Manage packages in RHEL-based distributions
This article describes how to manage packages with yum in Red Hat® Enterprise Linux®-based distributions.
Prerequisites
You need to have the following prerequisites:
- Basic understanding of Secure Shell (SSH)
- Sudo or administrative access to your server
- A Cloud Server running either Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 or later or CentOS 6 or later
Package management in Linux
The term package management in Linux describes the installation, removal, or updating of software on your Linux server.
Packages are built by using source code that installs a piece of software on your server. Packages are compiled
to allow for easy installation rather than installing each component from the source.
Package tools in RHEL distributions
RHEL®-based distributions include the following two forms of package management:
-
rpmis considered a low-level tool used to install, remove, and gather information, as well as to
build packages to install on a RHEL-based server. -
yumis considered a high-level tool that has the same functionality asrpmbut also resolves
dependencies to allow for smoother installation of .rpm packages.
Note: Rackspace does not support the installation of packages from source.
Using yum
yumThe yum tool is your primary tool for installing and managing the software on your server.
Gather information
To see the repositories from which yum pulls packages, run the following command:
yum repolist
This command lists the repositories available on your server:
# yum repolist
Loaded plugins: langpacks, product-id, rhnplugin, search-disabled-repos, subscription-manager
This system is receiving updates from RHN Classic or Red Hat Satellite.
repo id repo name status
!drivesrvr drivesrvr 20
epel/x86_64 Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux 7 - x86_64 13,314
ius/x86_64 IUS for Enterprise Linux 7 - x86_64 609
rackspace Rackspace Monitoring 1
rhel-x86_64-server-7 Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7 for 64-bit x86_64) 29,118
rhel-x86_64-server-optional-7 RHEL Server Optional (v. 7 64-bit x86_64) 21,287
repolist: 64,3
To search for a package from your repositories, use the following command:
yum search <package name>
Note: This command locates all instances of the <package name> that are available in your
repositories. This list can be quite verbose, so use the full name of the package, if you know it,
to narrow your search.
To get more information on a package, use the following command:
yum info <package name>
This command provides some information about the package. Here's an example of searching for the httpd package:
# yum info httpd
Available Packages
Name : httpd
Version : 2.4.43
Release : 1.fc31
Architecture : x86_64
Size : 1.4 M
Source : httpd-2.4.43-1.fc31.src.rpm
Repository : updates
Summary : Apache HTTP Server
URL : https://httpd.apache.org/
License : ASL 2.0
Description : The Apache HTTP Server is a powerful, efficient, and extensible web server.
To see the currently installed packages, run the following command:
yum list installed
This command lists all the packages installed on the system. This list can be extensive.
If you know the package you're looking for, you can use grep to filter your search as shown in
the following example:
yum list installed | grep httpd
This command provides a more manageable list:
# yum list installed | grep httpd
httpd.x86_64 2.4.6-93.el7 @rhel-x86_64-server-7
httpd-tools.x86_64 2.4.6-93.el7 @rhel-x86_64-server-
Install packages
To install a package, use the following command:
yum install <package>
This command queries your repositories and pulls down the package to install. During the
installation process, yum tries to resolve dependencies associated with the package you are
installing. If yum can resolve the dependencies, it shows output and asks you to confirm the
installation. The following example shows dependency resolution:
# yum install httpd
Loaded plugins: langpacks, product-id, rhnplugin, search-disabled-repos, subscription-manager
This system is receiving updates from RHN Classic or Red Hat Satellite.
drivesrvr | 2.9 kB 00:00:00
Resolving Dependencies
--> Running transaction check
---> Package httpd.x86_64 0:2.4.6-93.el7 will be installed
--> Finished Dependency Resolution
Dependencies Resolved
=========================================================================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
=========================================================================================================================
Installing:
httpd x86_64 2.4.6-93.el7 rhel-x86_64-server-7 1.2 M
Transaction Summary
=========================================================================================================================
Install 1 Package
Total download size: 1.2 M
Installed size: 3.7 M
Is this ok [y/d/N]:
Note: When you install httpd, there are no other dependencies required to install the package. In other
situations, there might be additional dependencies required for installation that yum needs to install.
If yum cannot resolve dependencies, the output lists the errors. You need to resolve these
dependencies to continue the installation.
Update packages
To update an installed package, run the following command:
yum update <package>
This command searches the repository for updates to the specified package, if available.
If there is an update available, the command shows you the change and requests confirmation. Otherwise,
it informs you that there is nothing to do:
# yum update httpd
Loaded plugins: langpacks, product-id, rhnplugin, search-disabled-repos, subscription-manager
This system is receiving updates from RHN Classic or Red Hat Satellite.
drivesrvr | 2.9 kB 00:00:00
No packages marked for update
You can also use the following command to trigger an update for all packages on the system:
yum update
This command queries the repositories for any updates to the packages installed on your server.
Imporant: This process tries to update all packages on the system. Make sure that you've reviewed
your environment before proceeding because the changes could cause unexpected issues with applications
as a result of the updates.
Remove packages
To remove an installed package, use the following command:
yum remove <package name>
This command checks the installed packages, provides output, and asks you to confirm the change:
# yum remove httpd
Loaded plugins: langpacks, product-id, rhnplugin, search-disabled-repos, subscription-manager
This system is receiving updates from RHN Classic or Red Hat Satellite.
Resolving Dependencies
--> Running transaction check
---> Package httpd.x86_64 0:2.4.6-93.el7 will be erased
--> Processing Dependency: httpd-mmn = 20120211x8664 for package: mod_php73-7.3.18-1.el7.ius.x86_64
--> Running transaction check
---> Package mod_php73.x86_64 0:7.3.18-1.el7.ius will be erased
--> Finished Dependency Resolution
drivesrvr | 2.9 kB 00:00:00
Dependencies Resolved
======================================================================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
======================================================================================================================
Removing:
httpd x86_64 2.4.6-93.el7 @rhel-x86_64-server-7 3.7 M
Removing for dependencies:
mod_php73 x86_64 7.3.18-1.el7.ius @ius 4.8 M
Transaction Summary
=======================================================================================================================
Remove 1 Package (+1 Dependent package)
Installed size: 8.6 M
Is this ok [y/N]:
Note: When you remove httpd, yum also removes the mod_php73 package, which depends on httpd. Make sure that
removing a package does not negatively impact other parts of your server.
Review history and revert changes
In some cases, you need to review the actions taken with the yum tool.
To see the history of the yum command usage, run the following command:
yum history
This command provides numbered output that shows the transactions made by yum.
# yum history
Loaded plugins: langpacks, product-id, rhnplugin, search-disabled-repos, subscription-manager
This system is receiving updates from RHN Classic or Red Hat Satellite.
ID | Login user | Date and time | Action(s) | Altered
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19 | <rack> | 2020-06-09 14:58 | Install | 2
18 | <rack> | 2020-06-09 14:57 | Erase | 2
17 | <rack> | 2020-06-09 14:56 | Install | 1
16 | <rack> | 2020-06-09 14:55 | Install | 4
15 | <rack> | 2020-06-09 14:55 | Erase | 2
14 | <rack> | 2020-06-09 14:54 | Erase | 1
13 | <rack> | 2020-06-09 14:50 | Install | 1
12 | <rack> | 2020-06-09 14:49 | Erase | 2
11 | root <root> | 2020-06-09 10:14 | I, U | 2
10 | root <root> | 2020-06-09 10:14 | Install | 2 EE
9 | <rack> | 2020-06-09 10:14 | Install | 4
8 | root <root> | 2020-06-09 10:14 | Install | 1 EE
7 | <rack> | 2020-06-09 10:14 | Install | 5
6 | root <root> | 2020-06-09 10:13 | Install | 4
5 | root <root> | 2020-06-09 10:13 | I, U | 18 <
4 | System <unset> | 2020-01-15 13:02 | Install | 1 >
3 | System <unset> | 2020-01-15 13:02 | Install | 1
2 | System <unset> | 2020-01-15 13:02 | Erase | 1
1 | System <unset> | 2020-01-15 12:55 | Install | 578
history list
This list provides only the date, action, and number of the altered package. To get more information
on a specific action, you can query the ID from the left column. Use the following command to view
information on the action:
yum history info <ID>
Running this command provides more information about what took place during this transaction:
# yum history info 18
Loaded plugins: langpacks, product-id, rhnplugin, search-disabled-repos, subscription-manager
This system is receiving updates from RHN Classic or Red Hat Satellite.
Transaction ID : 18
Begin time : Tue Jun 9 14:57:12 2020
Begin rpmdb : 609:12b0c5cdd97ae2f0a77a06403b7b16f3d404403c
End time : 14:57:13 2020 (1 seconds)
End rpmdb : 607:784f813e94127f71465085cd9437377514697243
User : <rack>
Return-Code : Success
Command Line : remove httpd
Transaction performed with:
Installed rpm-4.11.3-40.el7.x86_64 @anaconda/7.7
Installed subscription-manager-1.24.13-3.el7_7.x86_64 @base/7.7
Installed yum-3.4.3-167.el7.noarch @rhel-x86_64-server-7
Installed yum-rhn-plugin-2.0.1-10.el7.noarch @anaconda/7.7
Packages Altered:
Erase httpd-2.4.6-93.el7.x86_64 @rhel-x86_64-server-7
Erase mod_php73-7.3.18-1.el7.ius.x86_64 @ius
history info
If you need to undo a change, you must use the following command:
yum history undo <ID>
This command provides information on what this action changes and asks for confirmation.
# yum history undo 13
Loaded plugins: langpacks, product-id, rhnplugin, search-disabled-repos, subscription-manager
This system is receiving updates from RHN Classic or Red Hat Satellite.
Undoing transaction 13, from Tue Jun 9 14:50:18 2020
Install httpd-2.4.6-93.el7.x86_64 @rhel-x86_64-server-7
Resolving Dependencies
--> Running transaction check
---> Package httpd.x86_64 0:2.4.6-93.el7 will be erased
--> Processing Dependency: httpd-mmn = 20120211x8664 for package: mod_php73-7.3.18-1.el7.ius.x86_64
--> Running transaction check
---> Package mod_php73.x86_64 0:7.3.18-1.el7.ius will be erased
--> Finished Dependency Resolution
drivesrvr | 2.9 kB 00:00:00
Dependencies Resolved
======================================================================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
======================================================================================================================
Removing:
httpd x86_64 2.4.6-93.el7 @rhel-x86_64-server-7 3.7 M
Removing for dependencies:
mod_php73 x86_64 7.3.18-1.el7.ius @ius 4.8 M
Transaction Summary
======================================================================================================================
Remove 1 Package (+1 Dependent package)
Installed size: 8.6 M
Is this ok [y/N]:
If you want to roll back all the changes to a specific transaction, use the following command:
yum history rollback <ID>
This command shows you what this action changes and asks for confirmation. Depending on how far
you want to rollback, this list can be extensive. The output is similar to the following example:
# yum history rollback 17
Loaded plugins: langpacks, product-id, rhnplugin, search-disabled-repos, subscription-manager
This system is receiving updates from RHN Classic or Red Hat Satellite.
Rollback to transaction 17, from Tue Jun 9 14:56:03 2020
Undoing the following transactions: 18, 19
Reinstall httpd-2.4.6-93.el7.x86_64 @rhel-x86_64-server-7
Reinstall mod_php73-7.3.18-1.el7.ius.x86_64 @ius
drivesrvr | 2.9 kB 00:00:00
Resolving Dependencies
--> Running transaction check
---> Package httpd.x86_64 0:2.4.6-93.el7 will be reinstalled
---> Package mod_php73.x86_64 0:7.3.18-1.el7.ius will be reinstalled
--> Finished Dependency Resolution
Dependencies Resolved
=====================================================================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
=====================================================================================================================
Reinstalling:
httpd x86_64 2.4.6-93.el7 rhel-x86_64-server-7 1.2 M
mod_php73 x86_64 7.3.18-1.el7.ius ius 1.6 M
Transaction Summary
=====================================================================================================================
Reinstall 2 Packages
Total download size: 2.8 M
Installed size: 8.6 M
Is this ok [y/d/N]:
Further information
There are more options available within yum. You can view the different flags and options in the Linux
man page for yum at this link: yum man page
Because the yum command makes changes to the system, you should always ensure that you've tested your
environment before installing or updating packages. If possible, make sure you have a usable image to roll
back to in the case of any post-update issues.
Updated 12 months ago