With the help of YUM, RPM packages can be easily installed, uninstalled or listed. Queries about dependencies or searches for specific RPM packages are just as easy.

The commands and options provided by YUM can be displayed online with the help of “yum help“:

aix01 # yum help
Usage: yum [options] COMMAND

List of Commands:

check          Check for problems in the rpmdb
check-update   Check for available package updates
clean          Remove cached data
deplist        List a package's dependencies
distribution-synchronization Synchronize installed packages to the latest available versions
downgrade      downgrade a package
erase          Remove a package or packages from your system
groups         Display, or use, the groups information
help           Display a helpful usage message
history        Display, or use, the transaction history
info           Display details about a package or group of packages
install        Install a package or packages on your system
list           List a package or groups of packages
load-transaction load a saved transaction from filename
makecache      Generate the metadata cache
provides       Find what package provides the given value
reinstall      reinstall a package
repolist       Display the configured software repositories
resolvedep     Determine which package provides the given dependency
search         Search package details for the given string
shell          Run an interactive yum shell
update         Update a package or packages on your system
upgrade        Update packages taking obsoletes into account
version        Display a version for the machine and/or available repos.

Options:
  -h, --help            show this help message and exit
…
aix01 #

The syntax of the individual commands can also be displayed by simply entering the desired command name after the command “help“, e.g. “yum help update“.