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YUM/DNF: Red Hat Package Management

YUM and DNF manage packages on Red Hat systems. DNF is the new YUM.

Here's the thing: DNF is replacing YUM. Learn DNF. It's the future.

DNF: The Modern YUM​

Update Package List​

sudo dnf check-update              # Check for updates
sudo dnf update                    # Update all packages

My take: DNF is the new YUM. Use it on newer systems.

Install Packages​

sudo dnf install package-name
sudo dnf install package1 package2  # Multiple packages
sudo dnf install -y package-name   # Auto-confirm

Real examples:

sudo dnf install nginx
sudo dnf install httpd mysql-server
sudo dnf install -y git vim curl

My take: dnf install is what you'll use. Simple. Works.

Remove Packages​

sudo dnf remove package-name
sudo dnf remove --noautoremove package-name  # Keep dependencies

My take: dnf remove removes packages. Use it.

Search Packages​

dnf search keyword
dnf search "web server"

My take: Search when you don't know the exact package name.

Show Package Info​

dnf info package-name

My take: Use this before installing. See what you're getting.

YUM: The Legacy Tool​

Basic Commands​

sudo yum install package-name
sudo yum update
sudo yum remove package-name
sudo yum search keyword

My take: YUM works. But DNF is better. Use DNF if available.

Common Patterns​

Update System​

sudo dnf update

Install Development Tools​

sudo dnf groupinstall "Development Tools"

Clean Up​

sudo dnf clean all                 # Clean cache
sudo dnf autoremove                # Remove unused packages

Differences from APT​

APT (Debian/Ubuntu):

  • apt update then apt upgrade
  • apt install
  • apt remove

DNF (RHEL/CentOS):

  • dnf update (does both)
  • dnf install
  • dnf remove

My take: Similar concepts. Different commands. Learn both.

Common Mistakes (I've Made These)​

  1. Using YUM when DNF available: DNF is better. Use it.

  2. Not updating first: Update before installing. Get latest versions.

  3. Forgetting sudo: Package management needs root. Use sudo.

  4. Not cleaning cache: Cache grows. Clean it occasionally.

  5. Removing wrong packages: Be careful. Don't remove system packages.

Real-World Examples​

Install Web Server​

sudo dnf install httpd
sudo systemctl start httpd
sudo systemctl enable httpd

Install Development Tools​

sudo dnf groupinstall "Development Tools"

What's Next?​

Now that you understand DNF, let's talk about Snap and Flatpak for modern packages.

Personal note: I learned YUM first. Then DNF came. Now I use DNF. It's faster. It's better. Learn DNF.