= Red Hat Software with Yum = **Summary**: How to work with YUM to install software on Red Hat. \\ **Date**: Around 2014 \\ **Refactor**: 29 March 2025: Checked links and formatting. \\ {{tag>linux redhat}} Over the last years Red Hat always had a problem with their software management. Debian had [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Packaging_Tool|apt]], Suse settled on yum but Red Hat tried several software management tools. For now they seem to have settled on yum as well. So this page is about Red Hats implementation of yum. Yum stands for [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellowdog_Updater,_Modified|Yellowdog Updater, Modified]] and works with repositories to manage [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Hat_Package_Manager|RPMs]] which is the format most software on Linux systems is packed in. In this page you'll also find some references to the original rpm command the yum commands are based on. = YUM Basic Usage = == YUM List == yum list yum list installed yum list available * yum list: displays both installed as well as available packages * yum list installed: displays installed packages only * yum list available: displays available packages only You can recognize by the output whether a package is installed or avaiable: INSTALLED: zip.x86_64 3.0-1.el6 @anaconda-RedHatEnterpriseLinux-201311111358.x86_64/6.5 zlib.x86_64 1.2.3-29.el6 @anaconda-RedHatEnterpriseLinux-201311111358.x86_64/6.5 AVAILABLE: MySQL-python.x86_64 1.2.3-0.3.c1.1.el6 rhel-6-server-rpms As you can see installed packages are listed as coming from @anaconda while the available packages list with a repository name. == YUM Search == yum search Yum search will provide you with all packages that have that specific keyword in it's description or name: [root@localhost ~]# yum search zip Loaded plugins: product-id, refresh-packagekit, security, subscription-manager This system is receiving updates from Red Hat Subscription Management. rhel-6-server-cf-tools-1-rpms | 2.8 kB 00:00 rhel-6-server-rpms | 3.7 kB 00:00 ============================================================ N/S Matched: zip ============================================================= bzip2-devel.i686 : Header files developing apps which will use bzip2 bzip2-devel.x86_64 : Header files developing apps which will use bzip2 bzip2-libs.i686 : Libraries for applications using bzip2 bzip2-libs.x86_64 : Libraries for applications using bzip2 perl-Compress-Raw-Bzip2.x86_64 : Low-Level Interface to bzip2 compression library perl-IO-Compress-Bzip2.x86_64 : Perl interface to allow reading and writing of bzip2 data unzip.x86_64 : A utility for unpacking zip files zip.x86_64 : A file compression and packaging utility compatible with PKZIP bzip2.x86_64 : A file compression utility gzip.x86_64 : The GNU data compression program perl-IO-Compress-Zlib.x86_64 : Perl interface to allow reading and writing of gzip and zip data Name and summary matches only, use "search all" for everything. == YUM Info == yum info Yum info provides detailed information about a specific package: [root@localhost ~]# yum info zip Loaded plugins: product-id, refresh-packagekit, security, subscription-manager This system is receiving updates from Red Hat Subscription Management. rhel-6-server-cf-tools-1-rpms | 2.8 kB 00:00 rhel-6-server-rpms | 3.7 kB 00:00 Installed Packages Name : zip Arch : x86_64 Version : 3.0 Release : 1.el6 Size : 804 k Repo : installed From repo : anaconda-RedHatEnterpriseLinux-201311111358.x86_64 Summary : A file compression and packaging utility compatible with PKZIP URL : http://www.info-zip.org/Zip.html License : BSD Description : The zip program is a compression and file packaging utility. Zip is : analogous to a combination of the UNIX tar and compress commands and : is compatible with PKZIP (a compression and file packaging utility for : MS-DOS systems). : : Install the zip package if you need to compress files using the zip : program. == YUM Provides == yum provides Yum provides gives you the option to search which packages provides a specific command or file. > Note that if you don't know the exact path you could do: {{{yum provides '*/command'}}}, for example {{{yum provides '*/xclock'}}} [root@localhost ~]# which system-config-kickstart /usr/bin/system-config-kickstart [root@localhost ~]# yum provides /usr/bin/system-config-kickstart Loaded plugins: product-id, refresh-packagekit, security, subscription-manager This system is receiving updates from Red Hat Subscription Management. rhel-6-server-cf-tools-1-rpms | 2.8 kB 00:00 rhel-6-server-rpms | 3.7 kB 00:00 system-config-kickstart-2.8.6.5-1.el6.noarch : A graphical interface for making kickstart files Repo : rhel-6-server-rpms Matched from: Filename : /usr/bin/system-config-kickstart system-config-kickstart-2.8.6.2-1.el6.noarch : A graphical interface for making kickstart files Repo : rhel-6-server-rpms Matched from: Filename : /usr/bin/system-config-kickstart system-config-kickstart-2.8.6.4-1.el6.noarch : A graphical interface for making kickstart files Repo : rhel-6-server-rpms Matched from: Filename : /usr/bin/system-config-kickstart system-config-kickstart-2.8.6.3-1.el6.noarch : A graphical interface for making kickstart files Repo : rhel-6-server-rpms Matched from: Filename : /usr/bin/system-config-kickstart system-config-kickstart-2.8.6.5-1.el6.noarch : A graphical interface for making kickstart files Repo : installed Matched from: Other : Provides-match: /usr/bin/system-config-kickstart == YUM Install == yum install Yum install lets you install a package, including any dependency. [root@localhost ~]# yum install yum-plugin-versionlock Loaded plugins: product-id, refresh-packagekit, security, subscription-manager This system is receiving updates from Red Hat Subscription Management. rhel-6-server-cf-tools-1-rpms | 2.8 kB 00:00 rhel-6-server-rpms | 3.7 kB 00:00 Setting up Install Process Resolving Dependencies --> Running transaction check ---> Package yum-plugin-versionlock.noarch 0:1.1.30-17.el6_5 will be installed --> Finished Dependency Resolution Dependencies Resolved =========================================================================================================================================== Package Arch Version Repository Size =========================================================================================================================================== Installing: yum-plugin-versionlock noarch 1.1.30-17.el6_5 rhel-6-server-rpms 28 k Transaction Summary =========================================================================================================================================== Install 1 Package(s) Total download size: 28 k Installed size: 43 k Is this ok [y/N]: y Downloading Packages: yum-plugin-versionlock-1.1.30-17.el6_5.noarch.rpm | 28 kB 00:00 Running rpm_check_debug Running Transaction Test Transaction Test Succeeded Running Transaction Installing : yum-plugin-versionlock-1.1.30-17.el6_5.noarch 1/1 rhel-6-server-rpms/productid | 1.7 kB 00:00 Verifying : yum-plugin-versionlock-1.1.30-17.el6_5.noarch 1/1 Installed: yum-plugin-versionlock.noarch 0:1.1.30-17.el6_5 Complete! == YUM Remove == yum remove Yum remove is to remove a package that is installed by yum as well. It will also remove software that is dependent on the package, but it will not remove the packages the package you're removing is dependent upon. [root@localhost ~]# yum remove zip Loaded plugins: product-id, refresh-packagekit, security, subscription-manager, versionlock This system is receiving updates from Red Hat Subscription Management. Setting up Remove Process Resolving Dependencies --> Running transaction check ---> Package zip.x86_64 0:3.0-1.el6 will be erased --> Finished Dependency Resolution rhel-6-server-cf-tools-1-rpms | 2.8 kB 00:00 rhel-6-server-rpms | 3.7 kB 00:00 Dependencies Resolved =========================================================================================================================================== Package Arch Version Repository Size =========================================================================================================================================== Removing: zip x86_64 3.0-1.el6 @anaconda-RedHatEnterpriseLinux-201311111358.x86_64/6.5 804 k Transaction Summary =========================================================================================================================================== Remove 1 Package(s) Installed size: 804 k Is this ok [y/N]: y Downloading Packages: Running rpm_check_debug Running Transaction Test Transaction Test Succeeded Running Transaction Erasing : zip-3.0-1.el6.x86_64 1/1 Verifying : zip-3.0-1.el6.x86_64 1/1 Removed: zip.x86_64 0:3.0-1.el6 Complete! > Note that yum remove will also remove the packages that require the package you're removing. This could lead to a little unexpected behavior so check the list of the packages that are being removed. == YUM Update == yum update yum update * yum update: this installs all updates for all packages * yum update : updates only the package you listed [root@localhost ~]# yum update yum Loaded plugins: product-id, refresh-packagekit, security, subscription-manager, versionlock This system is receiving updates from Red Hat Subscription Management. rhel-6-server-cf-tools-1-rpms | 2.8 kB 00:00 rhel-6-server-rpms | 3.7 kB 00:00 Setting up Update Process Resolving Dependencies --> Running transaction check ---> Package yum.noarch 0:3.2.29-40.el6 will be updated ---> Package yum.noarch 0:3.2.29-43.el6_5 will be an update --> Finished Dependency Resolution Dependencies Resolved =========================================================================================================================================== Package Arch Version Repository Size =========================================================================================================================================== Updating: yum noarch 3.2.29-43.el6_5 rhel-6-server-rpms 996 k Transaction Summary =========================================================================================================================================== Upgrade 1 Package(s) Total download size: 996 k Is this ok [y/N]: y Downloading Packages: yum-3.2.29-43.el6_5.noarch.rpm | 996 kB 00:02 Running rpm_check_debug Running Transaction Test Transaction Test Succeeded Running Transaction Updating : yum-3.2.29-43.el6_5.noarch 1/2 Cleanup : yum-3.2.29-40.el6.noarch 2/2 Verifying : yum-3.2.29-43.el6_5.noarch 1/2 Verifying : yum-3.2.29-40.el6.noarch 2/2 Updated: yum.noarch 0:3.2.29-43.el6_5 Complete! == YUM History == yum history yum history info # Yum history provides a list of what has been done with yum and allows you to request more info about a specific event: [root@localhost ~]# yum history Loaded plugins: product-id, refresh-packagekit, security, subscription-manager, versionlock This system is receiving updates from Red Hat Subscription Management. ID | Login user | Date and time | Action(s) | Altered ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 | root | 2014-04-06 06:12 | Update | 1 4 | root | 2014-04-06 05:50 | Erase | 1 3 | root | 2014-04-06 05:48 | Install | 1 2 | redhatbox | 2014-03-17 12:42 | I, U | 28 1 | System | 2014-03-17 02:25 | Install | 938 history list [root@localhost ~]# yum history info 5 Loaded plugins: product-id, refresh-packagekit, security, subscription-manager, versionlock This system is receiving updates from Red Hat Subscription Management. Transaction ID : 5 Begin time : Sun Apr 6 06:12:58 2014 Begin rpmdb : 965:d8a30c460d6c45ae9c80c158c73a2ab212c42d4c End time : 06:13:02 2014 (4 seconds) End rpmdb : 965:e3cde6d9604a82f8d426afb0004810798e5d05cf User : root Return-Code : Success Command Line : update yum Transaction performed with: Installed rpm-4.8.0-37.el6.x86_64 @anaconda-RedHatEnterpriseLinux-201311111358.x86_64/6.5 Installed subscription-manager-1.9.11-1.el6.x86_64 @anaconda-RedHatEnterpriseLinux-201311111358.x86_64/6.5 Updated yum-3.2.29-40.el6.noarch @anaconda-RedHatEnterpriseLinux-201311111358.x86_64/6.5 Packages Altered: Updated yum-3.2.29-40.el6.noarch @anaconda-RedHatEnterpriseLinux-201311111358.x86_64/6.5 Update 3.2.29-43.el6_5.noarch @rhel-6-server-rpms history info [root@localhost ~]# = Software Management Graphically = There is also an option to manage the software through a graphical tool. Go to System -> Administration -> Add/Remove Software. This will start this tool which will also allow you to do some basic tasks: [{{redhatsoftware01.jpg}}] \\ You can just select the package you want to install and click apply. After that it will show as installed: [{{redhatsoftware02.jpg}}] \\ = YUM Plugins = Yum also allows for plugins to be added so more functionality comes available. There are quite some plugins available: [root@localhost ~]# yum list | grep yum-plugin This system is receiving updates from Red Hat Subscription Management. PackageKit-yum-plugin.x86_64 0.5.8-21.el6 @anaconda-RedHatEnterpriseLinux-201311111358.x86_64/6.5 anaconda-yum-plugins.noarch 1:1.0-5.1.el6 @rhel-6-server-rpms yum-plugin-security.noarch 1.1.30-14.el6 @anaconda-RedHatEnterpriseLinux-201311111358.x86_64/6.5 yum-plugin-versionlock.noarch 1.1.30-17.el6_5 @rhel-6-server-rpms kabi-yum-plugins.noarch 1.0-2.el6 rhel-6-server-rpms yum-plugin-aliases.noarch 1.1.30-17.el6_5 rhel-6-server-rpms yum-plugin-changelog.noarch 1.1.30-17.el6_5 rhel-6-server-rpms yum-plugin-downloadonly.noarch 1.1.30-17.el6_5 rhel-6-server-rpms yum-plugin-protect-packages.noarch yum-plugin-security.noarch 1.1.30-17.el6_5 rhel-6-server-rpms yum-plugin-tmprepo.noarch 1.1.30-17.el6_5 rhel-6-server-rpms yum-plugin-verify.noarch 1.1.30-17.el6_5 rhel-6-server-rpms The plugin I installed in a previous section, yum-plugin-versionlock allows you to prevent a package from upgrading: yum versionlock add yum versionlock lock This shows you how to lock THERE IS A UPDATE FOR PYTHON: [root@localhost ~]# yum update python Loaded plugins: product-id, refresh-packagekit, security, subscription-manager, versionlock This system is receiving updates from Red Hat Subscription Management. rhel-6-server-cf-tools-1-rpms | 2.8 kB 00:00 rhel-6-server-rpms | 3.7 kB 00:00 Setting up Update Process Resolving Dependencies --> Running transaction check ---> Package python.x86_64 0:2.6.6-51.el6 will be updated ---> Package python.x86_64 0:2.6.6-52.el6 will be an update --> Processing Dependency: python-libs(x86-64) = 2.6.6-52.el6 for package: python-2.6.6-52.el6.x86_64 --> Running transaction check ---> Package python-libs.x86_64 0:2.6.6-51.el6 will be updated ---> Package python-libs.x86_64 0:2.6.6-52.el6 will be an update --> Finished Dependency Resolution Dependencies Resolved =========================================================================================================================================== Package Arch Version Repository Size =========================================================================================================================================== Updating: python x86_64 2.6.6-52.el6 rhel-6-server-rpms 74 k Updating for dependencies: python-libs x86_64 2.6.6-52.el6 rhel-6-server-rpms 5.3 M Transaction Summary =========================================================================================================================================== Upgrade 2 Package(s) Total download size: 5.4 M Is this ok [y/N]: n Exiting on user Command ADD PYTHON TO THE VERSIONLOCK LIST [root@localhost ~]# yum versionlock add python Loaded plugins: product-id, refresh-packagekit, security, subscription-manager, versionlock This system is receiving updates from Red Hat Subscription Management. Adding versionlock on: 0:python-2.6.6-51.el6 versionlock added: 1 [root@localhost ~]# yum versionlock list Loaded plugins: product-id, refresh-packagekit, security, subscription-manager, versionlock This system is receiving updates from Red Hat Subscription Management. 0:python-2.6.6-51.el6.* versionlock list done TRY TO UPDATE PYTHON: [root@localhost ~]# yum update python Loaded plugins: product-id, refresh-packagekit, security, subscription-manager, versionlock This system is receiving updates from Red Hat Subscription Management. rhel-6-server-cf-tools-1-rpms | 2.8 kB 00:00 rhel-6-server-rpms | 3.7 kB 00:00 Setting up Update Process No Packages marked for Update As you can see, there are no more packages available because the current version of python is locked. If you now want to be able to update python again you can remove it from the list: yum versionlock delete 0:python-2.6.6-51.el6.* > Note that you need to list the package exactly as in the versionlock list output. = YUM Component Groups = Yum also has the concept of components groups, which are collections of related software groupwd around a particular solution. The most common commands here are these: yum grouplist yum groupinfo yum groupinstall yum grouperase yum groupupdate Now, all these commands speak for themselves and can be quite useful. This is a list of available groups: [root@localhost ~]# yum grouplist Loaded plugins: product-id, refresh-packagekit, security, subscription-manager, versionlock This system is receiving updates from Red Hat Subscription Management. Setting up Group Process rhel-6-server-cf-tools-1-rpms | 2.8 kB 00:00 rhel-6-server-rpms | 3.7 kB 00:00 Installed Groups: Additional Development Base Desktop Dial-up Networking Support Directory Client E-mail server FCoE Storage Client Fonts General Purpose Desktop Graphical Administration Tools Hardware monitoring utilities Internet Browser Legacy UNIX compatibility Legacy X Window System compatibility Network Infrastructure Server Networking Tools Performance Tools Perl Support Print Server Printing client SNMP Support Security Tools Storage Availability Tools Web Server X Window System iSCSI Storage Client Installed Language Groups: Arabic Support [ar] .... Venda Support [ve] Available Groups: Backup Client Backup Server CIFS file server Client management tools Compatibility libraries Console internet tools Debugging Tools Desktop Debugging and Performance Tools Desktop Platform Desktop Platform Development Development tools Directory Server Eclipse Emacs FTP server Graphics Creation Tools Identity Management Server Infiniband Support Input Methods Java Platform KDE Desktop Large Systems Performance Mainframe Access Messaging Client Support MySQL Database client MySQL Database server NFS file server Network Storage Server Network file system client PHP Support PostgreSQL Database client PostgreSQL Database server Remote Desktop Clients Ruby Support Scientific support Server Platform Server Platform Development Smart card support System Management System administration tools TeX support Technical Writing TurboGears application framework Virtualization Virtualization Client Virtualization Platform Virtualization Tools Web Servlet Engine Web-Based Enterprise Management Available Language Groups: Afrikaans Support [af] ... Zulu Support [zu] Done = Yum Downloader = yumdownloader yumdownloader --destdir=DESTDIR This downloads but does not install a package. = Yum Localinstall = yum localinstall yum localinstall --nogpgcheck This will install a local package but will install any dependency automatically from a repository. The --nogpgcheck option will disable the signature check if the package is not signed so you can still install the package. = RPM = Even though yum is a good software management system it is based on [[redhatrepo|repositories]]. And even though you can [[redhatrepo|create your own repository]] it will be nice if you can manage a piece of software that is not in a repository but is a simple download, ready for install. On Red Hat that's done with [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Hat_Package_Manager|rpm]], the Red Hat package manager. This is an overview of the most used rpm commands: * rpm -aq: lists all installed packages * rpm -qf : which package provides this filename * rpm -qi: compares to yum info * rpm -ql: list all files installed by the specified package * rpm -qc: list the configuration files * rpm -qd: list the documentation files * rpm -q --scripts: lists all shell scripts that is installed by a package > Note: you can add -p to also list information about non-installed packages * repoquery -qi : this also queries for information about a package but looks in the repositories instead of in the local database of installed packages * rpm -ivh : installs the package but using this command is not preferred on red hat systems. Use the yum localinstall command instead. = Extra Information Regarding CPIO = RPM packages are essentially cpio archives. Cpio is an archiving tool but differs from tar that it reads it's input from STDIN instead of from command line arguments. This can be used to extract the files from a package. This example shows how to download the initscripts package, extract the inittab from it and compare it to our current inittab to see the differences: Make a directory and download the initscripts package: [root@localhost ~]# mkdir iscripts [root@localhost ~]# yumdownloader --destdir=/root/iscripts/ initscripts Loaded plugins: product-id, refresh-packagekit, versionlock rhel-6-server-cf-tools-1-rpms | 2.8 kB 00:00 rhel-6-server-rpms | 3.7 kB 00:00 initscripts-9.03.40-2.el6_5.1.x86_64.rpm | 940 kB 00:01 Exact the complete package into the cuurent directory: [root@localhost ~]# cd iscripts/ [root@localhost iscripts]# rpm2cpio initscripts-9.03.40-2.el6_5.1.x86_64.rpm | cpio -idv ./bin/ipcalc ...... ./var/run/netreport 11241 blocks [root@localhost iscripts]# ll total 968 drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root 4096 Apr 6 11:46 bin drwxr-xr-x. 11 root root 4096 Apr 6 11:46 etc -rw-r--r--. 1 root root 962668 Feb 13 06:06 initscripts-9.03.40-2.el6_5.1.x86_64.rpm drwxr-xr-x. 3 root root 4096 Apr 6 11:46 lib drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root 4096 Apr 6 11:46 sbin drwxr-xr-x. 4 root root 4096 Apr 6 11:46 usr drwxr-xr-x. 4 root root 4096 Apr 6 11:46 var Or extract just the file you want to compare: [root@localhost iscripts]# rpm2cpio initscripts-9.03.40-2.el6_5.1.x86_64.rpm | cpio -idv ./etc/inittab Compare the two files: [root@localhost iscripts]# diff ./etc/inittab /etc/inittab 26c26 < id:3:initdefault: --- > id:5:initdefault: