An example rpm session

# current working directory
[root@bluenote SRPMS]# pwd
/mnt/cdrom/RedHat/SRPMS

# install a package with verbose output
[root@bluenote SRPMS]# rpm -ivv rpm-1.4.1-1.src.rpm 
D: opening db mode 66
D: opening rpm-1.4.1-1.src.rpm
D: opening rpm-1.4.1-1.src.rpm
D: installing source package rpm-1.4.1-1.src.rpm in /usr/src/redhat-2.1/SOURCES
D: ENTERING: remove_temps()
D: EXITING: remove_temps()
error: /usr/src/redhat-2.1/SOURCES doesn't exist -- use --force to create it

# go create necessary directories (could use the --force option )
[root@bluenote SRPMS]# cd /usr/src/redhat-2.1
[root@bluenote redhat-2.1]# mkdir BUILD SOURCES SPECS
[root@bluenote redhat-2.1]# cd -

# try installing again
[root@bluenote SRPMS]# rpm -ivv rpm-1.4.1-1.src.rpm 
D: opening db mode 66
D: opening rpm-1.4.1-1.src.rpm
D: opening rpm-1.4.1-1.src.rpm
D: installing source package rpm-1.4.1-1.src.rpm in /usr/src/redhat-2.1/SOURCES
D: new format
D: opening rpm-1.4.1-1.src.rpm
D: reading version 1.1 header and icon
D: reading (528 - 528) to get to spec
D: reading 428 bytes of spec
D: ENTERING: parse_spec_array()
D: EXITING: parse_spec_array()
rpm-1.4.1-1                                                       
D: chdir(/usr/src/redhat-2.1/SOURCES)
D: spec file name: rpm-1.4.1.spec
rpm-1.4.1.spec
rpm.gif
rpm-1.4.1.tar.gz
141 blocks
D: cpio finished
D: moving /usr/src/redhat-2.1/SOURCES/rpm-1.4.1.spec to /usr/src/redhat-2.1/SPECS
D: ENTERING: remove_temps()
D: EXITING: remove_temps()

# what did we get
[root@bluenote SRPMS]# cd -
[root@bluenote redhat-2.1]# ls -lR
total 3
drwxrwxr-x   2 root     root         1024 Mar 20 23:03 BUILD
drwxrwxr-x   2 root     root         1024 Mar 20 23:07 SOURCES
drwxrwxr-x   2 root     root         1024 Mar 20 23:06 SPECS

BUILD:
total 0

SOURCES:
total 71
-rw-rw-r--   1 root     root        70159 Nov  3 09:48 rpm-1.4.1.tar.gz
-rw-rw-r--   1 root     root          408 Oct  4 17:08 rpm.gif

SPECS:
total 1
-rw-r--r--   1 root     root          966 Nov  3 09:49 rpm-1.4.1.spec

# list every package installed on the system
[root@bluenote redhat-2.1]# rpm -qa
ElectricFence-2.0.5-1
ImageMagick-devel-3.7-1
ImageMagick-3.7-1
MAKEDEV-2.2-1
NetKit-A-0.08-5
NetKit-B-lpr-0.06-4
NetKit-B-0.06-4
SysVinit-2.56-6
XFree86-S3-3.1.2-2
XFree86-devel-3.1.2-2
XFree86-fonts-3.1.2-2
XFree86-3.1.2-2
Xaw3d-1.1-2
Xconfigurator-1.2-1
adduser-1.1-1
amd-920824upl67-1
.
.
.

# get details about a package you are considering installing
[root@bluenote SPECS]# cd -
[root@bluenote SRPMS]# rpm -qip color-ls-3.12.0.3-2.src.rpm
Name        : color-ls                    Distribution: RHCL 2.1
Version     : 3.12.0.3                          Vendor: Red Hat Software
Release     : 2                             Build date: Wed Oct  4 12:45:17 1995
Install date:                Build host: porky.redhat.com
Group       : Utilities/File
Size        : 406413                     
Description : color ls - patched from GNU fileutils

# remove a package I don't want
[root@bluenote SRPMS]# cd /etc/rc.d/init.d/
[root@bluenote init.d]# ls
cron           ibcs           named.init     pcmcia         smb
functions      inet           network        sendmail.init  syslog
halt           keytable       nfs            single
httpd.init     lpd.init       nfsfs          skeleton
[root@bluenote init.d]# rpm -qif ibcs  
Name        : iBCS                        Distribution: RHCL 2.1
Version     : 1.2                               Vendor: Red Hat Software
Release     : 2                             Build date: Thu Nov  2 15:56:48 1995
Install date: Sat Mar  9 11:49:58 1996      Build host: porky.redhat.com
Group       : Base/Kernel
Size        : 186933                     
Description : iBCS module
[root@bluenote init.d]# rpm -u iBCS
[root@bluenote init.d]# ls
cron           inet           network        sendmail.init  syslog
functions      keytable       nfs            single
halt           lpd.init       nfsfs          skeleton
httpd.init     named.init     pcmcia         smb


Last Modified: 16 March 1996

St. Louis Unix Users Group - Linux SIG