Chapter 8. Removing RHEL 9 content

In the following sections, learn how to remove content in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 by using DNF.

8.1. Removing installed packages

You can use DNF to remove a single package or multiple packages installed on your system. If any of the packages you choose to remove have unused dependencies, DNF uninstalls these dependencies as well.

Procedure

  • Remove particular packages: 

    # dnf remove <package_name_1> <package_name_2> ...

8.2. Removing package groups

Package groups bundle multiple packages. You can use package groups to remove all packages assigned to a group in a single step.

Procedure

  • Remove package groups by the group name or group ID: 

    # dnf group remove <group_name> <group_id>

8.3. Removing installed modular content

When removing installed modular content, you can remove packages from either a selected profile or the whole stream.

Important

DNF tries to remove all packages with a name corresponding to the packages installed with a profile or a stream, including their dependent packages. Always check the list of packages to be removed before you proceed, especially if you have enabled custom repositories on your system.

8.3.1. Removing packages from an installed profile

When you remove packages installed with a profile, all packages with a name corresponding to the packages installed by the profile are removed. This includes their dependencies, with the exception of packages required by a different profile.

To remove all packages from a selected stream, complete the steps in Removing all packages from a module stream.

Prerequisites

  • The selected profile is installed by using the dnf module install <module-name:stream/profile> command or as a default profile by using the dnf install <module-name:stream command>.

Procedure

  • Uninstall packages that belong to the selected profile: 

    # dnf module remove <module-name:stream/profile>

    For example, to remove packages and their dependencies from the development profile of the nodejs:18 module stream, enter: 

    # dnf module remove nodejs:18/development
(...)
Dependencies resolved.
========================================================================
Package          Architecture   Version
  Repository       Size
========================================================================
Removing:
nodejs-devel     x86_64         1:18.7.0-1.module+el9.1.0+16284+4fdefb2f
  @rhel-AppStream  950 k
Removing unused dependencies:
brotli           x86_64         1.0.9-6.el9
  @rhel-AppStream  754 k
brotli-devel     x86_64         1.0.9-6.el9
  @rhel-AppStream  55 k
...
Disabling module profiles:
nodejs/development

Transaction Summary
========================================================================
Remove  26 Packages

Freed space: 8.3 M
Is this ok [y/N]: y
    Warning

    Check the list of packages under Removing: and Removing unused dependencies: before you proceed with the removal transaction. This transaction removes requested packages, unused dependencies, and dependent packages, which might result in the system failure.

    Alternatively, uninstall packages from all installed profiles within a stream: 

    # dnf module remove module-name:stream
    Note

    These operations will not remove packages from the stream that do not belong to any of the profiles.

Verification

  • Verify that the correct profile was removed: 

    $ dnf module info nodejs
...
Name             : nodejs
Stream           : 18 [e] [a]
Version          : 9010020221009220316
Context          : rhel9
Architecture     : x86_64
Profiles         : common [d] [i], development, minimal [i], s2i [i]
Default profiles : common
Repo             : rhel-AppStream
Summary          : Javascript runtime
...
Hint: [d]efault, [e]nabled, [x]disabled, [i]nstalled, [a]ctive

    All profiles except development are currently installed ([i]).

Additional resources

8.3.2. Removing all packages from a module stream

When you remove packages installed with a module stream, all packages with a name corresponding to the packages installed by the stream are removed. This includes their dependencies, with the exception of packages required by other modules.

To remove only packages from a selected profile, complete the steps in Removing packages from an installed profile.

Prerequisites

  • The module stream is enabled and at least some packages from the stream have been installed.

Procedure

  1. Remove all packages from a selected stream: 

    # dnf module remove --all <module_name:stream>

    For example, to remove all packages from the nodejs:18 module stream, enter: 

    # dnf module remove --all nodejs:18
(...)
Dependencies resolved.
===================================================================================
Package          Architecture   Version
  Repository       Size
===================================================================================
Removing:
nodejs           x86_64         1:18.10.0-3.module+el9.1.0+16866+0fab0697
  @rhel-AppStream  43 M
nodejs-devel     x86_64         1:18.10.0-3.module+el9.1.0+16866+0fab0697
  @rhel-AppStream  953 k
nodejs-docs      noarch         1:18.10.0-3.module+el9.1.0+16866+0fab0697
  @rhel-AppStream  78 M
nodejs-full-i18n x86_64         1:18.10.0-3.module+el9.1.0+16866+0fab0697
  @rhel-AppStream  29 M
nodejs-nodemon   noarch         2.0.15-1.module+el9.1.0+15718+e52ec601
  @rhel-AppStream  2.0 M
nodejs-packaging noarch         2021.06-4.module+el9.1.0+15718+e52ec601
  @rhel-AppStream  41 k
npm              x86_64         1:8.19.2-1.18.10.0.3.module+el9.1.0+16866+0fab0697
  @rhel-AppStream  6.9 M
Removing unused dependencies:
brotli           x86_64         1.0.9-6.el9
  @rhel-AppStream  754 k
brotli-devel     x86_64         1.0.9-6.el9
  @rhel-AppStream  55 k
...
Disabling module profiles:
nodejs/common
nodejs/development
nodejs/minimal
nodejs/s2i


Transaction Summary
===================================================================================
Remove  31 Packages

Freed space: 167 M
Is this ok [y/N]: y
    Warning

    Check the list of packages under Removing: and Removing unused dependencies: before you proceed with the removal transaction. This transaction removes requested packages, unused dependencies, and dependent packages, which might result in the system failure.

  2. Optional: Reset or disable the stream by entering one of the following commands: 

    # dnf module reset <module_name>
# dnf module disable <module_name>

Verification

  • Verify that all packages from the selected module stream were removed: 

    $ dnf module info nodejs
...
Name             : nodejs
Stream           : 18 [e] [a]
Version          : 9010020221009220316
Context          : rhel9
Architecture     : x86_64
Profiles         : common [d], development, minimal, s2i
Default profiles : common
...
Hint: [d]efault, [e]nabled, [x]disabled, [i]nstalled, [a]ctive

Additional resources

8.4. Additional resources