RPM(8) System Manager's Manual RPM(8)

# [NAME](#NAME)

rpm - RPM Package Manager

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

## Querying and verifying packages

**rpm** {**-q**|**--query**} \[select-options] \[query-options] \[*PACKAGE\_FILE* ...] \[*PACKAGE\_NAME* ...]

**rpm** {**-V**|**--verify**} \[select-options] \[verify-options] \[*PACKAGE\_NAME* ...]

## Installing, upgrading and removing packages

**rpm** {**-i**|**--install**} \[transaction-options] \[install-options] *PACKAGE\_FILE* ...

**rpm** {**-U**|**--upgrade**} \[transaction-options] \[install-options] *PACKAGE\_FILE* ...

**rpm** {**-F**|**--freshen**} \[transaction-options] \[install-options] *PACKAGE\_FILE* ...

**rpm** **--reinstall** \[transaction-options] \[install-options] *PACKAGE\_FILE* ...

**rpm** **--restore** \[transaction-options] \[select-options] *PACKAGE\_NAME* ...

**rpm** {**-e**|**--erase**} \[transaction-options] \[erase-options] *PACKAGE\_NAME* ...

## Misc operations

**rpm** **--querytags**

See [**rpm-common**(8)](/man/os/rpm/rpm-common.8) for operations common to all rpm executables.

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

**rpm** is a powerful **Package Manager**, which can be used to build, install, query, verify, update, and erase individual software packages. A **package** consists of an archive of files and meta-data used to install and erase the archive files. The meta-data includes helper scripts, file attributes, and descriptive information about the package. **Packages** come in two varieties: binary packages, used to encapsulate software to be installed, and source packages, containing the source code and recipe necessary to produce binary packages.

# [OPERATIONS](#OPERATIONS)

## Querying and verifying packages

**-V**, **--verify**

Verify package(s), comparing information about the installed files in the package with information about the files taken from the package metadata stored in the **rpm** database. Among other things, verifying compares the size, digest, permissions, type, owner and group of each file. Any discrepancies are displayed.

**-q**, **--query**

Query package files or installed package(s).

## Installing, upgrading and removing packages

**-i**, **--install**

Install new package(s) without considering upgrade scenarios. This is considered special usage, normally installations should be done with **--upgrade**.

**-U**, **--upgrade**

Install or upgrade package(s) to a newer version. Old and/or obsoleted package(s) are removed after the new package is installed.

**-F**, **--freshen**

Upgrade package(s), but only ones for which an earlier version is installed.

**--reinstall**

Reinstall previously installed package(s).

**--restore**

Restore file metadata such as timestamp, owner, group, permissions and capabilities of files of installed package(s).

**-e**, **--erase**

Erase installed packages.

## Misc operations

**--querytags**

Dump known querytags. Useful with the **--queryformat** option.

## [Obsolete compatibility aliases](#Obsolete_compatibility_aliases)

These are obsolete [**popt**(3)](/man/os/rpm/popt.3) aliases for backwards compatibility only, and their use is discouraged.

**--initdb**, **--rebuilddb**, **--verifydb**

See [**rpmdb**(8)](/man/os/rpm/rpmdb.8).

**--addsign**, **--delsign**, **--resign**

See [**rpmsign**(1)](/man/os/rpm/rpmsign.1).

**-K**, **--checksig**, **--import**

See [**rpmkeys**(8)](/man/os/rpm/rpmkeys.8).

**--specfile**

See [**rpmspec**(1)](/man/os/rpm/rpmspec.1).

See [**rpm-common**(8)](/man/os/rpm/rpm-common.8) for the operations common to all rpm executables.

# [ARGUMENTS](#ARGUMENTS)

*PACKAGE\_FILE*

Either an **rpm** package or an [**rpm-manifest**(5)](/man/os/rpm/rpm-manifest.5) file. May also be specified as an **ftp** or **http** URL, in which case the package will be downloaded before being installed. See **FTP/HTTP OPTIONS** for information on **rpm**'s **ftp** and **http** client support.

*PACKAGE\_NAME*

Installed package named *PACKAGE\_NAME*. To specify the package more precisely the package name may be followed by the version or version and release both separated by a dash or an architecture name separated by a dot. See the output of **rpm -qa** or **rpm -qp** *PACKAGE\_FILE* as an example.

# [OPTIONS](#OPTIONS)

See [**rpm-common**(8)](/man/os/rpm/rpm-common.8) for the options common to all operations.

# [INSTALL AND UPGRADE OPTIONS](#INSTALL_AND_UPGRADE_OPTIONS)

**--allfiles**

Installs or upgrades all the **missingok** files in the package, regardless if they exist.

**--badreloc**

Used with **--relocate**, permit relocations on all file paths, not just those *OLDPATH*'s included in the binary package relocation hint(s).

**--excludepath** *OLDPATH*

Don't install files whose name begins with *OLDPATH*.

**--excludeartifacts**

Don't install any files which are marked as artifacts, such as build-id links.

**--excludeconfigs**, **--noconfigs**

Do not install configuration files.

**--excludedocs**

Don't install any files which are marked as documentation (which includes man pages and texinfo documents).

**--force**

Same as using **--replacepkgs**, **--replacefiles**, and **--oldpackage**.

**--ignoresize**

Don't check mount filesystems for sufficient disk space before installing this package.

**--ignorearch**

Allow installation or upgrading even if the architectures of the binary package and host don't match.

**--ignoreos**

Allow installation or upgrading even if the operating systems of the binary package and host don't match.

**--includedocs**

Install documentation files. This is the default behavior.

**--nocontexts**

Don't set SELinux contexts for files and scriptlets. Only effective if [**rpm-plugin-selinux**(8)](/man/os/rpm/rpm-plugin-selinux.8) is installed and active.

**--nocaps**

Don't set file capabilities.

**--noverify**

Don't perform verify package files prior to installation.

**--nosysusers**

Don't create [**rpm-sysusers**(7)](/man/os/rpm/rpm-sysusers.7) from packages

**--oldpackage**

Allow an upgrade to replace a newer package with an older one.

**--prefix** *NEWPATH*

For relocatable binary packages, translate all file paths that start with the installation prefix in the package relocation hint(s) to *NEWPATH*.

**--relocate** *OLDPATH*=*NEWPATH*

For relocatable binary packages, translate all file paths that start with *OLDPATH* in the package relocation hint(s) to *NEWPATH*. This option can be used repeatedly if several *OLDPATH*'s in the package are to be relocated.

**--replacefiles**

Install the packages even if they replace files from other, already installed, packages.

**--replacepkgs**

Install the packages even if some of them are already installed on this system.

# [ERASE OPTIONS](#ERASE_OPTIONS)

**--allmatches**

Remove all versions of the package which match *PACKAGE\_NAME*. Normally an error is issued if *PACKAGE\_NAME* matches multiple packages.

# [TRANSACTION OPTIONS](#TRANSACTION_OPTIONS)

The transaction options are common to **--install**, **--upgrade**, **--reinstall** and **--erase** operations.

**--deploops**

Print dependency loops as warnings.

**-h**, **--hash**

Print 50 hash marks as the package archive is unpacked. Use with **-v**|**--verbose** for a nicer display.

**--justdb**

Update only the database, not the filesystem.

**--nodb**

Update only the filesystem, not the database.

**--nodeps**

Don't check dependencies before uninstalling the packages.

**--noorder**

Don't reorder the packages for an install. The list of packages would normally be reordered to satisfy dependencies.

**--noplugins**

Do not load and execute plugins.

**--noscripts**

Disables execution of package scriptlets. Equivalent to

**--nopre** **--nopost** **--nopreun** **--nopostun** **--nopretrans** **--noposttrans** **--nopreuntrans** **--nopostuntrans**

**--nopre** **--nopost** **--nopreun** **--nopostun** **--nopretrans** **--noposttrans** **--nopreuntrans** **--nopostuntrans**

Don't execute the scriptlets of the named type.

**--notriggers**

Disable execution of package triggers. Equivalent to

**--notriggerprein** **--notriggerin** **--notriggerun** **--notriggerpostun**

**--notriggerin** **--notriggerun** **--notriggerprein** **--notriggerpostun**

Disable execution of the trigger scriptlets of the named type.

**--percent**

Print percentages as files are unpacked from the package archive. This is intended to make **rpm** easy to run from other tools.

**--test**

Don't really execute anything, just go through the motions. Useful in conjunction with the **-vv** option for debugging.

# [QUERY OPTIONS](#QUERY_OPTIONS)

**--qf** *QUERYFMT*, **--queryformat** *QUERYFMT*

Output format of each queried package, as described by [**rpm-queryformat**(7)](/man/os/rpm/rpm-queryformat.7). If omitted, uses the format defined by **%\_query\_all\_fmt** in [**rpm-config**(5)](/man/os/rpm/rpm-config.5).

There are three subsets of options for querying: package selection, file selection and information selection.

# [PACKAGE SELECTION OPTIONS](#PACKAGE_SELECTION_OPTIONS)

**-a**, **--all** \[*SELECTOR* ...]

Query all installed packages.

Optional *SELECTOR*'s in the form of tag=pattern can be provided to narrow the selection, for example name="b\*" to query packages whose name starts with "b".

**--dupes**

List duplicated packages.

**-f**, **--file** *FILE*

Query package owning installed *FILE*.

**--filecaps**

List filenames with POSIX1.e capabilities.

**--fileclass**

List filenames with their classes (libmagic classification).

**--filecolor**

List filenames with their colors (0 for noarch, 1 for 32bit, 2 for 64 bit).

**--fileprovide**

List filenames with their provides.

**--filerequire**

List filenames with their requires.

**-g**, **--group** *GROUP*

Query packages with the group of *GROUP*.

**--noglob**

Do not glob arguments when installing package files.

**--nomanifest**

Don't process non-package files as [**rpm-manifest**(5)](/man/os/rpm/rpm-manifest.5) files.

**-p**, **--package** *PACKAGE\_FILE*

Query an (uninstalled) package *PACKAGE\_FILE*.

**--path** *PATH*

Query package(s) owning *PATH*, whether the file is installed or not. Multiple packages may own a *PATH*, but the file is only owned by the package installed last.

**--querybynumber** *HDRNUM*

Query the *HDRNUM* database entry directly; this is useful only for debugging.

**--specfile** *SPECFILE*

Obsolete, use [**rpmspec**(1)](/man/os/rpm/rpmspec.1) instead.

**--tid** *TID*

Query package(s) that have a given *TID* transaction identifier. A UNIX timestamp is currently used as a transaction identifier. All package(s) installed or erased within a single transaction have a common identifier.

**--triggeredby** *PACKAGE\_NAME*

Query packages that are triggered by package(s) *PACKAGE\_NAME*.

**--whatobsoletes** *CAPABILITY*

Query all packages that obsolete *CAPABILITY* for proper functioning.

**--whatprovides** *CAPABILITY*

Query all packages that provide the *CAPABILITY* capability.

**--whatrequires** *CAPABILITY*

Query all packages that require *CAPABILITY* for proper functioning.

**--whatconflicts** *CAPABILITY*

Query all packages that conflict with *CAPABILITY*.

**--whatrecommends** *CAPABILITY*

Query all packages that recommend *CAPABILITY*.

**--whatsuggests** *CAPABILITY*

Query all packages that suggest *CAPABILITY*.

**--whatsupplements** *CAPABILITY*

Query all packages that supplement *CAPABILITY*.

**--whatenhances** *CAPABILITY*

Query all packages that enhance *CAPABILITY*.

# [PACKAGE QUERY OPTIONS](#PACKAGE_QUERY_OPTIONS)

**--changelog**

Display change information for the package.

**--changes**

Display change information for the package with full timestamps.

**--conflicts**

List capabilities this package conflicts with.

**--dump**

Dump file information as follows (implies **-l**):

path size mtime digest mode owner group isconfig isdoc rdev symlink

**--enhances**

List capabilities enhanced by package(s).

**--filesbypkg**

List all the files in each selected package.

**--filetriggers**

List filetrigger scriptlets from package(s).

**-i**, **--info**

Display package information, including name, version, and description. This uses the **--queryformat** if one was specified.

**--last**

Orders the package listing by install time such that the latest packages are at the top.

**-l**, **--list**

List files in package.

**--obsoletes**

List packages this package obsoletes.

**--provides**

List capabilities this package provides.

**--recommends**

List capabilities recommended by package(s).

**-R**, **--requires**

List capabilities on which this package depends.

**--suggests**

List capabilities suggested by package(s).

**--supplements**

List capabilities supplemented by package(s).

**--scripts**

List the package specific scriptlet(s) that are used as part of the installation and uninstallation processes.

**-s**, **--state**

Display the **states** of files in the package (implies **-l**). The state of each file is one of **normal**, **not installed**, or **replaced**.

**--triggers**, **--triggerscripts**

Display the trigger scripts, if any, which are contained in the package.

**--xml**

Format package headers as XML.

# [FILE SELECTION OPTIONS](#FILE_SELECTION_OPTIONS)

**-A**, **--artifactfiles**

Only include artifact files (implies **-l**).

**-c**, **--configfiles**

Only include configuration files (implies **-l**).

**-d**, **--docfiles**

Only include documentation files (implies **-l**).

**-L**, **--licensefiles**

Only include license files (implies **-l**).

**--noartifact**

Exclude artifact files.

**--noconfig**

Exclude config files.

**--noghost**

Exclude ghost files.

# [VERIFY OPTIONS](#VERIFY_OPTIONS)

The package and file selection options are the same as for package querying (including [**rpm-manifest**(5)](/man/os/rpm/rpm-manifest.5) files as arguments). Other options unique to verify mode are:

**--nodeps**

Don't verify dependencies of packages.

**--nodigest**

Don't verify package or header digests when reading.

**--nofiles**

Don't verify any attributes of package files.

**--noscripts**

Don't execute the **%verifyscript** scriptlet (if any).

**--nosignature**

Don't verify package or header signatures when reading.

**--nolinkto** **--nofiledigest** (formerly **--nomd5**) **--nosize** **--nomtime** **--nomode** **--nordev**

Don't verify the corresponding file attribute.

**--nouser** **--nogroup**

Don't verify file user/group ownership. Note that only local [**passwd**(5)](/man/os/rpm/passwd.5) and [**group**(5)](/man/os/rpm/group.5) databases are consulted.

**--nocaps**

Don't verify file capabilities.

# [OUTPUT](#OUTPUT)

**--verify**

The format of the output is a string of 9 *result* characters a possible *attribute* from the package, followed by the filename.

Each of the 9 characters denotes the result of a comparison of attribute(s) of the file to the value of those attribute(s) recorded in the database.

A single "**.**" (period) means the test passed, while a single "**?**" (question mark) indicates the test could not be performed (e.g. file permissions prevent reading). Otherwise, the (mnemonically em**B**oldened) character denotes failure of the corresponding **--verify** test:

**Result** **Description** **S** file **S**ize differs **M** **M**ode differs (includes permissions and file type) **5** digest (formerly MD**5** sum) differs **D** **D**evice major/minor number mismatch **L** read**L**[ink(2)](/man/os/rpm/ink.2) path mismatch **U** **U**ser ownership differs **G** **G**roup ownership differs **T** m**T**ime differs **P** ca**P**abilities differ

**Attribute** **Description** **a** **%artifact** - an implicit side-effect file (eg. build-id links) **c** **%config**uration file **d** **%doc**umentation file **g** **%ghost** file **l** **%license** file **m** **%missingok** - file missing is not a verify failure **n** %config(**noreplace**) - do not replace (a %config file) **r** **%readme** file **s** [**rpm-spec**(5)](/man/os/rpm/rpm-spec.5) file in a source package

# [EXIT STATUS](#EXIT_STATUS)

On success, 0 is returned, a nonzero failure code otherwise.

# [EXAMPLES](#EXAMPLES)

**rpm -Uvh hello-2.0-1.noarch.rpm**

Install or upgrade *hello-2.0-1.noarch.rpm* package with verbose output and progress meters. **-Uvh** is probably the most common of all the **rpm** operations.

**rpm -Uvh --excludedocs --root /srv/test mydist-23.mft**

Install packages described by the *mydist-23.mft* [**rpm-manifest**(5)](/man/os/rpm/rpm-manifest.5) file into the alternative system root at */srv/test*, excluding all documentation files.

**rpm -Fvh \*.rpm**

Freshen installed packages from a local directory, with verbose output and progress meters.

**rpm -i kernel-6.15.4-200.x86\_64.rpm**

Install *kernel-6.15.4-200.x86\_64.rpm* package quietly. On some Linux distributions, different kernel versions are intended to be installed in parallel like this, *without* erasing older ones to ensure there's a bootable kernel in case of problems. It's one of the few cases where **-i** is the right thing to use.

**rpm -evh --allmatches libhello**

Erase all versions of package **libhello** on the system, with verbose output and progress meters. Typically there is only one version of a package installed at a time, but in some cases it's possible to have different versions or different architectures of a package installed in parallel, in which case **--allmatches** can be handy.

**rpm -vh --reinstall hello-2.0-1.noarch.rpm**

Reinstall previously installed *hello-2.0-1.noarch.rpm* package, with verbose output and progress labels. Useful if eg. the files of a package get corrupted or erased accidentally.

**rpm -v --restore --all**

Restore permissions of files in all installed packages to their packaged specifications, with verbose output.

**rpm --verify --noconfig openssh-server**

Verify the integrity of the installed **openssh-server** package, ignoring changes in configuration.

**rpm -qa**

List all installed packages, using the default formatting.

**rpm -qlv --noartifact glibc**

List the files of the **glibc** package in style similar to [**ls**(1)](/man/os/rpm/ls.1) command output with **ls -l**, omitting "artifact" files such as build-id's which are not usually the main interest.

**rpm -q --qf "\[%{filenames} %{filedigests}\\n]" openssh-server**

List filenames and their corresponding digests of installed **openssh-server** package.

**rpm -qp --scripts --triggers --filetriggers myserver-1.0-1.x86\_64.rpm**

Show all scriptlets and triggers from the *myserver-1.0-1.x86\_64.rpm* package file. Before installing unknown packages, at least do this!

**rpm --target ppc64le --eval "%optflags"**

Print the expansion of the **%optflags** macro for the **ppc64le** architecture.

# [FILES](#FILES)

See [**rpm-common**(8)](/man/os/rpm/rpm-common.8), [**rpm-config**(5)](/man/os/rpm/rpm-config.5) and [**rpm-rpmrc**(5)](/man/os/rpm/rpm-rpmrc.5).

# [SEE ALSO](#SEE_ALSO)

[**rpm-common**(8)](/man/os/rpm/rpm-common.8), [**popt**(3)](/man/os/rpm/popt.3), [**rpm2cpio**(1)](/man/os/rpm/rpm2cpio.1), [**rpmbuild**(1)](/man/os/rpm/rpmbuild.1), [**rpmdb**(8)](/man/os/rpm/rpmdb.8), [**rpmkeys**(8)](/man/os/rpm/rpmkeys.8), [**rpmsign**(1)](/man/os/rpm/rpmsign.1), [**rpmspec**(1)](/man/os/rpm/rpmspec.1), [**rpm-queryformat**(7)](/man/os/rpm/rpm-queryformat.7) [**rpm-manifest**(5)](/man/os/rpm/rpm-manifest.5) [**rpm-version**(7)](/man/os/rpm/rpm-version.7) [**rpm-plugins**(8)](/man/os/rpm/rpm-plugins.8)

**rpm --help** - as **rpm** supports customizing the options via popt aliases it's impossible to guarantee that what's described in the manual matches what's available.

**http://www.rpm.org/**

2026-08-31 RPM 6.1.0

---

Document: rpm(8) from rpm 6.1.0-r1 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://github.com/rpm-software-management/rpm