DNF is the default package management system on most RPM-based Linux distributions now.
DNF downloads packages from repositories installs, uninstall, and updates packages. It performs automatic dependency resolution for packages you are installing, updating, or removing and installs all packages needed to fulfill dependency requirements.
On Fedora, it has been the default package manager since Fedora 22. On RHEL 8.x, it is now the default package manager.
DNF provides secure package management by enabling GPG signature verification on GPG signed packages. DNF will not install any package not signed with the correct key for that repository.
For backward compatibility, RHEL 8.x has a YUM command also, though it is a link to DNF.
Why DNF?
DNF or Dandified YUM is the next generation YUM. Compared to YUM, DNF has better memory utilization, improved dependency management, and the ability to run using both Python 2 & Python 3.
Package Management with DNF
You must have superuser privileges to use the DNF Command to install, update, or remove the package. Following is a set of DNF commands frequently used by sysadmins.
Searching a package
To search for a package installed or available across all repositories, use
$ sudo dnf search <em>package_name</em>For example to search for package Nmap:
$ sudo dnf search nmapLast metadata expiration check: 0:05:14 ago on Tue 02 Jun 2020 08:38:09 PM UTC.
==================================== Name Exactly Matched: nmap =====================================
nmap.x86_64 : Network exploration tool and security scanner
=================================== Name & Summary Matched: nmap ====================================
nmap-ncat.x86_64 : Nmap's Netcat replacementListing packages
To see a list of all installed and available packages:
$ sudo dnf list allInstalled Packages
GConf2.x86_64 3.2.6-22.el8 @rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms
NetworkManager.x86_64 1:1.22.8-4.el8 @anaconda
NetworkManager-libnm.x86_64 1:1.22.8-4.el8 @anaconda
NetworkManager-team.x86_64 1:1.22.8-4.el8 @anaconda
NetworkManager-tui.x86_64 1:1.22.8-4.el8
...To list all installed packages:
$ sudo dnf list installed
Installed Packages
NetworkManager.x86_64 1:1.22.8-4.el8 @anaconda
NetworkManager-libnm.x86_64 1:1.22.8-4.el8 @anaconda
NetworkManager-team.x86_64 1:1.22.8-4.el8 @anaconda
NetworkManager-tui.x86_64 1:1.22.8-4.el8 @anaconda
PackageKit.x86_64 1.1.12-4.el8 @AppStream
PackageKit-glib.x86_64 1.1.12-4.el8 @AppStream
WALinuxAgent.noarch 2.2.38-1.el8 @rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms
abattis-cantarell-fonts.noarch 0.0.25-4.el8 @AppStream
acl.x86_64 2.2.53-1.el8 @anaconda
... To list all available packages:
$ sudo dnf list availableLast metadata expiration check: 1:15:10 ago on Tue 02 Jun 2020 05:37:11 PM UTC.
Available Packages
CUnit.i686 2.1.3-17.el8 rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms
CUnit.x86_64 2.1.3-17.el8 rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms
CUnit-devel.i686 2.1.3-17.el8 rhui-codeready-builder-for-rhel-8-x86_64-rhui-rpms
CUnit-devel.x86_64 2.1.3-17.el8 rhui-codeready-builder-for-rhel-8-x86_64-rhui-rpms
...For example, to list all MySQL packages which are available:
$ sudo dnf list available "mysql*"Last metadata expiration check: 1:17:04 ago on Tue 02 Jun 2020 05:37:11 PM UTC.
Available Packages
mysql.x86_64 8.0.17-3.module+el8.0.0+3898+e09bb8de rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms
mysql-common.x86_64 8.0.17-3.module+el8.0.0+3898+e09bb8de rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms
mysql-devel.x86_64 8.0.17-3.module+el8.0.0+3898+e09bb8de rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms
mysql-errmsg.x86_64 8.0.17-3.module+el8.0.0+3898+e09bb8de rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms
mysql-libs.x86_64 8.0.17-3.module+el8.0.0+3898+e09bb8de rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms
mysql-server.x86_64 8.0.17-3.module+el8.0.0+3898+e09bb8de rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms
mysql-test.x86_64 8.0.17-3.module+el8.0.0+3898+e09bb8de rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpmsDisplaying package information
To display information about a package:
$ sudo dnf info <em>package_name
</em>For example, to display info about httpd server:
$ sudo dnf info httpd
Last metadata expiration check: 0:15:04 ago on Mon 01 Jun 2020 11:23:11 PM UTC.
Available Packages
Name : httpd
Version : 2.4.37
Release : 21.module+el8.2.0+5008+cca404a3
Architecture : x86_64
Size : 1.4 M
Source : httpd-2.4.37-21.module+el8.2.0+5008+cca404a3.src.rpm
Repository : rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms
Summary : Apache HTTP Server
URL : https://httpd.apache.org/
License : ASL 2.0
Description : The Apache HTTP Server is a powerful, efficient, and extensible
: web server.
Installing packages
Installing a single package
To install a single package and all its non-installed dependencies:
$ sudo dnf install package_nameFor example, to install Nginx:
$ sudo dnf install nginxDependencies resolved.
===========================================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
===========================================================================================
Installing:
nginx x86_64 1:1.14.1-9.module+el8.0.0+4108+af250afe
rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms 570 k
Installing dependencies:
gd x86_64 2.2.5-6.el8 rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms 144 k
jbigkit-libs x86_64 2.1-14.el8 rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms 55 k
..This will install Nginx and all its non-installed dependency requirements.
Installing multiple packages
You can also install multiple packages by adding package names to this command. For example, to install Nginx, PHP & MySQL-server, enter:
$ sudo dnf install nginx php mysql-serverDependencies resolved.
===========================================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
===========================================================================================
Installing:
mysql-server x86_64 8.0.17-3.module+el8.0.0+3898+e09bb8de
rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms 22 M
nginx x86_64 1:1.14.1-9.module+el8.0.0+4108+af250afe
rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms 570 k
php x86_64 7.2.24-1.module+el8.2.0+4601+7c76a223
rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms 1.5 M
Installing dependencies:
apr x86_64 1.6.3-9.el8 rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms 125 k
apr-util x86_64 1.6.1-6.el8 rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms 105 k
gd x86_64 2.2.5-6.el8 rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms 144 k
httpd x86_64 2.4.37-21.module+el8.2.0+5008+cca404a3
rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms 1.4 M
httpd-filesystem noarch 2.4.37-21.module+el8.2.0+5008+cca404a3
...Installing a package by its binary filename
If you know the name of the binary file to install, but not the package name, even that is enough to install the relevant package.
For example, if you enter:
$ sudo dnf install /usr/sbin/namedLast metadata expiration check: 1:21:25 ago on Tue 02 Jun 2020 05:37:11 PM UTC.
Dependencies resolved.
=====================================================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
=====================================================================================================
Installing:
bind x86_64 32:9.11.13-5.el8_2 rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms 2.1 M
Transaction Summary
=====================================================================================================
Install 1 Package
Total download size: 2.1 M
Installed size: 4.5 M
Is this ok [y/N]:DNF searches and finds the package which provides /usr/sbin/named and prompts you to install it.
Finding which package owns a file
If you know the filename and want to find which package provides it (installed or not), use:
$ sudo dnf provides <em>file_name</em>For example, to find which package provides named, the binary for DNS server use:
$ sudo dnf provides namedLast metadata expiration check: 1:27:30 ago on Mon 01 Jun 2020 11:23:11 PM UTC.
bind-32:9.11.4-16.P2.el8.x86_64 :
The Berkeley Internet Name Domain (BIND) DNS (Domain Name System) :
server Repo : rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms Matched from: Filename :
/usr/sbin/namedRemoving a package
To remove a package:
sudo dnf remove <em>package_name</em>But be careful, DNF is not able to remove a package without also removing packages which depend on it. To remove package nmap use:
$ sudo dnf remove nmap
Dependencies resolved.
=====================================================================================================
Package Architecture Version Repository Size
=====================================================================================================
Removing:
nmap x86_64 2:7.70-5.el8 @rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms 24 M
Transaction Summary
=====================================================================================================
Remove 1 Package
Freed space: 24 M
Is this ok [y/N]:Managing package groups
A package group is a collection of packages that are closely related and serve a common purpose. Installing a package group installs a set of packages, saving a lot of time.
List all package groups
To list all package groups:
$ sudo dnf group listAvailable Environment Groups:
Server with GUI
Server
Workstation
Custom Operating System
Virtualization Host
Installed Environment Groups:
Minimal Install
Installed Groups:
Security Tools
Container Management
Available Groups:
Legacy UNIX Compatibility
Development Tools
Scientific Support
.NET Core Development
Graphical Administration Tools
Headless Management
RPM Development Tools
Network Servers
System Tools
Smart Card SupportList all packages in a group
To list all packages in a group:
$ sudo dnf group info <em>package_name</em>For example, to view packages in the Security Tools group:
$ sudo dnf group info “security tools”
Group: Security Tools
Description: Security tools for integrity and trust verification.
Default Packages:
scap-security-guide
Optional Packages:
aide
hmaccalc
openscap
openscap-engine-sce
openscap-utils
scap-security-guide-doc
scap-workbench
tpm-quote-tools
tpm-tools
tpm2-tools
trousersInstalling a package group
Installing a group will install all packages in a group. To install a package group use:
sudo dnf group install <em>package_group_name</em>For example, to install the “Network Servers” group:
$ sudo dnf group install “Network Servers”
Last metadata expiration check: 1:40:14 ago on Wed 03 Jun 2020 05:53:11 PM UTC.
Dependencies resolved.
===========================================================================================
Package Architecture Version Repository Size
===========================================================================================
Installing Groups:
Network Servers
Transaction Summary
===========================================================================================
Is this ok [y/N]:Removing a package group
To remove a package group:
sudo dnf remove <em>package_name</em>So, to remove the “Security Tools” package group:
$ sudo dnf group remove "security tools"Dependencies resolved.
=====================================================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
=====================================================================================================
Removing:
scap-security-guide noarch 0.1.48-7.el8 @rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms 182 M
Removing unused dependencies:
GConf2 x86_64 3.2.6-22.el8 @rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms 6.3 M
libxslt x86_64 1.1.32-4.el8 @rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-baseos-rhui-rpms 734 k
openscap x86_64 1.3.2-6.el8 @rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms 58 M
openscap-scanner x86_64 1.3.2-6.el8 @rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-appstream-rhui-rpms 137 k
xml-common noarch 0.6.3-50.el8 @rhui-rhel-8-for-x86_64-baseos-rhui-rpms 78 k
Removing Groups:
Security Tools
Transaction Summary
=====================================================================================================
Remove 6 Packages
Freed space: 247 M
Is this ok [y/N]: Updating packages
Updating all packages
To update all packages and their dependencies you can use:
$ sudo dnf upgradeLast metadata expiration check: 1:09:31 ago on Tue 02 Jun 2020 08:38:09 PM UTC.
Dependencies resolved.
Nothing to do.
Complete!This installs all updates that can be installed. Both dnf upgrade and dnf update have the same effect, but dnf upgrade is preferred.
Updating a single package
To update a single package, run:
$ sudo dnf upgrade package_nameFor example, to update the python package:
$ sudo dnf upgrade python
Conclusion
Learning DNF can be rewarding as it is often the fastest way to perform system administration tasks. If interested in learning RHEL 8 then you may check out this Udemy course.
