How to Install Software with yum

YUM (Yellowdog Updater Modified) is a package management utility for RPM (Red Hat Package Manager)-based Linux distributions. It simplifies the process of installing, updating, and managing software packages on systems like CentOS and Fedora. This tutorial will guide you through using yum to install software effectively.

1. Installing YUM (if necessary)

Most CentOS and RHEL distributions come with YUM pre-installed. You can check if it is installed by typing:

yum --version

If it’s not installed, you might need to install it using RPM. However, it should be available on most systems by default.

2. Updating Package List

Before installing new software, it’s a good practice to update your package list to ensure you have the latest information about available packages. Open a terminal and run:

sudo yum update

This command refreshes your package repository information.

3. Installing a Software Package

To install a software package, use the following command syntax:

sudo yum install package_name

For example, to install httpd (Apache web server), you would run:

sudo yum install httpd

This command will resolve dependencies, download the package, and install it on your system.

4. Installing Multiple Packages

You can install multiple packages simultaneously by providing the package names separated by spaces:

sudo yum install package1 package2 package3

5. Removing a Software Package

If you need to uninstall software, you can use the remove command:

sudo yum remove package_name

For example, to remove the httpd package:

sudo yum remove httpd

6. Searching for Packages

If you are uncertain about the exact name of the package you want to install, you can search for it using:

yum search search_term

This will display a list of packages with matching names or descriptions.

7. Checking for Installed Packages

To list all installed packages, you can run:

yum list installed

This will give you an overview of all packages currently installed on your system.

8. Conclusion

By following this tutorial, you have learned how to efficiently install and manage software using the yum package manager in Linux. Regular package management is essential for maintaining system performance and security. Continue to explore additional options within yum to enhance your system administration skills!

About the Author

Dorian Kane

Author

View All Posts