How does rpm command differ between distributions?

The rpm command is a package management tool used primarily in Red Hat-based distributions of Linux, such as Fedora, CentOS, and RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux). While the basic functionality of rpm is consistent across these distributions, there may be variations in how packages are managed, dependencies are handled, and how the command interacts with the overall system.

For instance:

  • In Fedora, rpm might integrate with dnf for more advanced package management tasks, providing a layer of abstraction and additional features.
  • In CentOS, which follows a more stable release cycle, the rpm command might be used primarily for local package installation and querying.
  • RHEL often uses the rpm command in conjunction with subscription management tools that help manage software repositories and updates.

Here’s an example of how to install a package using the rpm command:

rpm -ivh package-name.rpm

rpm command Linux distributions package management Red Hat Fedora CentOS RHEL