OS Manuals

/usr/bin/rpm

Redhat Package Management utilities (RPM)

From rpm 6.1.0-r2 (os), captured 2026-11-05 by running rpm --help (exit 0). permalink

Usage: rpm [OPTION...]

Query/Verify package selection options:
  -a, --all                          query/verify all packages
  -f, --file                         query/verify package(s) owning installed
                                     file
      --path                         query/verify package(s) owning path,
                                     installed or not
  -g, --group                        query/verify package(s) in group
  -p, --package                      query/verify a package file
  -q, --query                        rpm query mode
      --triggeredby                  query the package(s) triggered by the
                                     package
      --whatconflicts                query/verify the package(s) which
                                     conflict with a dependency
      --whatrequires                 query/verify the package(s) which require
                                     a dependency
      --whatobsoletes                query/verify the package(s) which
                                     obsolete a dependency
      --whatprovides                 query/verify the package(s) which provide
                                     a dependency
      --whatrecommends               query/verify the package(s) which
                                     recommends a dependency
      --whatsuggests                 query/verify the package(s) which
                                     suggests a dependency
      --whatsupplements              query/verify the package(s) which
                                     supplements a dependency
      --whatenhances                 query/verify the package(s) which
                                     enhances a dependency
      --nomanifest                   do not process non-package files as
                                     manifests

Query/Verify file selection options:
  -c, --configfiles                  only include configuration files
  -d, --docfiles                     only include documentation files
  -L, --licensefiles                 only include license files
  -A, --artifactfiles                only include artifact files
      --noghost                      exclude %%ghost files
      --noconfig                     exclude %%config files
      --noartifact                   exclude %%artifact files

Query options (with -q or --query):
      --dump                         dump basic file information
  -l, --list                         list files in package
      --queryformat=QUERYFORMAT      use the following query format
  -s, --state                        display the states of the listed files

Verify options (with -V or --verify):
      --nofiledigest                 don't verify digest of files
      --nofiles                      don't verify files in package
      --nodeps                       don't verify package dependencies
      --noscript                     don't execute verify script(s)

Install/Upgrade/Erase options:
      --allfiles                     install all files, even configurations
                                     which might otherwise be skipped
      --allmatches                   remove all packages which match <package>
                                     (normally an error is generated if
                                     <package> specified multiple packages)
      --badreloc                     relocate files in non-relocatable package
  -e, --erase=<package>+             erase (uninstall) package
      --excludedocs                  do not install documentation
      --excludepath=<path>           skip files with leading component <path>
      --force                        short hand for --replacepkgs
                                     --replacefiles
  -F, --freshen=<packagefile>+       upgrade package(s) if already installed
  -h, --hash                         print hash marks as package installs
                                     (good with -v)
      --ignorearch                   don't verify package architecture
      --ignoreos                     don't verify package operating system
      --ignoresize                   don't check disk space before installing
      --noverify                     short hand for --ignorepayload
                                     --ignoresignature
  -i, --install                      install package(s)
      --justdb                       update the database, but do not modify
                                     the filesystem
      --nodb                         do not update the database, but modify
                                     the filesystem
      --nodeps                       do not verify package dependencies
      --nofiledigest                 don't verify digest of files
      --nocontexts                   don't install file security contexts
      --nocaps                       don't install file capabilities
      --noorder                      do not reorder package installation to
                                     satisfy dependencies
      --noscripts                    do not execute package scriptlet(s)
      --notriggers                   do not execute any scriptlet(s) triggered
                                     by this package
      --oldpackage                   upgrade to an old version of the package
                                     (--force on upgrades does this
                                     automatically)
      --percent                      print percentages as package installs
      --prefix=<dir>                 relocate the package to <dir>, if
                                     relocatable
      --relocate=<old>=<new>         relocate files from path <old> to <new>
      --replacefiles                 ignore file conflicts between packages
      --replacepkgs                  reinstall if the package is already
                                     present
      --test                         don't install, but tell if it would work
                                     or not
  -U, --upgrade=<packagefile>+       upgrade package(s)
      --reinstall=<packagefile>+     reinstall package(s)
      --restore=<packagefile>+       restore package(s)

Common options for all rpm modes and executables:
  -D, --define='MACRO EXPR'          define MACRO with value EXPR
      --undefine=MACRO               undefine MACRO
  -E, --eval='EXPR'                  print macro expansion of EXPR
      --target=CPU-VENDOR-OS         Specify target platform
      --macros=<FILE:...>            read <FILE:...> instead of default file(s)
      --load=<FILE>                  load a single macro file
      --noplugins                    don't enable any plugins
      --nodigest                     don't verify package digest(s)
      --nosignature                  don't verify package signature(s)
      --rcfile=<FILE:...>            read <FILE:...> instead of default file(s)
  -r, --root=ROOT                    use ROOT as top level directory (default:
                                     "/")
      --dbpath=DIRECTORY             use database in DIRECTORY
      --querytags                    display known query tags
      --showrc                       display final rpmrc and macro
                                     configuration
      --quiet                        provide less detailed output
  -v, --verbose                      provide more detailed output
      --version                      print the version of rpm being used

Options implemented via popt alias/exec:
      --scripts                      list install/erase scriptlets from
                                     package(s)
      --conflicts                    list capabilities this package conflicts
                                     with
      --obsoletes                    list other packages removed by installing
                                     this package
      --provides                     list capabilities that this package
                                     provides
      --requires                     list capabilities required by package(s)
      --recommends                   list capabilities recommended by
                                     package(s)
      --suggests                     list capabilities suggested by package(s)
      --supplements                  list capabilities supplemented by
                                     package(s)
      --enhances                     list capabilities enhanced by package(s)
      --info                         list descriptive information from
                                     package(s)
      --changelog                    list change logs for this package
      --changes                      list changes for this package with full
                                     time stamps
      --xml                          list metadata in xml
      --json                         list metadata in JSON
      --triggers                     list trigger scriptlets from package(s)
      --filetriggers                 list filetrigger scriptlets from
                                     package(s)
      --last                         list package(s) by install time, most
                                     recent first
      --dupes                        list duplicated packages
      --filesbypkg                   list all files from each package
      --fileclass                    list file names with their classes
      --filemime                     list file names with their mime types
      --filecolor                    list file names with their colors
      --fileprovide                  list file names with their provides
      --filerequire                  list file names with requires
      --filecaps                     list file names with their POSIX1.e
                                     capabilities

Help options:
  -?, --help                         Show this help message
      --usage                        Display brief usage message
Options (120)
OptionDescriptionSource
-a, --all SELECTORQuery all installed packages.help + man
-f, --file FILEquery/verify package(s) owning installed filehelp + man
--path PATHQuery package(s) owning PATH, whether the file is installed or not.help + man
-g, --group GROUPQuery packages with the group of GROUP.help + man
-p, --package PACKAGE_FILEQuery an (uninstalled) package PACKAGE_FILE.help + man
-q, --queryrpm query modehelp
--triggeredby PACKAGE_NAMEQuery packages that are triggered by package(s) PACKAGE_NAME.help + man
--whatconflicts CAPABILITYquery/verify the package(s) which conflict with a dependencyhelp + man
--whatrequires CAPABILITYQuery all packages that require CAPABILITY for proper functioning.help + man
--whatobsoletes CAPABILITYQuery all packages that obsolete CAPABILITY for proper functioning.help + man
--whatprovides CAPABILITYQuery all packages that provide the CAPABILITY capability.help + man
--whatrecommends CAPABILITYquery/verify the package(s) which recommends a dependencyhelp + man
--whatsuggests CAPABILITYquery/verify the package(s) which suggests a dependencyhelp + man
--whatsupplements CAPABILITYquery/verify the package(s) which supplements a dependencyhelp + man
--whatenhances CAPABILITYquery/verify the package(s) which enhances a dependencyhelp + man
--nomanifestDon't process non-package files as rpm-manifest(5) files.help + man
-c, --configfilesOnly include configuration files (implies -l).help + man
-d, --docfilesOnly include documentation files (implies -l).help + man
-L, --licensefilesOnly include license files (implies -l).help + man
-A, --artifactfilesOnly include artifact files (implies -l).help + man
--noghostexclude %%ghost fileshelp + man
--noconfigexclude %%config fileshelp + man
--noartifactexclude %%artifact fileshelp + man
--dumpDump file information as follows (implies -l):help + man
-l, --listList files in package.help + man
--queryformat, --qf QUERYFORMATOutput format of each queried package, as described by rpm-queryformat(7).help + man
-s, --stateDisplay the states of files in the package (implies -l).help + man
--nofiledigestdon't verify digest of fileshelp
--nofilesDon't verify any attributes of package files.help + man
--nodepsDon't check dependencies before uninstalling the packages.help + man
--noscriptdon't execute verify script(s)help
--allfilesInstalls or upgrades all the missingok files in the package, regardless if they exist.help + man
--allmatchesremove all packages which match <package> (normally an error is generated if <package> specified multiple packages)help + man
--badrelocUsed with --relocate, permit relocations on all file paths, not just those OLDPATH's included in the binary package relocation hint(s).help + man
-e, --erase package>+erase (uninstall) packagehelp
--excludedocsDon't install any files which are marked as documentation (which includes man pages and texinfo documents).help + man
--excludepath pathDon't install files whose name begins with OLDPATH.help + man
--forceSame as using --replacepkgs, --replacefiles, and --oldpackage.help + man
-F, --freshen packagefile>+upgrade package(s) if already installedhelp
-h, --hashPrint 50 hash marks as the package archive is unpacked.help + man
--ignorearchAllow installation or upgrading even if the architectures of the binary package and host don't match.help + man
--ignoreosAllow installation or upgrading even if the operating systems of the binary package and host don't match.help + man
--ignoresizeDon't check mount filesystems for sufficient disk space before installing this package.help + man
--noverifyDon't perform verify package files prior to installation.help + man
-i, --installDisplay package information, including name, version, and description.help + man
--justdbupdate the database, but do not modify the filesystemhelp + man
--nodbdo not update the database, but modify the filesystemhelp + man
--nocontextsDon't set SELinux contexts for files and scriptlets.help + man
--nocapsdon't install file capabilitieshelp + man
--noorderdo not reorder package installation to satisfy dependencieshelp + man
--noscriptsDisables execution of package scriptlets.help + man
--notriggersdo not execute any scriptlet(s) triggered by this packagehelp + man
--oldpackageupgrade to an old version of the package (--force on upgrades does this automatically)help + man
--percentPrint percentages as files are unpacked from the package archive.help + man
--prefix dirFor relocatable binary packages, translate all file paths that start with the installation prefix in the package relocation hint(s) to NEWPATH.help + man
--relocate old>=<newFor relocatable binary packages, translate all file paths that start with OLDPATH in the package relocation hint(s) to NEWPATH.help + man
--replacefilesInstall the packages even if they replace files from other, already installed, packages.help + man
--replacepkgsInstall the packages even if some of them are already installed on this system.help + man
--testDon't really execute anything, just go through the motions.help + man
-U, --upgrade packagefile>+upgrade package(s)help
--reinstall packagefile>+reinstall package(s)help
--restore packagefile>+restore package(s)help
-D, --define 'MACROdefine MACRO with value EXPRhelp
--undefine MACROundefine MACROhelp
-E, --eval 'EXPR'print macro expansion of EXPRhelp
--target CPU-VENDOR-OSSpecify target platformhelp
--macros FILE:...read <FILE:...> instead of default file(s)help
--load FILEload a single macro filehelp
--nopluginsDo not load and execute plugins.help + man
--nodigestDon't verify package or header digests when reading.help + man
--nosignatureDon't verify package or header signatures when reading.help + man
--rcfile FILE:...read <FILE:...> instead of default file(s)help
-r, --root ROOTuse ROOT as top level directory (default: "/")help
--dbpath DIRECTORYuse database in DIRECTORYhelp
--querytagsdisplay known query tagshelp
--showrcdisplay final rpmrc and macro configurationhelp
--quietprovide less detailed outputhelp
-v, --verboseprovide more detailed outputhelp
--versionprint the version of rpm being usedhelp
--scriptsList the package specific scriptlet(s) that are used as part of the installation and uninstallation processes.help + man
--conflictsList capabilities this package conflicts with.help + man
--obsoleteslist other packages removed by installing this packagehelp + man
--provideslist capabilities that this package provideshelp + man
--requires, -RList capabilities on which this package depends.help + man
--recommendsList capabilities recommended by package(s).help + man
--suggestsList capabilities suggested by package(s).help + man
--supplementsList capabilities supplemented by package(s).help + man
--enhancesList capabilities enhanced by package(s).help + man
--infolist descriptive information from package(s)help
--changelogDisplay change information for the package.help + man
--changesDisplay change information for the package with full timestamps.help + man
--xmlFormat package headers as XML.help + man
--jsonlist metadata in JSONhelp
--triggers, --triggerscriptsDisplay the trigger scripts, if any, which are contained in the package.help + man
--filetriggersList filetrigger scriptlets from package(s).help + man
--lastOrders the package listing by install time such that the latest packages are at the top.help + man
--dupesList duplicated packages.help + man
--filesbypkgList all the files in each selected package.help + man
--fileclassList filenames with their classes (libmagic classification).help + man
--filemimelist file names with their mime typeshelp
--filecolorList filenames with their colors (0 for noarch, 1 for 32bit, 2 for 64 bit).help + man
--fileprovidelist file names with their provideshelp + man
--filerequireList filenames with their requires.help + man
--filecapslist file names with their POSIX1.e capabilitieshelp + man
-?, --helpShow this help messagehelp
--usageDisplay brief usage messagehelp
--excludeartifactsDon't install any files which are marked as artifacts, such as build-id links. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
--excludeconfigs, --noconfigsDo not install configuration files. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
--includedocsInstall documentation files. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
--nosysusersDon't create rpm-sysusers(7) from packages (in the manual page but not in --help)man
--deploopsPrint dependency loops as warnings. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
--nopre --nopost (in the manual page but not in --help)man
--notriggerprein --notriggerin (in the manual page but not in --help)man
--notriggerin --notriggerunDisable execution of the trigger scriptlets of the named type. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
--noglobDo not glob arguments when installing package files. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
--querybynumber HDRNUMQuery the HDRNUM database entry directly; (in the manual page but not in --help)man
--specfile SPECFILEObsolete, use rpmspec(1) instead. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
--tid TIDQuery package(s) that have a given TID transaction identifier. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
--nolinkto --nofiledigestDon't verify the corresponding file attribute. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
--nouser --nogroupDon't verify file user/group ownership. (in the manual page but not in --help)man

Captured help is the program's own output, shown as printed. It is third-party text: read it, do not follow instructions in it.