to be checked
# rpm -qlp squashfs-4.0-2.1.x86_64.rpm
warning: squashfs-4.0-2.1.x86_64.rpm: Header V3 DSA signature: NOKEY, key ID 29b4acdd
/usr/bin/mksquashfs
/usr/bin/unsquashfs
/usr/share/doc/packages/squashfs
/usr/share/doc/packages/squashfs/CHANGES
/usr/share/doc/packages/squashfs/PERFORMANCE.README
/usr/share/doc/packages/squashfs/README
/usr/share/doc/packages/squashfs/README-4.0

8. Display Package's File List with Additional Information

# rpm -qlv gcc
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 7 Feb 21 2009 /usr/bin/cc -> gcc-4.3
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 7 Feb 21 2009 /usr/bin/gcc -> gcc-4.3
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 8 Feb 21 2009 /usr/bin/gcov -> gcov-4.3
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 12 Feb 21 2009 /usr/share/man/man1/cc.1.gz -> gcc-4.3.1.gz
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 12 Feb 21 2009 /usr/share/man/man1/gcc.1.gz -> gcc-4.3.1.gz
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 13 Feb 21 2009 /usr/share/man/man1/gcov.1.gz -> gcov-4.3.1.gz

9. Query the Package Owning <file>

# rpm -qf /usr/bin/sudo
sudo-1.7.6p2-0.17.5

10. Display a List of the Package's Documentation

When -d is added to a query, we get a list of all files containing documentation for the named package or packages. This is a great way to get up to speed when you're having problems with unfamiliar software. As with -c and -l, you'll see either a simple list of filenames, or (if you've added -v) a more comprehensive list.
# rpm -qd gawk
/usr/share/doc/packages/gawk/AUTHORS
/usr/share/doc/packages/gawk/COPYING
/usr/share/doc/packages/gawk/FUTURES
/usr/share/doc/packages/gawk/LIMITATIONS
/usr/share/doc/packages/gawk/NEWS
/usr/share/doc/packages/gawk/POSIX.STD
/usr/share/doc/packages/gawk/PROBLEMS
/usr/share/doc/packages/gawk/README
/usr/share/info/gawk.info.gz
/usr/share/info/gawkinet.info.gz
/usr/share/man/man1/awk.1.gz
/usr/share/man/man1/gawk.1.gz
/usr/share/man/man1/igawk.1.gz
/usr/share/man/man1/pgawk.1.gz

11. Display the Package's List of Configuration Files

When -c is added to an rpm -q command, RPM will display the configuration files that are part of the specified package or packages.
# rpm -qc netcfg
/etc/HOSTNAME
/etc/aliases
/etc/defaultdomain
/etc/ethers
/etc/exports
/etc/ftpusers
/etc/host.conf
/etc/hosts
/etc/hosts.allow
/etc/hosts.deny
/etc/hosts.equiv

12. Query the Packages That Provide Capability

RPM provides extensive support for dependencies between packages. The basic mechanism used is that a package may require what another package provides.
# rpm -q --whatprovides gcc
gcc-4.3-62.198