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Chapter 6. Updating RHEL 8 content

With the {PackageManager} software management tool, you can check for available package updates and install them selectively. You can update individual packages, multiple packages, or all packages simultaneously. {PackageManager} automatically handles dependency resolution, ensuring that any required dependencies are also updated.

Tip

You can manage software updates in the RHEL web console, which provides a graphical interface for {PackageManager}.

6.1. Checking for updates
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To identify which packages installed on your system have available updates, you can list them.

Procedure

  • Check the available updates for installed packages: 

    # yum check-update

    The output returns the list of packages and their dependencies that have an update available.

6.2. Updating packages
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You can use YUM to update a single package or all packages and their dependencies at once.

Important

When applying updates to kernel, YUM always installs a new kernel regardless of whether you are using the yum update or yum install command. Note that this only applies to packages identified by using the installonlypkgs YUM configuration option. Such packages include, for example, the kernel, kernel-core, and kernel-modules packages.

  • Depending on your scenario, use one of the following options to apply updates:

    • To update all packages and their dependencies, enter: 

      # yum update

    • To update a single package, enter: 

      # yum update <package_name>
Important

If you upgraded the GRUB boot loader packages on a BIOS or IBM Power system, reinstall GRUB. See Reinstalling GRUB.

6.3. Updating package groups
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Package groups bundle multiple packages, and you can use package groups to update all packages assigned to a group in a single step.

Procedure

  • Update packages from a specific package group: 

    # yum group update <group_name>
Important

If you upgraded the GRUB boot loader packages on a BIOS or IBM Power system, reinstall GRUB. See Reinstalling GRUB.

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