Linux Chapter 6

Package Manager

A collection of software tools that automates the process of downloading, installing, upgrading, configuring, and removing computer applications in Linux.

RPM

The Red Hat Package Manager used to install software packages on Red Hat, Fedora, OpenSUSE, and other Linux distributions.

Package Dependency 

A dependency that occurs when one software package requires another package to be installed to work properly.

RPM Functions

RPM performs various functions as part of package installation.

RPM:

• Is used as the package manager on many distributions, such as openSUSE, Red Hat, and Fedora.

• Installs and configures pre-compiled, pre-configured applications and services on the system.

• Accesses a library containing thousands of packages where the source code is built, compiled, and ready to be installed on a supported Linux architecture or distribution.

• Installs, updates, verifies, queries, and uninstalls packages.

• Uses a database stored at /var/lib/rpm that keeps track of all installed packages, their current status, and available updates.

• Checks for dependencies on other packages and prompts to install these packages, if necessary. A dependency is an application's reliance on another package to perform correctly.