Zypper is a command-line package manager for the openSUSE operating system and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. It allows you to install, update, and remove packages from your system, as well as perform a variety of other package-related tasks. This guide will provide an overview of how to use Zypper, including examples of common commands.
Getting Started with Zypper
Before you can start using Zypper, you need to open a terminal window. In openSUSE, you can do this by clicking the “K” menu and selecting “Terminal”. In SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, you can open a terminal by clicking on “Activities”, then “Applications”, and finally “Terminal”.
Once you have a terminal window open, you can start using Zypper by typing “zypper” followed by the command you want to run. For example, to see a list of available commands, you can type “zypper help”.
Installing Packages with Zypper
To install a package with Zypper, you simply need to use the “install” command, followed by the name of the package you want to install. For example, to install the “nano” text editor, you would type the following command:
zypper install nano
If the package you want to install has multiple versions available, Zypper will prompt you to choose which version you want to install. You can also specify the version you want to install by including the version number after the package name, like this:
zypper install nano-2.0.9
Once you have selected the version of the package you want to install, Zypper will download and install it. You may be prompted to confirm that you want to install the package and any dependencies it requires.
Updating Packages with ZypperTo update a package with Zypper, you can use the “update” command, followed by the name of the package you want to update. For example, to update the “nano” text editor, you would type the following command:
zypper update nano
If the package you want to update has multiple versions available, Zypper will prompt you to choose which version you want to update to. You can also specify the version you want to update to by including the version number after the package name, like this:
zypper update nano-2.0.9
Once you have selected the version of the package you want to update to, Zypper will download and install it. You may be prompted to confirm that you want to update the package and any dependencies it requires.
Removing Packages with Zypper
To remove a package with Zypper, you can use the “remove” command, followed by the name of the package you want to remove. For example, to remove the “nano” text editor, you would type the following command:
zypper remove nano
You may be prompted to confirm that you want to remove the package and any dependencies it requires.
Searching for Packages with Zypper
If you want to search for a package in the Zypper repository, you can use the “search” command, followed by the name of the package you are looking for. For example, to search for the “nano” text editor, you would type the following command:
zypper search nano
Zypper will display a list of packages that match the search term, including their name, version, and description. You can use the “–details” option to display additional information about each package, such as its size and dependencies.
For example:
zypper search --details nano
This will display a more detailed list of packages that match the search term, including their name, version, repository, size, and a description of what the package does.
Listing Installed Packages with Zypper
If you want to see a list of all the packages that are currently installed on your system, you can use the “list-installed” command. For example:
zypper list-installed
This will display a list of all the packages that are currently installed on your system, including their name, version, and repository. You can use the “–details” option to display additional information about each package, such as its size and dependencies.
For example:
zypper list-installed --details
This will display a more detailed list of all the packages that are currently installed on your system, including their name, version, repository, size, and a description of what the package does.
Updating the System with Zypper
To update your entire system with Zypper, you can use the “update” command without specifying a package name. For example:
zypper update
This will update all the packages that are currently installed on your system. You may be prompted to confirm that you want to update the packages and any dependencies they require.
Conclusion
Zypper is a powerful package manager that provides a convenient way to install, update, and remove packages on openSUSE and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server systems. Whether you are looking to install a new package, update an existing one, or simply search for packages in the repository, Zypper has you covered. With its easy-to-use command-line interface, Zypper is a great choice for system administrators and power users who need to manage their systems quickly and efficiently.
