15.2.2. Installing
RPM packages typically have file names like
foo-1.0-1.i386.rpm. The file name includes the package name (foo), version (1.0), release (1), and architecture (i386). To install a package, log in as root and type the following command at a shell prompt:
rpm -Uvh foo-1.0-1.i386.rpm
If installation is successful, the following output is displayed:
Preparing... ########################################### [100%] 1:foo ########################################### [100%]
As you can see, RPM prints out the name of the package and then prints a succession of hash marks as the package is installed as a progress meter.
The signature of a package is checked automatically when installing or upgrading a package. The signature confirms that the package was signed by an authorized party. For example, if the verification of the signature fails, an error message such as the following is displayed:
error: V3 DSA signature: BAD, key ID 0352860f
If it is a new, header-only, signature, an error message such as the following is displayed:
error: Header V3 DSA signature: BAD, key ID 0352860f
If you do not have the appropriate key installed to verify the signature, the message contains the word
NOKEY such as:
warning: V3 DSA signature: NOKEY, key ID 0352860f
Refer to Section 15.3, “Checking a Package's Signature” for more information on checking a package's signature.
Warning
If you are installing a kernel package, you should use
rpm -ivh instead. Refer to Chapter 36, Manually Upgrading the Kernel for details.
Installing packages is designed to be simple, but you may sometimes see errors.
15.2.2.1. Package Already Installed
If the package of the same version is already installed, the following is displayed:
Preparing... ########################################### [100%] package foo-1.0-1 is already installed
If the same version you are trying to install is already installed, and you want to install the package anyway, you can use the
--replacepkgs option, which tells RPM to ignore the error:
rpm -ivh --replacepkgs foo-1.0-1.i386.rpm
This option is helpful if files installed from the RPM were deleted or if you want the original configuration files from the RPM to be installed.
