How do I extract a RPM file?

Question

I've RPM file of which I want to examine its file contents. For .deb packages, I can use dpkg -x file.deb to extract it.

What is the equivalent command for a .rpm file? I'm looking for a command-line application.

score 59 · Accepted Answer · edited Feb 06 '15 at 09:42

59

file-roller seems to open rpm files. Alternatively you can use the command:

$ sudo apt-get install rpm2cpio
$ rpm2cpio /path/to/file.rpm | cpio -i --make-directories

that will extract the rpm content to the current directory.

edited Feb 06 '15 at 09:42

malat

answered Jul 07 '11 at 20:54

enzotib

Thanks, I just came across it: `rpm2cpio file.rpm | cpio --extract --make-directories` – Lekensteyn Jul 07 '11 at 20:57
On my Ubuntu system, my MATE app (Engrampa) first failed with "Unrecognized file format", but after installing `rpm2cpio` as suggested as alternative here, also the app now can read the RPM file. Perfect, thanks! – thutt Sep 15 '21 at 07:38

score 7 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 22 '18 at 09:41

7

Install 7z:

apt install p7zip-full

and extract:

7z x /path/to/file.rpm 
7z x /path/to/file.cpio -o/path/to/extract/folder/

answered Nov 22 '18 at 09:41

Pavel P.

Unfortunately 7z is not aware of file permissions and for rpm packages which contain executables (i.e. most of them) this can be a problem. – Wug Oct 21 '19 at 19:57
@Wug to overcome the limitations of `7z`: after the first step you can extract the `file.cpio` using `(cd /path/to/extract/folder/ ; cpio -i -d – pabouk - Ukraine stay strong Jun 21 '21 at 08:37

andybleaden · Answer 3 · 2011-07-07T21:19:27.280

5

As far as I remember you have to use a app called alien which transforms .rpm to deb files. Use a terminal to do :

sudo apt-get install alien

then

sudo alien -d nameofyourpackage.rpm (-d for Debian package)

If you then need to examine it you can resort to your dpkg -x file.deb method

edited Jul 07 '11 at 21:19

answered Jul 07 '11 at 20:57

andybleaden

`rpm2cpio` seems to work fine, so I haven't tried this one. – Lekensteyn Jul 07 '11 at 21:01
1

this has the drawback of creating a .deb first. – enzotib Jul 07 '11 at 21:16

score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Feb 01 '17 at 18:40

2

You can also use alien to only extract the files (which it calls "generate a build tree")

alien --scripts --generate <package.rpm>

You will get 2 dirs - <package>, and <package>.orig, which is the raw extraction from the rpm.

answered Feb 01 '17 at 18:40

Randall

4 Answers4