14.11. Error Messages During Installation of RPMs
How do I install an RPM from a CD or the Internet?
I keep getting an error message when I use RPM.
If you are getting an error message similar to
failed to open
/var/lib/rpm/packages.rpm, it is because you
do not have proper permission to install RPM files.
When you install software, you are often required to make
system-wide changes which only root can make, such as creating
new directories outside of your home directory or making changes
to your system configuration. If you are using your normal user
account, you do not have permission to make such changes by
default.
You need to be the root user to install RPM files. At a
shell prompt, switch to the root user by running the following
command:
After entering the root password when prompted, you should
then be able to install the RPM file without further errors. For
more information about using RPM and
Package Management Tool, refer to the
Red Hat Enterprise Linux System Administration Guide on the Red Hat Enterprise Linux Documentation CD
or online at https://www.redhat.com/docs/.
