How To Install RPM Packages on Ubuntu 22.04 with Easy Steps

In this guide, we want to teach you How To Install RPM Packages on Ubuntu 22.04. RPM stands for Red Hat Package Manager. RPM is a powerful Package Manager for Red Hat, SUSE, and Fedora Linux. It can be used to build, install, query, verify, update, and remove/erase individual software packages. A Package consists of an archive of files and package information, including name, version, and description. This article explores How To Install RPM Packages on Ubuntu 22.04.

You can now proceed to the guide steps below on the Orcacore website to install RPM packages on Ubuntu by using the Alien tool.

To complete this guide for installing RPM packages with Alien on Ubuntu, you must log in to your server as a non-root user with sudo privileges. To do this, you can follow our guide on the Initial Server Setup with Ubuntu 22.04.

Now follow the steps below to complete the guide steps.

1. Install Alien command-line Tool on Ubuntu 22.04

Alien is a command-line tool that allows you to convert Debian packages to RPM packages, and vice versa. So you need to have it installed on your server.

First, update your local package index with the following command:

sudo apt update

Then, use the command below to install Alien on Ubuntu 22.04:

sudo apt install alien -y

Verify your Alien installation by checking its version:

alien --version

2. Convert RPM Packages with Alien on Ubuntu

At this point, you can use the alien tool to convert the RPM package you have.

Important Note: To use this tool, the RPM binary of the software must be on your system before converting it.

sudo alien <mark>software-package.rpm</mark>

For example, ZenMap GUI is not available in the Deb binary, only in the RPM one. To convert it, run the command below:

sudo alien zenmap-7.92-1.noarch.rpm

This will convert and save the RPM binary to a Debian one.

Install Debian Binary

At this point, you have the Debian binary for your RPM package on Ubuntu 22.04. Now, you can install the same using the given syntax:

sudo dpkg -i <mark>package.deb</mark>

For example:

sudo dpkg -i zenmap-7.92-2.noarch.deb

Alternatively, if you want to perform installation and conversion both at the same time, use the following syntax:

sudo alien -i <mark>your-package.rpm</mark>

Conclusion

Installing RPM packages on Ubuntu 22.04 is possible using tools like alien, which converts RPM files to DEB format. While Ubuntu is Debian-based and prefers .deb packages, this method allows you to use software distributed in RPM format when no DEB version is available. However, it’s best to use native packages or official repositories whenever possible to maintain system stability. This guide has demonstrated How To Install RPM Packages on Ubuntu 22.04 using the Alien tool.

Hope you enjoy this guide from the Basic Linux Tutorials.

You may also like to read the following articles:

Add Essential Software Repositories on Fedora Linux

RPM Package Management in RHEL

Use RPM Command in Linux

Use YUM and RPM Package Managers on AlmaLinux

FAQs

Alternative Solutions for Installing Software on Ubuntu 22.04

While the Alien tool provides a way to convert RPM packages to DEB for installation on Ubuntu, it’s not always the ideal solution due to potential compatibility issues and system instability. There are often better alternatives that offer a more reliable and maintainable approach to installing software on Ubuntu. Here are two such alternatives:

1. Using Snap Packages

Snap is a package management system developed by Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu. It provides a way to install applications in a containerized environment, meaning the application runs in isolation from the rest of the system. This significantly reduces the risk of dependency conflicts and system instability. Many software vendors now provide their applications as Snap packages, making it a convenient and safe way to install software, even if a native DEB package isn’t readily available.

Explanation:

Snap packages bundle the application and all its dependencies into a single, self-contained package. This eliminates the need to manually manage dependencies, as everything the application needs to run is included within the Snap. Snap packages are also automatically updated, ensuring you always have the latest version of the software with the latest security patches. Because Snaps are containerized, they can also offer enhanced security by limiting the application’s access to system resources.

How to use Snap:

First, make sure snapd (the Snap daemon) is installed. It should be pre-installed on Ubuntu 22.04, but you can verify and install it if needed:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install snapd

Then, to install a Snap package, you can use the snap install command. For example, to install the VLC media player as a Snap:

sudo snap install vlc

To find available Snap packages, you can use the snap find command. For example, to search for multimedia applications:

snap find multimedia

To update a Snap package:

sudo snap refresh vlc

To remove a Snap package:

sudo snap remove vlc

By leveraging Snap packages, you can avoid the complexities and potential risks associated with converting RPM packages. It’s a much cleaner and more maintainable solution for How To Install RPM Packages on Ubuntu 22.04, especially for end-user applications.

2. Using Flatpak

Flatpak is another popular universal package management system similar to Snap. It allows you to install applications from various sources in a sandboxed environment, providing a consistent experience across different Linux distributions. Like Snap, Flatpak addresses dependency issues and promotes application stability.

Explanation:

Flatpak packages, like Snap packages, contain all the dependencies required by the application. Flatpak also uses a sandboxing technology to isolate the application from the rest of the system, enhancing security. A key difference between Snap and Flatpak is the underlying technology and the ecosystem. Flatpak has a strong focus on desktop applications and is supported by a wide range of Linux distributions and desktop environments.

How to use Flatpak:

First, you need to install Flatpak and add the Flathub repository (a central repository for Flatpak packages):

sudo apt update
sudo apt install flatpak

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Then, to install a Flatpak package, you need to know its application ID. You can find this on the Flathub website (flathub.org). For example, to install the GIMP image editor:

flatpak install flathub org.gimp.GIMP

To run a Flatpak application:

flatpak run org.gimp.GIMP

To update Flatpak packages:

flatpak update

To remove a Flatpak package:

flatpak uninstall org.gimp.GIMP

Like Snap, Flatpak provides a robust and secure alternative to converting RPM packages. It is a very helpful way to How To Install RPM Packages on Ubuntu 22.04, especially for desktop applications with complex dependencies. Both Snap and Flatpak offer a future-proof approach to software management on Linux.