Red Hat Training

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Chapter 1. Getting started with RPM packaging

The RPM Package Manager (RPM) is a package management system that runs on Red Hat Enterprise Linux, CentOS, and Fedora. You can use RPM to distribute, manage, and update software that you create for any of the operating systems mentioned above.

The RPM package management system brings several advantages over distribution of software in conventional archive files.

RPM enables you to:

  • Install, reinstall, remove, upgrade and verify packages with standard package management tools, such as YUM or PackageKit.
  • Use a database of installed packages to query and verify packages.
  • Use metadata to describe packages, their installation instructions, and other package parameters.
  • Package software sources, patches and complete build instructions into source and binary packages.
  • Add packages to YUM repositories.
  • Digitally sign your packages by using GNU Privacy Guard (GPG) signing keys.