Now what can I really do with RPM?

RPM is a very useful tool and, as you can see, has several options. The best way to make sense of them is to look at some examples. I covered simple install/uninstall above, so here are some more examples:

• Let's say you delete some files by accident, but you aren't sure what you deleted. If you want to verify your entire system and see what might be missing, you would do:

  rpm -Va

• Let's say you run across a file that you don't recognize. To find out which package owns it, you would do:

  rpm -qf /usr/X11R6/bin/xjewel

  The output would be sometime like:

  xjewel-1.6-1

• You find a new koules RPM, but you don't know what it is. To find out some information on it, do:

  rpm -qpi koules-1.2-2.i386.rpm

  The output would be:

  Name : koules Distribution: Red Hat Linux Colgate Version : 1.2 Vendor: Red Hat Software Release : 2 Build Date: Mon Sep 02 11:59:12 1996 Install date: (none) Build Host: porky.redhat.com Group : Games Source RPM: koules-1.2-2.src.rpm Size : 614939 Summary : SVGAlib action game with multiplayer, network, and sound support Description : This arcade-style game is novel in conception and excellent in execution. No shooting, no blood, no guts, no gore. The play is simple, but you still must develop skill to play. This version uses SVGAlib to run on a graphics console.

• Now you want to see what files the koules RPM installs. You would do:

  rpm -qpl koules-1.2-2.i386.rpm

  The output is:

  /usr/doc/koules /usr/doc/koules/ANNOUNCE /usr/doc/koules/BUGS /usr/doc/koules/COMPILE.OS2 /usr/doc/koules/COPYING /usr/doc/koules/Card /usr/doc/koules/ChangeLog /usr/doc/koules/INSTALLATION /usr/doc/koules/Icon.xpm /usr/doc/koules/Icon2.xpm /usr/doc/koules/Koules.FAQ /usr/doc/koules/Koules.xpm /usr/doc/koules/README /usr/doc/koules/TODO /usr/games/koules /usr/games/koules.svga /usr/games/koules.tcl /usr/man/man6/koules.svga.6

These are just several examples. More creative ones can be thought of really easy once you are familiar with RPM.