Debian/Ubuntu Package management Using dpkg
Posted by Admin on November 23rd, 2006
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Now we will see all the available commands for dpkg with examples
1)Install a package
Syntax
dpkg -i <.deb file name>
Example
dpkg -i avg71flm_r28-1_i386.deb
2)Install all packages recursively from a directory
Syntax
dpkg -R
Example
dpkg -R /usr/local/src
3)Unpack the package, but don’t configure it.
Syntax
dpkg --unpack package_file
If you use -R option is specified, package_file must refer to a directory instead.
Example
dpkg --unpack avg71flm_r28-1_i386.deb
4)Reconfigure an unpacked package
Syntax
dpkg --configure package
If -a is given instead of package, all unpacked but uncon-figured packages are configured.
Example
dpkg --configure avg71flm_r28-1_i386.deb
5)Remove an installed package except configuration files
Syntax
dpkg -r
Example
dpkg -r avg71flm_r28-1_i386.deb
6)Remove an installed package including configuration files
Syntax
dpkg -P
If you use -a is given instead of a package name, then all packages unpacked, but marked to be removed or purged in file /var/lib/dpkg/status, are removed or purged, respectively.
Example
dpkg -P avg71flm
7)Replace available packages info
Syntax
dpkg --update-avail <Packages-file>
With this option old information is replaced with the information in the Packages-file.
8)Merge with info from file
Syntax
dpkg --merge-avail <Packages-file>
With this option old informa-tion is combined with information from Packages-file.
The Packages-file distributed with Debian is simply named Packages.dpkg keeps its record of available packages in /var/lib/dpkg/available.
9)Update dpkg and dselect’s idea of which packages are available with information from the package pack-age_file.
Syntax
dpkg -A package_file
10)Forget about uninstalled unavailable packages.
Syntax
dpkg --forget-old-unavail
11)Erase the existing information about what packages are available.
Syntax
dpkg --clear-avail
12)Searches for packages that have been installed only partially on your system.
Syntax
dpkg -C
13)Compare Package versions version numbers
Syntax
dpkg --compare-versions ver1 op ver2
14)Display a brief help message.
Syntax
dpkg --help
15)Display dpkg licence.
Syntax
dpkg --licence (or) dpkg --license
16)Display dpkg version information.
Syntax
dpkg --version
17)Build a deb package.
Syntax
dpkg -b directory [filename]
18)List contents of a deb package.
Syntax
dpkg -c filename
19)Show information about a package.
Syntax
dpkg -I filename [control-file]
20)List packages matching given pattern.
Syntax
dpkg -l package-name-pattern
Example
dpkg -l vim
21)List all installed packages, along with package version and short description
Syntax
dpkg -l
22)Report status of specified package.
Syntax
dpkg -s package-name
Example
dpkg -s ssh
23)List files installed to your system from package.
Syntax
dpkg -L package-Name
Example
dpkg -L apache2
24)Search for a filename from installed packages.
Syntax
dpkg -S filename-search-pattern
Example
dpkg -S /sbin/ifconfig
25)Display details about package
Syntax
dpkg -p package-name
Example
dpkg -p cacti
If you want more information about dpkg and available options check dpkg man page
If you are looking for GUI for dpkg check dselect
April 20th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
OK, how do I find out when a package was installed on my machine? Or if I want to sort my packages by install date?
Thanks,
Chip
April 24th, 2007 at 11:25 am
Please refer to aptitude i.s.o. dselect as being the text-based tool on top of dpkg.
April 28th, 2007 at 11:14 am
dpkg-query
should do it -l|–list lists all Packages in ur /var/lib/dpkg/list, but purged
May 1st, 2007 at 5:25 pm
This is great. Thanks.
May 15th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Is it possible to upgrade installed package with something like dpkg upgrade ? (without apt-get)
February 13th, 2009 at 6:32 am
OK, how do I find out when a package was installed on my machine? Or if I want to sort my packages by install date?
Thanks,
Chip
ls -tl /var/lib/dpkg/info/ | less
March 15th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Awesome!
Good and useful stuff you got here!
Thanx!