YUM Command in Linux with Examples

To remove a package

[root@linuxhelp ~]# yum remove firefox 

Here, it will remove the Firefox package with all their dependencies at a time. As seen before, -y option can be used for avoiding every time confirmations.

To update a package

This yum command is used to update the version of specifying package.

Example

[root@linuxhelp ~]# yum update firefox 
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, refresh-packagekit, security
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * base: ftp.iitm.ac.in
 * extras: ftp.iitm.ac.in
 * updates: ftp.iitm.ac.in
Setting up Upgrade Process
Resolving Dependencies
There are unfinished transactions remaining. You might consider running yum-complete-transaction first to finish them.
-->  Running transaction check
--->  Package firefox.x86_64 0:10.0.12-1.el6.centos will be obsoleted
--->  Package firefox.x86_64 0:10.0.12-1.el6.centos will be updated
--->  Package firefox.x86_64 0:38.6.1-1.el6.centos will be obsoleting
-->  Running transaction check
--->  Package libvpx.x86_64 0:0.9.0-8.el6_0 will be updated
-->  Processing Dependency: libvpx.so.0()(64bit) for package: gstreamer-plugins-bad-free-0.10.19-2.el6.x86_64
--->  Package libvpx.x86_64 0:1.3.0-5.el6_5 will be an update
--->  Package nss.x86_64 0:3.14.0.0-12.el6 will be updated
-->  Processing Dependency: libcrypto.so.10(libcrypto.so.10)(64bit) for package: gstreamer-plugins-bad-free-0.10.19-3.el6_5.x86_64
--->  Package nss-softokn.x86_64 0:3.12.9-11.el6 will be updated
--->  Package nss-softokn.x86_64 0:3.14.3-23.el6_7 will be an update
-->  Processing Dependency: nss-softokn-freebl(x86-64) > = 3.14.3-23.el6_7 for package: nss-softokn-3.14.3-23.el6_7.x86_64
--->  Package nss-sysinit.x86_64 0:3.14.0.0-12.el6 will be updated
--->  Package nss-sysinit.x86_64 0:3.19.1-8.el6_7 will be an update
--->  Package nss-tools.x86_64 0:3.19.1-8.el6_7 will be an update
-->  Running transaction check
--->  Package nss-softokn-freebl.x86_64 0:3.12.9-11.el6 will be updated
--->  Package nss-softokn-freebl.x86_64 0:3.14.3-23.el6_7 will be an update
--->  Package openssl.x86_64 0:1.0.0-27.el6 will be updated

Dependencies Resolved

================================================================================
 Package                      Arch     Version                  Repository
                                                                           Size
================================================================================
Installing:
 firefox                      x86_64   38.6.1-1.el6.centos      updates    70 M
     replacing  firefox.x86_64 10.0.12-1.el6.centos
Updating for dependencies:
 gstreamer-plugins-bad-free   x86_64   0.10.19-3.el6_5          base      836 k
 libvpx                       x86_64   1.3.0-5.el6_5            base      486 k
 nss                          x86_64   3.19.1-8.el6_7           updates   857 k
 nss-softokn                  x86_64   3.14.3-23.el6_7          updates   262 k
 nss-softokn-freebl           x86_64   3.14.3-23.el6_7          updates   167 k
 nss-sysinit                  x86_64   3.19.1-8.el6_7           updates    46 k
 nss-tools                    x86_64   3.19.1-8.el6_7           updates   434 k
 openssl                      x86_64   1.0.1e-42.el6_7.2        updates   1.5 M

Transaction Summary
================================================================================
Install       1 Package(s)
Upgrade       8 Package(s)

Total size: 74 M
.
.
.
.
Dependency Updated:
  gstreamer-plugins-bad-free.x86_64 0:0.10.19-3.el6_5         libvpx.x86_64 0:1.3.0-5.el6_5                       nss.x86_64 0:3.19.1-8.el6_7                
  nss-softokn.x86_64 0:3.14.3-23.el6_7                        nss-softokn-freebl.x86_64 0:3.14.3-23.el6_7         nss-sysinit.x86_64 0:3.19.1-8.el6_7        
  nss-tools.x86_64 0:3.19.1-8.el6_7                           openssl.x86_64 0:1.0.1e-42.el6_7.2                 

Replaced:
  firefox.x86_64 0:10.0.12-1.el6.centos                                                                                                                      
Complete!

If the Firefox package is outdated and it needs to be updated to latest stable version, just run the command with ' update' option.

To list the available packages

Example

[root@linuxhelp ~]# yum list tigervnc 
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, refresh-packagekit, security
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * base: ftp.iitm.ac.in
 * extras: ftp.iitm.ac.in
 * updates: ftp.iitm.ac.in
Installed Packages
tigervnc.x86_64                    1.1.0-16.el6.centos                     @base

With this command, the available packages are listed that belongs to ‘ tigervnc’ . To search more accurate, define the package name with their version. While listing the package it will also intimate whether it is installed or not in our system.

To search a package

If the exact name of the package is not known, then search option is used. For example, in ' tigervnc' you remember only ' vnc' just type vnc and search in command.

Example

[root@linuxhelp ~]# yum search vnc 
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, refresh-packagekit, security
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * base: ftp.iitm.ac.in
 * extras: ftp.iitm.ac.in
 * updates: ftp.iitm.ac.in
================================ N/S Matched: tigervnc ==========================================
tigervnc.x86_64 : A TigerVNC remote display system
tigervnc-server.x86_64 : A TigerVNC server
tigervnc-server-applet.noarch : Java TigerVNC viewer applet for TigerVNC server
tigervnc-server-module.x86_64 : TigerVNC module to Xorg
Name and summary matches only, use " search all"  for everything.

Here, it shows the available packages named as fox. From there you can select the required package.

To get the information of a package

Example

[root@linuxhelp ~]# yum info tigervnc 
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, refresh-packagekit, security
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * base: ftp.iitm.ac.in
 * extras: ftp.iitm.ac.in
 * updates: ftp.iitm.ac.in
Installed Packages
Name        : tigervnc
Arch        : x86_64
Version     : 1.1.0
Release     : 16.el6.centos
Size        : 439 k
Repo        : installed
From repo   : base
Summary     : A TigerVNC remote display system
URL         : http://www.tigervnc.com
License     : GPLv2+
Description : Virtual Network Computing (VNC) is a remote display system which
            : allows you to view a computing ' desktop'  environment not only on the
            : machine where it is running, but from anywhere on the Internet and
            : from a wide variety of machine architectures.  This package contains a
            : client which will allow you to connect to other desktops running a VNC
            : server.

It returns the information of the ‘ tigervnc’ package.

Available packages

To list all available packages in Yum database,

Example

[root@linuxhelp ~]# yum list 
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, refresh-packagekit, security
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * base: ftp.iitm.ac.in
 * extras: ftp.iitm.ac.in
 * updates: ftp.iitm.ac.in
Installed Packages
ConsoleKit.x86_64                       0.4.1-3.el6                      @anaconda-CentOS-201303020151.x86_64/6.4
ConsoleKit-libs.x86_64                  0.4.1-3.el6                      @anaconda-CentOS-201303020151.x86_64/6.4
ConsoleKit-x11.x86_64                   0.4.1-3.el6                      @anaconda-CentOS-201303020151.x86_64/6.4
DeviceKit-power.x86_64                  014-3.el6                        @anaconda-CentOS-201303020151.x86_64/6.4
.
.
.
zlib-static.x86_64                      1.2.3-29.el6                     base   
zsh.x86_64                              4.3.11-4.el6.centos.1            updates
zsh-html.x86_64                         4.3.11-4.el6.centos.1            updates

Installed packages

To list all installed packages in system,

Example

[root@linuxhelp ~]# yum list installed 
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, refresh-packagekit, security
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * base: ftp.iitm.ac.in
 * extras: ftp.iitm.ac.in
 * updates: ftp.iitm.ac.in
Installed Packages
ConsoleKit.x86_64       0.4.1-3.el6     @anaconda-CentOS-201303020151.x86_64/6.4
ConsoleKit-libs.x86_64  0.4.1-3.el6     @anaconda-CentOS-201303020151.x86_64/6.4
ConsoleKit-x11.x86_64   0.4.1-3.el6     @anaconda-CentOS-201303020151.x86_64/6.4
DeviceKit-power.x86_64  014-3.el6       @anaconda-CentOS-201303020151.x86_64/6.4
.
.
.
zd1211-firmware.noarch  1.4-4.el6       @anaconda-CentOS-201303020151.x86_64/6.4
zenity.x86_64           2.28.0-1.el6    @anaconda-CentOS-201303020151.x86_64/6.4
zip.x86_64              3.0-1.el6       @anaconda-CentOS-201303020151.x86_64/6.4
zlib.x86_64             1.2.3-29.el6    @anaconda-CentOS-201303020151.x86_64/6.4

Options

' Provides' function is used to find which package specific file is belonging to.
For example, if you want to know name of the package that has ' /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf'

Example

[root@linuxhelp ~]# yum provides /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf 
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, refresh-packagekit, security
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * base: ftp.iitm.ac.in
 * extras: ftp.iitm.ac.in
 * updates: ftp.iitm.ac.in
httpd-2.2.15-47.el6.centos.3.x86_64 : Apache HTTP Server
Repo        : updates
Matched from:
Filename    : /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf
.
.
.
httpd-2.2.15-26.el6.centos.x86_64 : Apache HTTP Server
Repo        : installed
Matched from:
Other       : Provides-match: /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf

Enabled Yum repositories

To list all enabled Yum repositories in your system,

Example

[root@linuxhelp ~]# yum repolist 
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, refresh-packagekit, security
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
* base: ftp.iitm.ac.in
* extras: ftp.iitm.ac.in
* updates: ftp.iitm.ac.in
repo id repo name status
base CentOS-6 - Base 6,575
extras CentOS-6 - Extras 50
updates CentOS-6 - Updates 1,231
repolist: 7,856

To list all enabled as well as disabled repositories on the system

It will display all the repositories in the system either it is enabled or disabled.

Example

[root@linuxhelp ~]# yum repolist all 
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, refresh-packagekit, security
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
* base: ftp.iitm.ac.in
* extras: ftp.iitm.ac.in
* updates: ftp.iitm.ac.in
repo id repo name status
C6.0-base CentOS-6.0 - Base disabled
C6.0-centosplus CentOS-6.0 - CentOSPlus disabled
C6.0-contrib CentOS-6.0 - Contrib disabled
.
.
.
C6.3-updates CentOS-6.3 - Updates disabled
base CentOS-6 - Base enabled: 6,575
c6-media CentOS-6 - Media disabled
centosplus CentOS-6 - Plus disabled
contrib CentOS-6 - Contrib disabled
debug CentOS-6 - Debuginfo disabled
extras CentOS-6 - Extras enabled: 50
updates CentOS-6 - Updates enabled: 1,231
repolist: 7,856

To check for available update

Using this command we can check for the latest update is available or not. If a latest update is available it will show the particular package.

Example

[root@linuxhelp ~]#yum check-update 
ModemManager.x86_64 0.4.0-5.git20100628.el6 base
NetworkManager.x86_64 1:0.8.1-99.el6 base
NetworkManager-glib.x86_64 1:0.8.1-99.el6 base
Net
.
.
.
libreoffice-presenter-screen.x86_64 1:3.4.5.2-16.1.el6_3 @anaconda-CentOS-201303020151.x86_64/6.4
sssd-common.x86_64 1.12.4-47.el6_7.7 updates
libsss_autofs.x86_64 1.9.2-82.el6 @anaconda-CentOS-201303

To list all available Group Packages

It will list all the available grouped packages.

Example

[root@linuxhelp ~]#yum grouplist 
Installed Groups:
Additional Development
Base
Debugging Tools
Desktop
Desktop Debugging and Performance Tools
Desktop Platform
.
.
.
Xhosa Support [xh]
Zulu Support [zu]
Done

To install a group packages

If you are known with the group packages, then you can install it using group install option.

Example

[root@linuxhelp ~]#yum groupinstall ' Load Balancer'  
Dependencies Resolved

================================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
================================================================================
Installing:
ipvsadm x86_64 1.26-4.el6 base 42 k
piranha x86_64 0.8.6-4.el6_5.2 base 624 k
Installing for dependencies:
php x86_64 5.3.3-46.el6_7.1 updates 1.1 M
php-cli x86_64 5.3.3-46.el6_7.1 updates 2.2 M
php-common x86_64 5.3.3-46.el6_7.1 updates 529 k

Transaction Summary
================================================================================
Install 5 Package(s)

Total download size: 4.5 M
Installed size: 18 M
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Downloading Packages:
(1/5): ipvsadm-1.26-4.el6.x86_64.rpm | 42 kB 00:00
(2/5): php-5.3.3-46.el6_7.1.x86_64.rpm | 1.1 MB 00:03
(3/5): php-cli-5.3.3-46.el6_7.1.x86_64.rpm | 2.2 MB 00:19
(4/5): php-common-5.3.3-46.el6_7.1.x86_64.rpm | 529 kB 00:01
(5/5): piranha-0.8.6-4.el6_5.2.x86_64.rpm | 624 kB 00:01
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 159 kB/s | 4.5 MB 00:28
.
.
.

Verifying : piranha-0.8.6-4.el6_5.2.x86_64 1/5
Verifying : ipvsadm-1.26-4.el6.x86_64 2/5
Verifying : php-cli-5.3.3-46.el6_7.1.x86_64 3/5
Verifying : php-5.3.3-46.el6_7.1.x86_64 4/5
Verifying : php-common-5.3.3-46.el6_7.1.x86_64 5/5

Installed:
ipvsadm.x86_64 0:1.26-4.el6 piranha.x86_64 0:0.8.6-4.el6_5.2

Dependency Installed:
php.x86_64 0:5.3.3-46.el6_7.1 php-cli.x86_64 0:5.3.3-46.el6_7.1
php-common.x86_64 0:5.3.3-46.el6_7.1

Complete!

To remove a group packages

Example

[root@linuxhelp ~]#yum groupremove ' Load Balancer'  

Dependencies Resolved

===============================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
===============================================================================
Removing:
ipvsadm x86_64 1.26-4.el6 @base 78 k
piranha x86_64 0.8.6-4.el6_5.2 @base 5.0 M

Transaction Summary
===============================================================================
Remove 2 Package(s)

Installed size: 5.1 M
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Downloading Packages:
Running rpm_check_debug
Running Transaction Test
Transaction Test Succeeded
Running Transaction
Erasing : piranha-0.8.6-4.el6_5.2.x86_64 1/2
Erasing : ipvsadm-1.26-4.el6.x86_64 2/2
Verifying : piranha-0.8.6-4.el6_5.2.x86_64 1/2
Verifying : ipvsadm-1.26-4.el6.x86_64 2/2

Removed:
ipvsadm.x86_64 0:1.26-4.el6 piranha.x86_64 0:0.8.6-4.el6_5.2

Complete!

To update system kernel

To update the all security and binary packages,

[root@linuxhelp ~]# yum update 

Yum cache

By default yum keeps the repository enabled package data in /var/cache/yum/ with each sub-directory. To clean all cached files from enabled repository.

Example

[root@linuxhelp ~]# yum clean all 
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, refresh-packagekit, security
Cleaning repos: base extras updates
Cleaning up Everything
Cleaning up list of fastest mirrors

To view history of yum

Example

[root@linuxhelp ~]#yum history 
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, refresh-packagekit, security
ID | Login user | Date and time | Action(s) | Altered
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 | root | 2016-02-27 19:58 | Erase | 2
5 | root | 2016-02-27 19:51 | Install | 5
4 | root | 2016-02-27 18:45 | O, U | 10
3 | root | 2016-02-27 18:25 | Install | 1 PP
2 | root | 2016-02-27 18:17 | I, O, U | 137 **
1 | System | 2015-12-24 05:12 | Install | 1089
history list

To update group Package

Example

[root@linuxhelp Desktop]# yum groupupdate ' perl support' 
Loaded plugins: auto-update-debuginfo, fastestmirror, protectbase, refresh-packagekit, security
Setting up Group Process
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * base: mirror.dhakacom.com
 * epel: download.ispsystem.com
 * epel-debuginfo: kartolo.sby.datautama.net.id
 * extras: mirror.dhakacom.com
 * ispsystem-base: download.ispsystem.com
 * ispsystem-stable5: download.ispsystem.com
 * rpmforge: apt.sw.be
.
.
.
Dependency Installed:
  perl-Archive-Extract.x86_64 1:0.38-141.el6_7.1     perl-CPAN.x86_64 0:1.9402-141.el6_7.1                   
  perl-CPANPLUS.x86_64 0:0.88-141.el6_7.1            perl-Compress-Raw-Bzip2.x86_64 0:2.052-1.el6.rf         
  perl-DBD-SQLite.x86_64 0:1.27-3.el6                perl-DBIx-Simple.noarch 0:1.32-3.el6                    
  perl-ExtUtils-CBuilder.x86_64 1:0.27-141.el6_7.1   perl-ExtUtils-Embed.x86_64 0:1.28-141.el6_7.1           
  perl-File-Fetch.x86_64 0:0.26-141.el6_7.1          perl-IO-Compress-Bzip2.x86_64 0:2.021- 
  perl-libxml-perl.noarch 0:0.08-10.el6              perl-parent.x86_64 1:0.221-141.el6_7.1                  

Complete!

[root@linuxhelp Desktop]# yum shell
Loaded plugins: auto-update-debuginfo, fastestmirror, protectbase, refresh-packagekit, security
Setting up Yum Shell
>  info squid
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * base: mirror.dhakacom.com
 * epel: download.ispsystem.com
 * epel-debuginfo: kartolo.sby.datautama.net.id
 .
.
.
Installed Packages
Name        : squid
Arch        : x86_64
Epoch       : 7
Version     : 3.1.23
Release     : 9.el6
Size        : 6.3 M
Repo        : installed
From repo   : base
Summary     : The Squid proxy caching server
URL         : http://www.squid-cache.org
License     : GPLv2 and (LGPLv2+ and Public Domain)
Description : Squid is a high-performance proxy caching server for Web clients,
            : supporting FTP, gopher, and HTTP data objects. Unlike traditional
            : caching software, Squid handles all requests in a single,
            : non-blocking, I/O-driven process. Squid keeps meta data and especially
            : hot objects cached in RAM, caches DNS lookups, supports non-blocking
            : DNS lookups, and implements negative caching of failed requests.
            : 
            : Squid consists of a main server program squid, a Domain Name System
            : lookup program (dnsserver), a program for retrieving FTP data
            : (ftpget), and some management and client tools.

[root@linuxhelp Desktop]# yum --enablerepo=epel install phpmyadmin 
Loaded plugins: auto-update-debuginfo, fastestmirror, protectbase, refresh-packagekit, security
Setting up Install Process
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * base: mirror.dhakacom.com
 * epel: download.ispsystem.com
 * epel-debuginfo: kartolo.sby.datautama.net.id
.
.
Dependency Installed:
  coremanager-pkg-php.x86_64 0:5.50.0-9.el6             ispmanager-pkg-httpd-itk-cl.x86_64 0:5.50.0-2.el6    
  ispmanager-pkg-php.x86_64 0:5.50.0-2.el6              mod_rpaf.x86_64 0:0.8.2-1.el6                        
  mod_ssl.x86_64 2:2.2.15-47.el6.vm                     mysql-libs.x86_64 0:5.1.73-5.el6_7.1                 
  php.x86_64 0:5.3.3-46.el6_7.1                         php-bcmath.x86_64 0:5.3.3-46.el6_7.1                 
  php-cli.x86_64 0:5.3.3-46.el6_7.1                     php-common.x86_64 0:5.3.3-46.el6_7.1                 
  php-gd.x86_64 0:5.3.3-46.el6_7.1                      php-mbstring.x86_64 0:5.3.3-46.el6_7.1               
  php-mcrypt.x86_64 0:5.3.3-4.el6                       php-mysql.x86_64 0:5.3.3-46.el6_7.1                  
  
Complete!