Use RPM and YUM Package Management

Managing software on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) relies on YUM (Yellowdog Updater, Modified) or its successor, dnf. In this guide, you’ll learn how to register your system, configure repositories, and install, update, or remove packages. Most yum commands work identically with dnf; just replace yum with dnf where desired.

Note

If you prefer dnf over yum, you can use it interchangeably, for example:

sudo dnf install httpd

1. Registering with Red Hat Subscription Management

Before accessing Red Hat repositories, register and attach your system to a subscription.

sudo subscription-manager register \
  --username your-redhat-developer-username \
  --password your-redhat-password

Once registered, attach the system automatically:

sudo subscription-manager attach --auto

Warning

Ensure your subscription is active; expired subscriptions will prevent you from installing or updating packages.

2. Listing and Inspecting Repositories

A repository (repo) is a storage location—online or on your network—containing RPM packages, metadata, and signing keys.

2.1 View Enabled Repositories

sudo yum repolist

Sample output:

repo id                             repo name
rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rpms    Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 for x86_64 - AppStream (RPMs)
rhel-8-for-x86_64-baseos-rpms       Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 for x86_64 - BaseOS (RPMs)

2.2 View Repository Details

Add -v for verbose details, including each repo’s URL and configuration file:

sudo yum repolist -v

Key fields in the output:

Repo-baseurl: URL where YUM fetches packages
Repo-filename: Local file under /etc/yum.repos.d/

3. Enabling and Disabling Repositories

Some packages reside in optional or specialized repos.

3.1 List All Repositories

sudo yum repolist --all

3.2 Using Subscription Manager

Enable or disable by repo ID:

sudo subscription-manager repos --enable   rhel-8-for-x86_64-codeready-builder-rpms
sudo subscription-manager repos --disable  rhel-8-for-x86_64-codeready-builder-rpms

3.3 Using yum-config-manager

First, install yum-utils:

sudo yum install yum-utils

Then enable or disable:

sudo yum-config-manager --enable  some-repo-id
sudo yum-config-manager --disable some-repo-id

4. Adding a Custom Repository

To add a third-party or local repo:

sudo yum install yum-utils
sudo yum-config-manager --add-repo https://download.docker.com/linux/rhel/docker-ce.repo
# Or from a local network path
sudo yum-config-manager --add-repo http://192.168.1.220/BaseOS.repo

This creates a .repo file in /etc/yum.repos.d/. Verify it:

sudo yum repolist -v | grep Repo-filename

5. Understanding a `.repo` File

Open the Docker repo for inspection:

sudo vi /etc/yum.repos.d/docker-ce.repo

[docker-ce-stable]
name=Docker CE Stable - $basearch
baseurl=https://download.docker.com/linux/rhel/$releasever/$basearch/stable
enabled=1
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=https://download.docker.com/linux/rhel/gpg

Field	Description
`[repo-id]`	Unique identifier in brackets
`name=`	Human-readable repository name
`baseurl=`	URL to fetch packages
`enabled=`	`1` to enable, `0` to disable
`gpgcheck=`	`1` enforces GPG signature checking (recommended)
`gpgkey=`	URL or file path to the GPG public key

To completely remove a repository, delete its file:

sudo rm /etc/yum.repos.d/docker-ce.repo

6. Searching for Packages

If you’re unsure of the exact name, use yum search. Single terms match any, quotes require both terms.

# Matches "web" OR "server"
sudo yum search web server

# Matches packages containing both "web" AND "server"
sudo yum search 'web server'

Example result:

nginx.x86_64 : A high performance web server and reverse proxy server

7. Viewing Package Information

Inspect a package before installation:

sudo yum info nginx

Sample output:

Name        : nginx
Version     : 1.20.1
Release     : 1.el8
Architecture: x86_64
Summary     : High performance web server and reverse proxy
Description : NGINX is a web server and a reverse proxy server for HTTP, SMTP, POP3 and
              IMAP protocols with a focus on high concurrency, performance and low
              memory usage.

8. Installing, Reinstalling, and Removing Packages

Install a new package:

sudo yum install nginx

Reinstall (e.g., to restore missing config files):

sudo yum reinstall nginx

Remove a package and its dependencies:

sudo yum remove nginx

Clean up unneeded dependencies:

sudo yum autoremove

9. Managing Package Groups

YUM supports predefined groups (e.g., “Server with GUI”).

Command	Description
`sudo yum group list`	List available groups
`sudo yum group list --hidden`	Include hidden groups
`sudo yum group install 'Group Name'`	Install a specific group
`sudo yum group remove 'Group Name'`	Remove a specific group

Example:

sudo yum group install 'Server with GUI'

10. Installing from a Local RPM File

After downloading an RPM:

sudo wget https://download.nomachine.com/download/7.7/Linux/nomachine_7.7.4_1_x86_64.rpm
sudo yum install ./nomachine_7.7.4_1_x86_64.rpm

Remove it when no longer needed:

sudo yum remove nomachine

11. Updating and Upgrading Packages

Check for available updates:

sudo yum check-update

Apply all updates:

sudo yum update