Why reverse dependencies does not work with rpm command?

Solution Verified - Updated -

Environment

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Issue

  • While checking the package dependencies for one package, it works well as below :-
Raw
This is just an example

#  rpm -qR httpd
It displays the list of dependencies as below:-

/bin/bash 
/bin/sh 
/bin/sh 
/bin/sh 
/bin/sh 
/bin/sh 
/etc/mime.types 
/usr/sbin/useradd 
apr-util-ldap 
chkconfig 
config(httpd) = 2.2.15-29.el6_4
httpd-tools = 2.2.15-29.el6_4
initscripts >= 8.36
libapr-1.so.0()(64bit) 
libaprutil-1.so.0()(64bit) 
libc.so.6()(64bit) 
libc.so.6(GLIBC_2.2.5)(64bit) 
libc.so.6(GLIBC_2.3)(64bit) 
libc.so.6(GLIBC_2.3.4)(64bit) 
libc.so.6(GLIBC_2.4)(64bit) 
libcrypt.so.1()(64bit) 
libdb-4.7.so()(64bit) 
libexpat.so.1()(64bit) 
liblber-2.4.so.2()(64bit) 
libldap-2.4.so.2()(64bit) 
libm.so.6()(64bit) 
libpcre.so.0()(64bit) 
libpthread.so.0()(64bit) 
libpthread.so.0(GLIBC_2.2.5)(64bit) 
libselinux.so.1()(64bit) 
libz.so.1()(64bit) 
rpmlib(CompressedFileNames) <= 3.0.4-1
rpmlib(FileDigests) <= 4.6.0-1
rpmlib(PayloadFilesHavePrefix) <= 4.0-1
rpmlib(VersionedDependencies) <= 3.0.3-1
rtld(GNU_HASH) 
system-logos >= 7.92.1-1
rpmlib(PayloadIsXz) <= 5.2-1
  • However, checking it in a reverse manner, by picking up any package listed above in the 'dependency list' with 'whatrequires', it gives the following output :-
Raw
# rpm -q --whatrequires libldap
no package requires libldap
# rpm -q --whatrequires rpmlib
no package requires rpmlib
# rpm -q --whatrequires libz

Resolution

  • Check what should be the correct name to be passed in provides syntax for a .so file as mentioned in the following example :-
Raw
# rpm -q --provides libXfont
libXfont.so.1()(64bit)  
libXfont = 1.2.2-1.0.4.el5_7
  • Specify the exact provides syntax for .so file as mentioned in the following example :-
Raw
# rpm -q --whatrequires 'libXfont.so.1()(64bit)
libXfont-1.2.2-1.0.4.el5_7
xorg-x11-font-utils-7.1-3
xorg-x11-xfs-1.0.2-5.el5_6.1
xorg-x11-server-Xvfb-1.1.1-48.101.el5_10.1

Root Cause

  • .so files are not rpms. Providing just a rpm name dose not work here, provide the arch detials as well, as mentioned in resolution.
  • Component
  • rpm

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