Installing RPM Files
Novell Cool Solutions: Trench
By Scott M. Morris
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Posted: 9 Feb 2005 |
If you have downloaded an RPM, it's very simple to install. I'd like to run through two different ways to do this. I'm going to assume that you have already downloaded the RPM file.
Installing an RPM in KDE
Let's start with installing an RPM file in KDE. First, browse to where the RPM is located. For me, this will usually be my desktop. Right-click the RPM file. From the menu that appears, select ACTIONS, and then INSTALL WITH YAST:
After you do this, a small window appears, asking for the root password. Go ahead and type that in. When done, click OK:
The YAST installation window appears, and installs the RPM:
When it's done installing, it writes out the configuration files:
After a bit, the procedure finishes up, and the YAST window closes. Congratulations, your software is installed.
Installing an RPM From the Commandline
You can use this method in either KDE or Gnome. Drop to a terminal. Change to where the RPM file is. Run the 'su' command to become superuser. Type in the root password. Run the 'rpm -i <packagename>' command. This process is demonstrated below:
[2355][smorris@linux:~]> cd Desktop/ [2355][smorris@linux:~/Desktop]> su Password: linux:/home/smorris/Desktop> rpm -i torcs-1.2.2-3.1.i586.rpm linux:/home/smorris/Desktop> |
Excellent, your software is installed.
Conclusion
These are a couple of quick ways to install an RPM once you've downloaded it. The first way works only in KDE. The second works in either KDE or Gnome. Both will get the job done.
Reader Comments
- This article gave just enough info to get a new convert from Windows into trouble. Some important information was left out of this article. I think there are too many variables to do this topic justice in a brief article. For example, what if the user already has the program installed and just needs to update the program? What if the program the user wants to install or update is not available for SuSE? BEFORE installing or updating any program, the type of package available needs to be addressed. Packaged programs are typically available as 1 or all of the 5 following formats: 1)an rpm made for the SuSE Linux release the user has, 2)an rpm made for an older SuSE Linux release than the user has, 3)a non-SuSE package (RedHat, Mandrake, or Debian are the most common), 4)a new autopackage rpm (non distro specific), and 5)an rpm of the source code ONLY. What Scott wrote was technically correct, but irresponsibly incomplete.
- That's all I needed ! A real rookies' help
- Exactly what I was looking for!
- Nice tip but it's just sad that you need a tutorial to install applications via the GUI in Linux. On Windows and Mac, double-click the install icon. On Linux follow this five step process or hop to the friendly CLI and type an arcane command. Yup Linux will overtake the desktop any day now.
- Thanks! Was looking for how to install from the CLI, got what I needed !!! On Suse 10.2, a doubleclick does it (after you have proven that you are allowed to ...)! Good thing ! Would not want to let everyone install spyware and trojans whithout my knowledge .......
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