Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4: System Administration Guide
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Chapter 8. Package Management Tool
During installation, a default set of software packages are installed. Because people use
their computers differently, users might want to install or remove packages after
installation. The Package Management Tool allows users to perform these actions.
The X Window System is required to run the Package Management Tool. To start the
application, go to Applications (the main menu on the panel) => System Settings =>
Add/Remove Applications, or type the command system-config-packages at shell
prompt.
The same interface automatically appears when you insert the Red Hat Enterprise Linux
CD #1 into your computer.
Figure 8-1. Package Management Tool
The interface for this application is similar to the one used for individual package
selection during installation. Packages are divided into package groups, which contain a
list of standard packages and extra packages that share common functionality. For
example, the Graphical Internet group contains a Web browser, email client, and other
graphical programs used to connected to the Internet. The standard packages can not be
selected for removal unless the entire package group is removed. The extra packages are
optional packages that can be selected for installation or removal, as long as the package
group is selected.
The main window shows a list of package groups. If the package group has a checkmark
in the checkbox beside it, packages from that group are currently installed. To view the
individual packages list for a group, click the Details link beside it. Individual packages
with a checkmark beside them are currently installed.
8.1. Installing Packages
To install standard packages from a package group that is not currently installed, check
the checkbox beside that package group. To customize the packages to be installed within
a group, click the Details link beside it. The list of standard and extra packages is
displayed, as shown in Figure 8-2. Clicking on the package name displays the disk space
required to install the package at the bottom of the window. Checking the checkbox
beside the package name marks it for installation.
You can also select individual packages from already installed package groups by
clicking the Details link and checking any of the extra packages not already installed.
Figure 8-2. Individual Package Selection
After selecting package groups and individual packages to install, click the Update
button on the main window. Information such as the number of packages to be installed
and the amount of disk space required to install the packages, as well as any package
dependencies, is displayed in a summary window. If there are package dependencies,
they are automatically added to the list of packages to install. Click the Show Details
button to view the complete list of packages to be installed.
Figure 8-3. Package Installation Summary
Click Continue to start the installation process. When it is finished, an Update
Complete message appears.
Tip
If you use Nautilus to manage the files and directories on your computer, you can
also use it to install packages. In Nautilus, go to the directory that contains an RPM
package (they usually end in .rpm), and double-click on the RPM icon.
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Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4: System
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Chapter 8. Package
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8.2. Removing Packages
To remove all the packages installed within a package group, uncheck the
checkbox beside it. To remove individual packages, click the Details button beside
the package group and uncheck the individual packages.
When you are finished selecting packages to remove, click the Update button in the
main window. The application computes the amount of freed disk space as well as
the software package dependencies. If other packages depend on the packages you
selected to remove, they are automatically added to the list of packages to be
removed. Click the Show Details button to view the list of complete packages to be
removed.
Figure 8-4. Package Removal Summary
Click Continue to start the removal process. When it is finished, an Update
Complete message appears.
Tip
You can combine the installation and removal of packages by selecting
package groups/packages to be installed/removed and then clicking Update.
The Completed System Preparation window displays the number of
packages to be installed and removed.
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