This appendix covers:
rpm command
rpmbuild command
This appendix covers the syntax of the command-line options for the rpm and rpmbuild commands.
The rpm command is the workhorse of the RPM system. The following sections cover options for the major operations with the rpm command.
Table A-1 lists the query options for the rpm command.
Table A-1 rpm query options with –q or --query
Option | Usage |
-a, --all | Query all packages |
-c, --configfiles | List configuration files |
--changelog | List changelog entries |
--conflicts | List capabilities this package conflicts with |
-d, --docfiles | List documentation files |
--dump | Dump out extra information on files. |
-f, --file filename | Query for packages owning given file |
--filesbypapkg | List all files in each selected package |
--fileid md5_id | Query for the package with the given MD5 digest |
-g, --group group_name | Query packages in the given group |
--hdrid sha1_header_id | Query for the package with the given header identifier number, in SHA1 format |
-i, --info | Display a lot of package information including description |
--last | Reorder the output of the rpm command to show the most recently installed packages first |
--obsoletes | List capabilities this package obsoletes |
-p, --package rpm_file | Query the given package file or files |
--pkgid md5_id | Query for the package with the given MD5 package ID |
--provides | List capabilities provided by package |
--querybynumber number | Query for the given entry, by number, in the RPM database |
--qf, --queryformat format | Use the given query format for displaying the output |
--redhatprovides capability | Look in rpmdb-redhat database for packages that provide the given capability |
--redhatrequires capability | Look in rpmdb-redhat database for packages that require the given capability |
-R, --requires | Lists packages and capabilities that this package depends on |
--specfile specfile | Query the given spec file |
-s, --state | Display the state of the listed files |
--scripts | List scripts in the package |
--tid transaction_id | Query for the package or packages with the given transaction ID |
--triggeredby package | Query packages triggered by the given package |
--triggers, --triggerscripts | List trigger scripts |
--whatrequires capability | Query packages that require the given capability |
--whatprovides capability | List packages that provide the given capability |
Table A-2 lists the upgrade, freshen, and installation options for the rpm command.
Table A-2 rpm upgrade, freshen, and install options
Option | Usage |
--aid | Add any suggested packages to the list to install or upgrade |
--allfiles | Install all the files, even if some might otherwise be skipped |
--badreloc | Relocate files even if the package is not relocatable |
--excludedocs | Skip the files marked as documentation |
--excludepath path | Skip files that begin with path |
--force | A short hand for --replacepkgs and --replacefiles |
-h, --hash | Print hash marks, #, periodically while performing operation to provide some feedback |
--ignorearch | Ignore the architecture listed in the package |
--ignoreos | Ignore the operating system listed in the package |
--ignoresize | Skip the check to see if there is enough disk space to install the package |
--includedocs | Install files marked as documentation, turned on by default |
--justdb | Just update the RPM database, do not modify any files |
--nodeps | Skip verification of package dependencies |
--nodigest | Skip verification of package and header digests |
--nomd5 | Skip verification of file MD5 checksums |
--noorder | Do not reorder the list of packages to be installed based on dependencies |
--nopost | Do not run post-install scripts |
--nopostun | Do not run post-uninstall scripts |
--nopre | Do not run pre-install scripts |
--nopreun | Do not run pre-uninstall scripts |
--nosuggest | Do not suggest packages for missing dependencies |
--noscripts | Do not execute scripts |
--nosignature | Skip verification of package and header signatures |
--notriggers | Do not execute trigger scripts |
--notriggerin | Do not run trigger install scripts |
--notriggerpostun | Do not run trigger post uninstall scripts |
--notriggerun | Do not run trigger uninstall scripts |
--oldpackage | Allow an upgrade to an older version of a package |
--percent | Print out percentage of work completed as command executes |
--prefix directory | Relocate package to directory, if package is relocatable |
--relocate old=new | Relocate all paths that start with old to new, if relocatable |
--repackage | Create a package from any files that would be erased |
--replacefiles | Install package even if it replaces files from other packages |
--replacepkgs | Install packages even if they are already installed |
--test | Do not install or remove packages, just see if the command would work |
Use rpm –U or --upgrade to upgrade, rpm –i or --install to install, and –F or --freshen to freshen a package.
Table A-3 lists the erase, or package removal, options for the rpm command.
Table A-3 rpm erase (removal) options with –e or --erase
Option | Usage |
--allmatches | Remove all versions of the packages; normally an error would occur if there is more than one package of the same name and you try to erase the package |
--nodeps | Skip verification of package dependencies |
--noscripts | Do not execute scripts |
--nopostun | Do not run post-uninstall scripts |
--nopreun | Do not run pre-uninstall scripts |
--notriggers | Do not execute trigger scripts |
--notriggerpostun | Do not run trigger post uninstall scripts |
--notriggerun | Do not run trigger uninstall scripts |
--repackage | Create a package from any files that would be erased |
--test | Do not install or remove packages, just see if the command would work |
Table A-4 lists the signature-related options to the rpm command.
Table A-4 rpm signature options with –K, --checksig, or --import
Option | Usage |
--addsign | Sign packages, same as --resign |
--import public_key | Add given public key to the RPM database |
--nodigest | Skip verification of package and header digests |
--nosignature | Skip verification of package and header signatures |
--resign | Sign packages |
The --import option works on its own. The rest of the options work with one or more RPM packages.
The rpm command can verify packages. This involves comparing all files installed by the package with the information in the RPM database, and looking for differences or missing files.
Table A-5 lists the verify options to the rpm command.
Table A-5 rpm verify options with –V or --verify
Option | Usage |
-a, --all | Verify all packages |
-f, --file filename | Verify packages owning given file |
-g, --group group_name | Verify packages in the given group |
--nodeps | Skip verification of package dependencies |
--nodigest | Skip verification of package and header digests |
--nofiles | Do not verify the files in the package |
--nogroup | Do not verify the group owner |
--nolinkto | Do not verify the link file attribute |
--nomd5 | Skip verification of file MD5 checksums |
--nomtime | Do not verify the mtime attribute |
--nomode | Do not verify the file mode (permissions) |
--nordev | Do not verify the rdev attribute |
--noscripts | Do not execute the verify scripts |
--nosignature | Skip verification of package and header signatures |
--nosize | Do not verify the file size |
--nouser | Do not verify the owner of the file |
-p, --package rpm_file | Verify the given package file or files |
--specfile specfile | Verify the given spec file |
--whatrequires capability | Verify packages that require the given capability |
--whatprovides capability | Verify packages that provide the given capability |
You can create a new, empty, RPM database as well as rebuild all the inverted lists used for quick access using the database options listed in Table A-6.
Table A-6 rpm database options
Option | Usage |
--initdb | Initialize database |
--rebuilddb | Rebuild all the inverted lists from the Packages file |
These options can be used with any rpm command. Three of the options, --querytags, --version, and --showrc, run on their own. The rest can be used with the other rpm options. Table A-7 lists these miscellaneous options.
Table A-7 Miscellaneous rpm options
Option | Usage |
-?, --help | Print the popt help information for all the command-line options |
--dbpath path_to_rpm_db | Use the given directory for the RPM database, instead of the default |
-D, --define 'macro value' | Define the given macro to hold the given value |
-E, --eval expression | Print the evaluation of the given expression |
--ftpport port | Use the given port number for FTP access |
--ftpproxy host | Use the given host name as a proxy for FTP access |
--httpport port | Use the given port number for HTTP access |
--httpproxy host | Use the given host name as a proxy for HTTP access |
--macros file:file:file | Read the given colon-separated files as the macro files to define RPM macros; only the first file must exist |
--pipe command | Pipe the output of the rpm command to the given command |
--querytags | Print the query tag names and exit |
--quiet | Provide less output, normally show only errors |
--rcfile file:file:file | Read the given colon-separated files as the rc files to define RPM settings; only the first file must exist |
--root directory | Use directory as the top-level directory instead of /. |
--showrc | Print the rpmrc and macro configuration and exit |
-v, --verbose | Provide more verbose output |
-vv | Provide even more verbose output, including debugging information |
--version | Print the RPM version and exit |