Maximum RPM: Taking the RPM Package Manager to the Limit
Table 5-1. rpm -q Command Syntax
rpm -q (or --query) options
Package Selection Options
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pkg1 … pkgN
Query installed package(s)
the Section called The Package Label
-p <file>(or "-")
Query package file <file> (URLs OK)
the Section called -p <file> — Query a Specific RPM Package
File
-f <file>
Query package owning <file>
the Section called -f <file> — Query the Package Owning
<file>
-a
Query all installed packages
the Section called -a — Query All Installed Packages
--whatprovides <x>
Query packages providing capability <x>
the Section called --whatprovides <x>: Query the Packages That
Provide Capability
<x>
-g <group>
Query packages belonging to group <group>
the Section called -g <group>: Query Packages Belonging To Group
<group>
--whatrequires <x>
Query packages requiring capability <x>
the Section called --whatrequires <x>: Query the Packages That
Require Capability
<x>
Information Selection Options
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<null>
Display full package label
the Section called The Package Label
-i
Display summary package information
the Section called -i — Display Package Information
-l
Display list of files in package
the Section called -l — Display the Package's File List
-c
Display list of configuration files
the Section called -c — Display the Package's List of Configuration Files
-d
Display list of documentation files
the Section called -d — Display a List of the Package's Documentation
-s
Display list of files in package, with state
the Section called -s — Display the State of Each File in the Package
--scripts
Display install, uninstall, verify scripts
the Section called --scripts — Show Scripts Associated With a Package
--queryformat (or --qf)
Display queried data in custom format
the Section called --queryformat — Construct a Custom Query Response
--dump
Display all verifiable information for each file
the Section called --dump: Display All Verifiable Information for Each File
--provides
Display capabilities package provides
the Section called --provides: Display Capabilities Provided by the Package
--requires (or -R)
Display capabilities package requires
the Section called --requires: Display Capabilities Required by the Package
General Options
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-v
Display additional information
the Section called -v — Display Additional Information
-vv
Display debugging information
the Section called Getting a lot more information with -vv
--root <path>
Set alternate root to <path>
the Section called --root <path>: Use <path> As An
Alternate Root
--rcfile <rcfile>
Set alternate rpmrc file to <rcfile>
the Section called --rcfile <rcfile>: Use <rcfile> As An
Alternate rpmrc
File
--dbpath <path>
Use <path> to find the RPM database
the Section called --dbpath <path>: Use <path> To Find RPM
Database
One of the nice things about using RPM is that the packages you manage don't end up going into some kind of black hole. Nothing would be worse than to install, upgrade, and erase several different packages and not have a clue as to what's on your system. In fact, RPM's query function can help you get out of sticky situations like:
-
You're poking around your system, and you come across a file that you just can't identify. Where did it come from?
-
Your friend sends you a package file, and you have no idea what the package does, what it installs, or where it originally came from.
-
You know that you installed XFree86 a couple months ago, but you don't know what version, and you can't find any documentation on it.
The list could go on, but you get the idea. The rpm -q command is what you need. If you're the kind of person that doesn't like to have more options than you know what to do with, rpm -q might look imposing. But fear not. Once you have a handle on the basic structure of an RPM query, it'll be a piece of cake.