Using yum and dnf for Package Management

Package management is an essential aspect of maintaining a Linux system. In Red Hat-based distributions like CentOS and Fedora, two popular package managers are yum and dnf. In this tutorial, we will explore how to use yum and dnf for package management.

Introduction to yum

yum (Yellowdog Updater, Modified) is a package manager that was used in older versions of Red Hat-based distributions. It has now been replaced by dnf in newer versions, but yum is still available for backwards compatibility. Yum is a command-line tool that allows users to install, update, and remove packages.

Basic yum Commands

Here are some basic yum commands that you can use:

• yum install [package_name]: Installs a package
• yum update [package_name]: Updates a package
• yum remove [package_name]: Removes a package
• yum search [keyword]: Searches for a package

Introduction to dnf

dnf (Dandified Yum) is the next-generation package manager for Red Hat-based distributions. It is the default package manager in CentOS 8 and Fedora. dnf is more advanced than yum and offers better performance and dependency resolution.

Basic dnf Commands

Here are some basic dnf commands that you can use:

• dnf install [package_name]: Installs a package
• dnf update [package_name]: Updates a package
• dnf remove [package_name]: Removes a package
• dnf search [keyword]: Searches for a package

Key Differences Between yum and dnf

While yum and dnf have similar commands and functionalities, there are some key differences between the two:

• dnf performs automatic dependency resolution, while with yum, you may have to manually resolve dependencies
• dnf uses a more modern and efficient underlying library called libsolv
• dnf provides better performance and speed compared to yum

Using yum and dnf Together

Since dnf is the default package manager in newer Red Hat-based distributions, it is recommended to use dnf for package management. However, if you are more familiar with yum or are working on an older system, you can still use yum alongside dnf.

To install a package using yum, you can simply run:

yum install [package_name]

Similarly, to install a package using dnf, you can run:

dnf install [package_name]

Conclusion

In conclusion, yum and dnf are powerful package managers for Red Hat-based distributions. While dnf is the newer and more advanced option, yum is still available for backwards compatibility. By understanding how to use yum and dnf for package management, you can effectively manage software on your Linux system.