3. Tricks and Recipes

3.1. Synthesized vs. Complete Lists

When adding media, there are two options for the list of packages: synthesized or complete. Use the --probe-synthesis option to try to find and use a synthesized list of packages, or the --probe-hdlist to try to find and use a complete one. Synthesized lists are smaller in size, making them more suited for users with slower network connections. However they are more limited when looking for information on packages.

3.2. Finding the Package which Contains a Specific File

You know you need a specific file on your system but you don't know which package provides it. Issue urpmf <file_name> and any packages, installed or not, which contain the file_name file will be displayed.

[Note]Note

If you use the synthesized lists, urpmf can only search for files on already installed packages.

You can even provide only a partial name. For example urpmf salsa will return a list of all packages which contain a file whose name contains the word salsa.

[root@test queen]# urpmf salsa
kaffe:/usr/lib/kaffe/lib/i386/libtritonusalsa-1.1.2.so
kaffe:/usr/lib/kaffe/lib/i386/libtritonusalsa.la
kaffe:/usr/lib/kaffe/lib/i386/libtritonusalsa.so

3.3. Updating Packages

This command will update the named package:

urpmi.update -a && urpmi --update <package_name>

This command will automatically update all the packages which need it as Mandriva Update would do it:

urpmi.update -a && urpmi --update --auto-select --auto

If you don't have any medium specifically configured as an update medium, you have to omit the --update option in the urpmi commands above.