Apendix C

Concise RPM Command
Reference

C.1. Global Options

The following options can be used in any of RPM's modes:

• --quiet—Print as little output as possible.
• -v—Be a little more verbose.
• -vv—Be incredibly verbose (for debugging).
• --root <dir>—Use <dir> as the top-level directory.
• --dbpath <dir>—Use <dir> as the directory for the database.
• --rcfile <file>—Use <file> instead of /etc/rpmrc and $HOME/.rpmrc.

C.2. Informational Options

The following options are used to display information about RPM:

Format: rpm <option>

• --version—Print the version of RPM being used.
• --help—Print a help message.
• --showrc—Show rcfile information.
• --querytags—List the tags that can be used with --queryformat.

C.3. Query Mode

RPM's query mode is used to display information about packages.

Format:      rpm --query <options>



             or



             rpm -q <options>

C.3.1. Package Specification Options for Query Mode

No more than one of the following options may be present in every query command. They are used to select the source of the information to be displayed. Where plus signs appear, more than one item may be included, separated by a space:

• <packagename>—Query the named package.
• -a—Query all packages.
• -f <file>+—Query package owning <file>.

• -g <group>+—Query packages with group <group>.
• -p <packagefile>+—Query (uninstalled) package <packagefile>.
• --whatprovides <i>—Query packages that provide <i> capability.
• --whatrequires <i>—Query packages that require <i> capability.

C.3.2. Information Selection Options for Query Mode

One or more of the following options may be added to any query command. They are used to select what information RPM will display. If no information-selection option is present on the command line, RPM will simply display the applicable package label(s):

• -i—Display package information.
• -l—Display package file list.
• -s—Show file states (implies -l).
• -d—List only documentation files (implies -l).
• -c—List only configuration files (implies -l).
• --dump—Show all available information for each file (must be used with -l, -c, or -d).
• --provides—List capabilities that the package provides.
• --requires, -R—List capabilities that the package requires.
• --scripts—Print the various (un)install, verification scripts.
• --queryformat <s>—Use <s> as the header format (implies -i).
• --qf <s>—Shorthand for --queryformat.

C.4. Verify Mode

RPM's verification mode is used to ensure that a package is still installed properly:

Format:  rpm --verify <options>



          or





         rpm -V <options>



          or



         rpm -y <options>

C.4.1. Options for Verify Mode

The following options can be used on any verify command:

• --nodeps—Do not verify package dependencies.
• --nofiles—Do not verify file attributes.
• --noscripts—Do not execute the package's verification script.

C.5. Install Mode

RPM's installation mode is used to install packages.

Format:      rpm --install <packagefile>





             or





             rpm -i <packagefile>

C.5.1. Options for Install Mode

The following options can be used on any install command:

• -h, --hash—Print hash marks as package installs (good with -v).
• --prefix <dir>—Relocate the package to <dir>, if relocatable.
• --excludedocs—Do not install documentation.
• --force—Shorthand for --replacepkgs and --replacefiles.
• --ignorearch—Do not verify package architecture.
• --ignoreos—Do not verify package operating system.
• --includedocs—Install documentation.
• --nodeps—Do not check package dependencies.
• --noscripts—Do not execute any installation scripts.
• --percent—Print percentages as package installs.
• --replacefiles—Install even if the package replaces installed files.
• --replacepkgs—Reinstall if the package is already present.
• --test—Do not install, but tell whether it would work.

C.6. Upgrade Mode

RPM's upgrade mode is used to upgrade packages.

Format:      rpm --upgrade <packagefile>



             or



             rpm -U <packagefile>

C.6.1. Options for Upgrade Mode

The following options can be used on any upgrade command:

• -h, --hash—Print hash marks as package installs (good with -v).
• --prefix <dir>—Relocate the package to <dir>, if relocatable.
• --excludedocs—Do not install documentation.
• --force—Shorthand for --replacepkgs, --replacefiles, and --oldpackage.
• --ignorearch—Do not verify package architecture.
• --ignoreos—Do not verify package operating system.
• --includedocs—Install documentation.
• --nodeps—Do not verify package dependencies.
• --noscripts—Do not execute any installation scripts.
• --percent—Print percentages as package installs.
• --replacefiles—Install even if the package replaces installed files.
• --replacepkgs—Reinstall if the package is already present.
• --test—Do not install, but tell whether it would work.
• --oldpackage—Upgrade to an old version of the package (--force on upgrades does this automatically).

C.7. Erase Mode

RPM's erase mode is used to erase previously installed packages.

Format:      rpm --erase <package>





             or





             rpm -e <package>

C.7.1. Options for Erase Mode

The following options can be used on any erase command:

• --nodeps—Do not verify package dependencies.
• --noscripts—Do not execute any installation scripts.

C.8. Build Mode

RPM's build mode is used to build packages.

Format: rpm -b<stage> <options> <specfile>

(Note that -vv is the default for all build mode commands.)

C.8.1. Build Mode Stages

One of the following stages must follow the -b option:

• p—Prep (unpack sources and apply patches).
• l—List check (do some cursory checks on %files).
• c—Compile (prep and compile).
• i—Install (prep, compile, install).
• b—Binary package (prep, compile, install, package).
• a—Binary/source package (prep, compile, install, package).

C.8.2. Options for Build Mode

The following options can be used on any build command:

• --short-circuit—Skip straight to specified stage (only for c and i).
• --clean—Remove build tree when done.
• --sign—Generate PGP signature.
• --buildroot <s>—Use <s> as the build root.
• --buildarch <s>—Use <s> as the build architecture.
• --buildos <s>—Use <s> as the build operating system.
• --test—Do not execute any stages.
• --timecheck <s>—Set the time check to <s> seconds (0 disables it).

C.9. Rebuild Mode

RPM's rebuild mode is used to rebuild packages from a source package file. The source archives, patches, and icons that comprise the source package are removed after the binary package is built. Rebuild mode implies --clean.

Format: rpm --rebuild <options> <source-package>

(Note that -vv is the default for all rebuild mode commands.)

C.9.1. Options for Rebuild Mode

Only the global options may be used.

C.10. Recompile Mode

RPM's recompile mode is used to recompile software from a source package file. Unlike --rebuild, no binary package is created.

Format: rpm --recompile <options> <source-package>

Note that -vv is the default for all recompile mode commands.

C.10.1. Options for Recompile Mode

Only the global options may be used.

C.11. Resign Mode

RPM's resign mode is used to replace a package's signature with a new one.

Format: rpm --resign <options> <packagefile>+

C.11.1. Options for Resign Mode

Only the global options may be used.

C.12. Add Signature Mode

RPM's add signature mode is used to add a signature to a package.

Format: rpm --addsign <options> <packagefile>+

C.12.1. Options for Add Signature Mode

Only the global options may be used.

C.13. Check Signature Mode

RPM's check signature mode is used to verify a package's signature.

Format:      rpm --checksig <options> <packagefile>+





             or





             rpm -K <options> <packagefile>+

C.13.1. Options for Check Signature Mode

The following option can be used on any check signature command:

• --nopgp—Skip any PGP signatures (size and MD5 only).

C.14. Initialize Database Mode

RPM's initialize database mode is used to create a new RPM database.

Format: rpm --initdb <options>

C.14.1. Options for Initialize Database Mode

Only the global options may be used.

C.15. Rebuild Database Mode

RPM's rebuild database mode is used to rebuild an RPM database.

Format: rpm --rebuilddb <options>

C.15.1. Options to Rebuild Database Mode

Only the global options may be used.