Rpm Package Management Quick Reference

An updated version of this article at: RPM Package Management Quick Reference

RPM tool

rpm tool deals with rpm packages directly, but cannot deal with packages placed in a repository. Zypper, Yum,... tools deal with repositories.

$rpm -q package_name #e.g rpm -q subversion Query if a package is installed.

$rpm -qf "*/bash" #find which package owns that file.

#rpm -e package_name #deletes a package.

$rpm -qi package_name # shows info about a package.

$rpm -ql package_name # list files contained in package_name


#rpm -i package.rpm # installs a rpm file package.

#rpm -i --force package.rpm # forces package.rpm installation.

#rpm -qpl foo.rpm # shows the files in foo.rpm file package.

$rpm -q --scripts foo # shows installation and uninstallation scripts for foo package.

$rpm -qR foo # shows which dependencies foo package requires.

ZYPPER (OpenSuse 10.3 and up)

#zypper install foo # installs foo package from repository.

#zypper remove foo # removes a package. e.g: zypper remove python-twisted-conch

$zypper info python-twisted-conch # shows package info

$zypper search python # searchs for packages matching python.

#zipper ref && zipper dup # refresh repositories and then update the system.

YUM (Fedora, etc)

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How to Create a GENTOO Distro CHROOT ENVIRONMENT

This article describes how to build a chroot environment for Gentoo distribution.

NOTE: Debian GNU/Linux will be our host system, but these steps should also work for most other Linux based distributions (e.g: Ubuntu).


DOWNLOAD A SMALL MINIMUM GENTOO SYSTEM

First we are going to download a minimal Gentoo system, called STAGE3.

We choose our architecture, in my case x86, and i686 specifically.
http://mirrors.kernel.org/gentoo/releases/x86/autobuilds/current-stage3/
$ wget http://mirrors.kernel.org/gentoo/releases/x86/autobuilds/current-stage3/stage3-i686-*.tar.bz2

There is a list of mirrors here: http://www.gentoo.org/main/en/mirrors.xml

We could download directly from gentoo page too:
$ wget ftp://distfiles.gentoo.org/pub/gentoo/releases/x86/current-stage3/stage3-i686-*.tar.bz2



BUILDING OUR GENTOO DIRECTORY

We create a directory where we will place Gentoo files:

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Creating a FEDORA 10 CHROOT Environment in DEBIAN SID

Fedora is a linux distribution supported by a community: fedoraproject.org and by Red Hat enterprise.
Fedora (Wikipedia)

Current release name is Fedora 10.


Fedora packages are provided in rpm format. We can manage these packages using rpm tool, and use yum to deal with repositories.

Debian sid provides the rpm tool so our first task will be installing it in our Debian system:
#aptitude install rpm

This tool will allow us to install fedora packages in our debian system using a separate database and a different directory than / .


We create the directory to place our Fedora chroot environment:
$mkdir Fedora
$cd Fedora
$mkdir Distro

We are going to download the minimal amount of rpm packages required for our Fedora distro.

Navigating through fedora project web page we can find some mirrors, e.g:
http://glup.uv.es/mirror/fedora/linux/
http://ftp.uni-kl.de/pub/linux/fedora/linux/
Choose one near you.

Within those mirrors we find where packages are:
http://glup.uv.es/mirror/fedora/linux/releases/10/Fedora/i386/os/Packages/
http://ftp.uni-kl.de/pub/linux/fedora/linux/releases/10/Fedora/i386/os/Packages/


We can download every package we need using wget tool.
Although we only show the installing rpm command, you will have to download every rpm package prior to install it.
NOTE: Package version may not coincide, but the same package name and same installing order are mandatory.

If we need some file to satisfy a dependency, but don't know which package contains it, this web page

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Gentoo Linux Distribution

Gentoo official page

Gentoo Linux Distribution (Wikipedia)

Gentoo Linux operating system is designed to be modular, portable, easy to maintain, flexible, and optimized for the user's machine. All tools and utilities are built from source code. For convenience, however, several large software packages are also available as precompiled binaries for various architectures via the Portage system.

It is a distro oriented to developers and network professionals. Gentoo at distrowatch

Gentoo Wiki

Packages Online Database.


INSTALLING

Downloading Gentoo

Installing Gentoo Handbook

Linux Gazette article about installing Gentoo


LIVE CD

HowTo build a LiveCD from scratch (Gentoo-Wiki)


IRC CHANNEL

#gentoo at irc.gnu.org


OTHER INTERESTING LINKS

Embedded Gentoo

Gentoo Development Guide

Ubuntu

Ubuntu Community FAQ

Ubuntu FAQ

Repository Components

Ubuntu Packages

Mark Suttleworth wiki

Mark Shuttleworth's blog

Ubuntu Forums

HowTo: Install Feisty on a bootable USB Flash drive

Ubuntu USB live

Persistence Bug Feisty

Get involved in Ubuntu

Becoming an Ubuntu Developer

Ubuntu development

Ubuntu paid work

Ubuntu bug tracker

Gutsy Release Schedule

Gutsy Tribe-1 CDs

Live Usb Pendrive Persistent


IRC CHANNELS

(at irc.gnu.org)
#ubuntu
#ubuntu+1

Debian GNU/Linux Distribution

Debian GNU/Linux is an complete Operating System based on the Linux kernel(there are also other platforms available).

It is developed in an open way by volunteers all over the world.

Debian (from Wikipedia)


DEBIAN DISTRIBUTION PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS

These documents describe Debian philosophy.

Debian Manifiesto
Debian Social Contract - Describes Debian Goals.
Debian Free Software Guidelines - Requirements software has to accomplish to be accepted as Debian Free Software.



Debian currently provides over 26000 software packages, and targets eleven hardware architectures.

Ubuntu distro and others like Damn Small Linux, Knoppix, Xandros, etc are Debian based distributions.


DEVELOPMENT PROCEDURE

Debian has three main branches: unstable (sid), testing and stable.

The stable one is suited for server environments. Packages at this version are frozen, and there are only security updates. (Debian Security Faq)

Usually newer software package versions are added to the unstable branch. If no serious bugs are found, after some time, the package migrate to testing branch (its dependencies also have to be in the testing branch).

Stable branch regularly receive security updates. Using Debian Sid (unstable) means that you have the latest package versions at the cost of stability and security.


Debian repositories are separated into several categories:

• main
contains the main Debian repository.


• contrib
contains software deployed under a free license but with non-free dependencies.


• non-free
software that does not adhere to Debian free software guidelines.

DEBIAN PACKAGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

APT (Advanced Packaging Tool) is the Debian Package Management System. It is a user interface to some libraries that deal with software installation.

It comprises a set of tools. e.g: apt-get, apt-cache, apt-cdrom, ...

APT tracks dependency problems, performing installation and removing of packages in the most suitable order. When you install a package APT automatically installs all required dependencies. APT allows installing packages via network.

Apt, Aptitude, Dpkg Reference Article.



DEBIAN PACKAGE DEVELOPMENT

Documentation about creating and maintaining Debian packages.

Developer manuals

Debian New Mantainers' Guide


OTHER DEBIAN RELATED LINKS

Debian Wiki

Debian Reference (debian.org)

Debian FAQ

Getting support for Debian GNU/Linux.

Debian package list

Debian Forums

Debian Administration


IRC

#debian irc channel at irc.gnu.org server.

Comparison of Linux distributions

Wikipedia: Comparison of Linux distributions.


Each Distro has a package managing system, and uses a package format, i.e:

deb for Debian,
rpm for Fedora(Red Hat),
tgz for Slackware,


Package management tools:

Debian: apt, aptitude

Fedora: rpm, yum

OpenSuse: rpm, zipper

Mandrake: rpm, urpm

Gentoo: emerge


Some distros act as base for other derived distros:

Debian (base) -> Ubuntu

Fedora (base) -> Centos


Some distros are backed by an enterprise:

Ubuntu by Canonical Ltd.

Fedora by Red Hat


Most distros distribute binary packages, but Gentoo distribute source code files which you compile in your system.


Linux from Scratch is a guide to build your own GNU/Linux based system.

LiveDistro List

Easiest way to begin with Linux based systems is using a Live CD or Live USB distribution.

LiveDistro is a generic term for an operating system distribution that is executed upon boot, without previous installation on a hard drive. In fact, a hard drive is not needed at all.

What in other distros would be stored in hard disk, is stored in RAM memory. That cuts down on the RAM available to applications, reducing performance somewhat. (Is recommended a minimum of 256 MB RAM)

For a list of LiveDistros you can search at:

• List of LiveDistros


• Comparison of Linux LiveDistros


• www.livecdlist.com

I have tested Ubuntu and Knoppix.


Other insteresting links:

Linux Live Scripts How to build your own LiveDistro.
HOWTO build a LiveCD from scratch (gentoo-wiki).