Installing using an RPM file September 23, 2005
Posted by Carthik in administration, applications, ubuntu.trackback
If you have an rpm file for a package you wish to install, and if you cannot find a .deb debian package in any of the Ubuntu repositories or elsewhere, you can use the alien package converter application to install the .rpm file.
Alien is a program that converts between the rpm, dpkg, stampede slp, and slackware tgz file formats. If you want to use a package from another distribution than the one you have installed on your system, you can use alien to convert it to your preferred package format and install it.
Despite the large version number, alien is still (and will probably always be) rather experimental software. It has been used by many people for many years, but there are still many bugs and limitations.
Alien should not be used to replace important system packages, like sysvinit, shared libraries, or other things that are essential for the functioning of your system. Many of these packages are set up differently by Debian and Red Hat, and packages from the different distributions cannot be used interchangably. In general, if you can’t uninstall the package without breaking your system, don’t try to replace it with an alien version.
Instructions for Installing RPM Files Using Alien
Installing Alien
You can install alien itself from the Ubuntu Universe repository by adding the repository to your list of sources and doing:
$sudo apt-get update
$sudo apt-get install alien
Installing the .rpm file
To install the .rpm file, you first need to convert it to a .deb file which can be installed on Ubuntu.
I assume that you downloaded the package to your Desktop (~/Desktop is the directory)
You can convert the .rpm to a .deb by using the following commands.
$cd ~/Desktop
-This will change the directory to your desktop, where you have the .rpm file.
$sudo alien -k name-of-rpm-file.rpm
- This will convert the .rpm to a .deb.
- The “-k” will keep the version number. Otherwise alien adds a “1″ to the version number.
- Tip: Use Smart Tab Completion to avoid mistyping the file names 
$sudo dpkg -i name-of-deb-file.deb
- This will install the .deb package
Try reading the alien manpage for more details on how to convert other kinds of packages and the options available.
I’m using sudo alien -d!
-d is for debian
what exactely is the difference when you use -k (keep version)?
“d” is the default option, so not mentioning it will not change anything. In other words
“sudo alien” and “sudo alien -d” are equivalent if there are no other options specified.
The “-k” keeps alien from changing the version number. For some reason, alien adds 1 to the minor version number. the -k option prevents this, and so you can know preserve the version number from the rpm to the .deb
cool thanks for that!
Very good !!!
It’s work
thanx that helped a lot
thanks, its work
Tivoli Storage Manager 5 RHEL 4 install
http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/hfs/clients/supported/linux/index.xml?style=printable...
Using rpm files on Ubuntu
Ubuntu Blog � Installing using an RPM file…
I followed your 2 commands listed above (”sudo apt-get install alien” and “sudo alien -k rp8_linux20_libc6_i386_cs1.rpm”), but I get the message: “File “rp8_linux20_libc6_i386_cs1.rpm” not found.”
I am a beginner.
Dennis, what that means is that the rpm file you are trying to use is not in the same directory as the one in which you are at when you execute the command.
In a terminal, use the command “cd” to change to the directory where the downloaded .rpm file is. Then try the command again. It will work.
the command “pwd” will tell you what directory you are in at any time.
I have the file “rp8_linux20_libc6_i386_cs1.rpm” on my Desktop (hcs@ubuntu:~/Desktop$).
While in this same directory, I tried the 2 commands. The first command “sudo apt-get install alien” responded with several lines of information as follows:
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree… Done
alien is already the newest version.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
W: Couldn’t stat source package list http://us.archive.ubuntu.com breezy/main Packages (/var/lib/apt/lists/us.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_breezy_main_binary-i386_Packages) - stat (2 No such file or directory)
W: Couldn’t stat source package list http://us.archive.ubuntu.com breezy/restricted Packages (/var/lib/apt/lists/us.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_breezy_restricted_binary-i386_Packages) - stat (2 No such file or directory)
W: Couldn’t stat source package list http://us.archive.ubuntu.com breezy-updates/main Packages (/var/lib/apt/lists/us.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_breezy-updates_main_binary-i386_Packages) - stat (2 No such file or directory)
W: Couldn’t stat source package list http://us.archive.ubuntu.com breezy-updates/restricted Packages (/var/lib/apt/lists/us.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_breezy-updates_restricted_binary-i386_Packages) - stat (2 No such file or directory)W: Couldn’t stat source package list http://security.ubuntu.com breezy-security/main Packages (/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_breezy-security_main_binary-i386_Packages) - stat (2 No such file or directory)
W: Couldn’t stat source package list http://security.ubuntu.com breezy-security/restricted Packages (/var/lib/apt/lists/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_breezy-security_restricted_binary-i386_Packages) - stat (2 No such file or directory)
W: You may want to run apt-get update to correct these problems
Then I entered the following command while still on the Desktop:
sudo alien -k rp8_linux20_libc6_i386_cs1.rpm
and the following was returned:
File “rp8_linux20_libc6_i386_cs1.rpm” not found.
Please help…
Dennis
Dennis, the error message “Couldn’t stat source package…” means that you don’t have the latest list of packages on your computer. Like the “W: You may want to run apt-get update to correct these problems” line says, do a:
$sudo apt-get update
to update the list of packages on your computer first.
There is no harm in updating the list of packages. I do it often, sometimes everytime before I use apt-get to install or remove stuff.
I did the update as you suggested. Here are the results:
hcs@ubuntu:~/Desktop$ sudo apt-get update
Password:
Get:1 http://security.ubuntu.com breezy-security Release.gpg [189B]
Get:2 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com breezy Release.gpg [189B]
Get:3 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com breezy-updates Release.gpg [189B]
Get:4 http://security.ubuntu.com breezy-security Release [23.3kB]
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com breezy Release
Get:5 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com breezy-updates Release [30.9kB]
Get:6 http://security.ubuntu.com breezy-security/main Packages [36.1kB]
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com breezy/main Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com breezy/restricted Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com breezy/main Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com breezy/restricted Sources
Get:7 http://security.ubuntu.com breezy-security/restricted Packages [4458B]
Get:8 http://security.ubuntu.com breezy-security/main Sources [11.3kB]
Get:9 http://security.ubuntu.com breezy-security/restricted Sources [960B]
Get:10 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com breezy-updates/main Packages [31.3kB]
Get:11 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com breezy-updates/restricted Packages [14B]
Get:12 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com breezy-updates/main Sources [15.8kB]
Get:13 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com breezy-updates/restricted Sources [14B]
Fetched 155kB in 4s (37.9kB/s)
Reading package lists… Done
hcs@ubuntu:~/Desktop$ sudo apt-get install alien
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree… Done
alien is already the newest version.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 9 not upgraded.
I then used the following to try the installation:
hcs@ubuntu:~/Desktop$ sudo alien -k rp8_linux20_libc6_i386_cs1.rpm
File “rp8_linux20_libc6_i386_cs1.rpm” not found.
hcs@ubuntu:~/Desktop$
Here is what is on my Desktop:
hcs@ubuntu:~/Desktop$ ls
curly-007eba5f65.desktop hammer-00e8aa9211.desktop
gegl-0053ace2ba.desktop rp8_linux20_libc6_i386_cs1_rpm
hcs@ubuntu:~/Desktop$
Thank you for your efforts. Maybe I have not used (or misused) some spacing or other fault.
Dennis
UPDATE!
I had the rpm file as “xxxx_rpm” instead of “xxxx.rpm”. mea culpa!
There are internet dummies and then there are the likes of me.
It converted the rpm file into a “.deb” pkg. Now, what would I do?
Thanks for your patience..
Dennis
In trying to do this myself, I tried the following:
hcs@ubuntu:~/Desktop$ ls curly-007eba5f65.desktop realplayer_8.0-1_i386.deb
gegl-0053ace2ba.desktop rp8_linux20_libc6_i386_cs1.rpm
hammer-00e8aa9211.desktop
“The above was found on Desktop.”
“I then tried the following:”
hcs@ubuntu:~/Desktop$ sudo apt-get install rp8_linux20_libc6_i386.deb
Password: (I entered my password)
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree… Done
E: Couldn’t find package rp8_linux20_libc6_i386.deb
I then realized that the apt-get install changed the name from “rp8_linux20_libc6_i386.rpm” to “realplayer_8.0-1_i386.deb”
“so then I redid the command”
hcs@ubuntu:~/Desktop$ sudo apt-get install realplayer_8.0-1_i386.deb
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree… Done
E: Couldn’t find package realplayer_8.0-1_i386.deb
Now, I am still unable to install.
Again, thank you for your help
Dennis
Dennis,
You will need to do a
$sudo dpkg -i realplayer_8.0-1_i386.deb
Also, to avoid mishaps with lond filenames being misspelt, use tab completion in the future.
In this case, type
$sudo dpkg -i real
Hi folks,
sorry, but i am getting pretty frustrated with Linux here, hoping you guys can help me out….
mingyeow@u0201218:~/Desktop$ sudo dpkg -i install adobereader-enu_7.0.5-1_i386.deb
dpkg: error processing install (–install):
cannot access archive: No such file or directory
(Reading database … 60679 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace adobereader-enu 7.0.5-1 (using adobereader-enu_7.0.5-1_i386.deb) …
Unpacking replacement adobereader-enu …
Setting up adobereader-enu (7.0.5-1) …
Errors were encountered while processing:
install
mingyeow@u0201218:~/Desktop$
I have generated a deb file already, but what is wrong such that i cannot install?
ubuntonista:
I gutted out the system, reinstalled ubuntu including the updates. I then followed instructions. I think that realplayer is installed. However, where do I find realplayer to assign it to the .ram files?
Thanks again,
Dennis Leslie
Repeating my question above to Anyone:
I gutted out the system, reinstalled ubuntu including the updates. I then followed instructions. I think that realplayer is installed. However, where do I find realplayer to assign it to the .ram files?
Thanks again,
Dennis Leslie
p.s. I haven’t touched my machine in over a week waiting for some answer. Thanks.
Dennis,
Please do not use this as a support forum, since I cannot actively encourage people to ask questions here. That said, it pains me to know that I could have helped, and haven’t. I don’t read all the comments that are posted in detail, and I assumed your above comment was just a note of thanks or something similar. I am sorry for the week spent waiting.
To find out where some software was installed, I use “dpkg -L”
So, in your example, since you know the name of the package you installed, use:
$sudo dpkg -L package-name
This will list all the files that were installed and their paths for the package with name package-name.
You can also use “whereis” and “locate”, which are two very useful commands.
$whereis java
$locate
If you don’t remember the name of the package you used, use the apt-cache search command to find out, hopefully it will list the package name, when you say:
$apt-cache search realpl
Good luck!
Very helpful, thanks! Now if only there was a standard installation for all distros which doesn’t involve downloading source and having to
$./configure
$make
$make install
I’ve unzipped the files now out of the .deb file but I don’t understand how to install the program from there! I’m running Ubuntu 5.10 and I’m trying to install Frostwire Linux.
I’d appreciate it if someone could send me some support to my email!
[...] Aparentemente no parecía algo difícil de arreglar, pero no hubo manera de lograr instalar el Inkscape. Tampoco conseguí hacer funcionar la versión que viene para Debian en la web de descargas de Inskcape, y al final recurrí a un truco muy útil y que muchas veces soluciona este tipo de problemas: el alien. [...]
I get: sudo: alien: command not found. I receive this message after all updates run with sudo apt-get updates. rpm package is placed on my desktop
I have downloaded all of the files including alien, debhelper, dpkg-dev, dpkg-dev, dpkg, gcc, and make that it says to do on the alien webpage. When I am in terminal and am running the command sudo apt-get install in the directory where the downloaded files are located, I get the response:
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree… Done
0 Upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 no upgraded
I don’t know how to add the repository to my list of sources, or what a repository is for that matter. My Linux Bible I just bought off Amazon is scheduled to arrive on Monday. Until then, can you help me resolve this problem? Also, I’m running on Xubuntu I might add…
Also, I forgot to say that when I double click on the Alien .deb I downloaded from the Debian website (in the directory they are located), package installer tells me “Error: Dependency is not satisfiable: debhelper.” When I click on debhelper.deb, the error is “Error: Dependency is not satisfiable: dpkg-dev.” and so on…
DanK,
You don’t need to download anything from the Debian website. Specially made packages for Ubuntu are already available in the Ubuntu repos. All you have to do is
$sudo apt-get install alien
Make sure you have the universe and multiverse repositories added to your setup.
Why complicate simple things?
well, when I try to change the universe and multiverse repositories, I can’t because I don’t have an internet connection on my linux system.
DanK, Please look at http://ubuntu.wordpress.com/2006/07/08/installing-packages-on-computers-with-slow-connections-redux/
It might be beyond me to support users through comments on this blog. Please understand that the forums, and the irc help room are probably your best bet for support.
This is simple.
To Install alien on ubuntu dapper drake:
//sudo aptitude install alien// (without //) then press enter.
Enter your password.
Finished.
To use:
go to the folder with the .rpm (do this in terminal)
and write: alien -k file.rpm
if on desktop i.e home/username/Desktop/file.rpm
write:
alien -k /home/username/Desktop/file.rpm
Remember to change /username to your’s
I have a Mepis system (pre-Ubuntu based) in which Open Office had ceased to work. Tried synaptic to upgrade without success. Downloaded the newest version from openoffice.org but it was in RPM’s. Then I googled and found this site, which explained alien and dpkg. Now I have a new updated Open Office that works. Thanks so much to you all!
Steve Graham
[...] To install a redhat .rpm on Ubuntu, use alien like so .. assuming the FirstClass client .rpm is on your computer’s desktop… sudo aptitude update sudo aptitude install alien cd ~/Desktop sudo alien -i *.rpm [...]
[...] Installing using an RPM file « Ubuntu Blog (tags: ubuntu linux rpm howto install alien deb) [...]
Thanks guy, your article comes first in google… I was looking for “rpm ubuntu”. Even the official pages goes after!!!
This article really kick ass. Congratulations!
Best regards.
Im having the same problem. I have the rpm file on my desktop however apparently when Im using alien it saying “file not found” Am I suppose to change the directory to desktop? If so How?
@Miea
Try simply:
cd /home/your_username/Desktop
Hi,
I tried to intall alien with the following command,
$sudo apt-get install alien
but its asking me to put Ubuntu Cd in Drive which unfortunately i currently do not have so is there a work around to that.
cheers,
Very helpful info thanks! I was just browsing around on my Windows box as Kubuntu does a nice fresh install. Yes people, I know the different distro install protocols and packages can be a pain at first, but to standardise it would be to create a bloat OS like Windows because all distros would need to support everything!(well maybe not that bad, but you get the picture). btw you won’t get easier than Ubuntu/Kubuntu. Great OS for a desktop(though I use Red Hat on my servers).
That -k tip solved the installation problem I was having, thank you.
Hello,
I’m having a little trouble using this one rpm, though it is my first time. When I type: ’sudo alien -i kdelibs-3.3.1-1.i686.rpm.’
I get this error:
’sh: rpm: not found
Error executing “LANG=C rpm -qp –queryformat %{SUMMARY} kdelibs-3.3.1-1.i686.rpm”: at /usr/local/share/perl/5.8.8/Alien/Package.pm line 481′
What can I do to resolve this?
Thanks!
How to install tahoma.ttf (ms) without building a rpm using kunbutu?
http://corefonts.sourceforge.net/
Needed by Steam and Counterstrike
Not an expert in Linux but Kubutu works with me and with the wine support for i.e. Ventrilo (including alsa driver) no need to use Microsoft any more.
Any tip regarding the fonts?
tnx,made my life easier
It really works …
how do I uninstall a rpm that was installed using alien?
thanks,
florin
florin alien is for changing an .rpm to .deb . If u have installed a .deb using dpkg -i *.deb then u can do dpkg -r *.deb or dpkg -r –purge *.deb
That is all for now.
I cannot install realplayer 10 gold.rpm. then I tried other version converted by alien .deb file installed by GDebi package installer
Reinstall the package? I reinstalled the same version but it is not in the menu list what shall I do.
Thank you.
[...] Installing using an RPM file « Ubuntu Blog [...]
Omg im so confused :S i need help FAST!!!… can some 1 please help me i got 2 computers one has windows xp the other 1 has ubuntu on it i have an internet connection on my xp but not on ubuntu because i need to install the software on it. i have the software on disk its a .rpm file but i can not install this file at all i tried everything can some 1 help me
I’m trying to install adobereader-enu:
pyan@pyan-laptop:~/Desktop$ sudo dpkg -i adobereader-enu_7.0.9-1_i386.deb
(Reading database … 156408 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking adobereader-enu (from adobereader-enu_7.0.9-1_i386.deb) …
dpkg: error processing adobereader-enu_7.0.9-1_i386.deb (–install):
trying to overwrite `/usr/share/pixmaps/AdobeReader.png’, which is also in package acroread
dpkg-deb: subprocess paste killed by signal (Broken pipe)
Errors were encountered while processing:
adobereader-enu_7.0.9-1_i386.deb
why i can not install this file?
Nice article.. Thanks
Works like a champ, thanks a lot!
i get:
Warning: Skipping conversion of scripts in package flash-plugin: postinst prerm
Warning: Use the –scripts parameter to include the scripts.
any thoughts??
Hi, great post.. I get this error when trying to convert using -p switch, I get the errors when running -
$ sudo alien –scripts -p -k asm_linux_v5.01.16862.rpm
=
sh: pkgproto: command not found
sh: pkgmk: command not found
Can’t exec “pkgtrans”: No such file or directory at /usr/share/perl5/Alien/Package.pm line 429, line 847.
mv: cannot stat `StorMan-5.01/StorMan-5.01.pkg’: No such file or directory
StorMan-5.01.pkg generated
find: StorMan-5.01: No such file or directory
I tried searching through all repositories for pkgproto & pkgmk & pkgtrans with no luck
Any ideas please
Thanks for the info, tried and all went well. thanks again
Cart
[...] Yeah ..you can always use the Alien converter ( alien) This might help you ! Installing using an RPM file « Ubuntu Blog [...]
Im install alien. Thank you!
And now im try convert rpm to deb
But alien make directory, not deb file
this directory contains etc and usr folders
This thing i can get by simply extracting rpm file.
What i can do with this?
How i install program?
I talk about VMware
Why, after all this time, can’t Debian-based distros handle RPM files correctly?
i installed realplayer using alien. Finally it says ’setting up realplayer (versionxxxx)…’ but then i don’t get any executables . I think it didn’t get installed.
Great thread. Thanks for the help
Cool. Now it works
Thanks for the tip — I was pulling my hair out over installing a project from source, but they had an rpm, and alien did the trick.
[...] and since I’m not a Linux blackbelt I had to do some googling. I found this blog and this and this that gave me a hint of what to do. I have to call the [...]
[...] and since I’m not a Linux blackbelt I had to do some googling. I found this blog and this and this that gave me a hint of what to do. I have to call the [...]
Hi!
I wanted to install a program called “algae” ( algae.sourceforge.net ) but on its website only .rpm package and sourcefile are present. I used alien to produce the deb file for my ubuntu feisty fawn, the installation with pkg apparently successed but …
If I type in command line that “algae-4.3.6″ I receive this message:
“algae-4.3.6: error while loading shared libraries: libreadline.so.4: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory”
So my question is … “How can I install this missing library?” Why did dpkg success even if that library was missing?
Thanks, anyway!
Mino
also about the missing –script parameter. What are the best commands for including scripts and what syntax to use.
Warning: Use the –scripts parameter to include the scripts.
very good
1.I’m using the following version of ubuntu
patch_2.5.9-4_amd64
2.After running :
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install alien
the following error displayed:
The following NEW packages will be installed:
alien debhelper dpkg-dev patch
0 upgraded, 4 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0B/890kB of archives.
After unpacking 2499kB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? y
Failed to fetch cdrom:[Ubuntu 7.10 _Gutsy Gibbon_ - Release amd64 (20071016)]/pool/main/p/patch/patch_2.5.9-4_amd64.deb Hash Sum mismatch
Failed to fetch cdrom:[Ubuntu 7.10 _Gutsy Gibbon_ - Release amd64 (20071016)]/pool/main/d/dpkg/dpkg-dev_1.14.5ubuntu16_all.deb Hash Sum mismatch
E: Unable to fetch some archives, maybe run apt-get update or try with –fix-missing?
3.What is wrong with the amd64 version dose alien not supported at this release ?
Thank you in advance
I just made a clean installed a Ubuntu 7.10 on a laptop and I am getting the same error as #67 when attempting to install alien. The dpkg-dev_1.14.5ubuntu16_all.deb file is on the CD at the specified path, but a hash mismatch on this file is occurring. apt-get is requesting the CD rather than downloading the patch from the Internet.
The fix is to disable installing updates from the CD-ROM and enabling the installation of updates from all Internet sources. This is done in the Preferences section of Add/Remove Applications. Afterwards, when installing alien, the patch is downloaded from the Internet and the installation is successful. I hope this helps someone.
jdmurray,
You helped me at least
Thanks
Cool post
ive done the steps you said in the beginning but i get this error and log file when i run the alien -k
Package build failed. Here’s the log:
dh_testdir
dh_testdir
dh_testroot
dh_clean -k -d
dh_installdirs
dh_installdocs
dh_installchangelogs
find . -maxdepth 1 -mindepth 1 -not -name debian -print0 | \
xargs -0 -r -i cp -a {} debian/synergy
dh_compress
dh_makeshlibs
dh_installdeb
dh_shlibdeps
dpkg-shlibdeps: failure: ldd on `debian/synergy/usr/bin/synergyc’ gave error exit status 1
dh_shlibdeps: command returned error code 256
make: [binary-arch] Error 1 (ignored)
dh_gencontrol
sh: gcc: command not found
dpkg-architecture: warning: Couldn’t determine gcc system type, falling back to default (native compilation)
dpkg-gencontrol: error: current build architecture powerpc does not appear in package’s list (i386)
dh_gencontrol: command returned error code 65280
make: *** [binary-arch] Error 1
find: synergy-1.3.1: No such file or directory
all it does after that is create a folder on the desktop. any ideas?
installing failed updates windows vista
yes indeed…
OK guys, post season is over, it’s time to remember your wife or girlfriend. Maybe you better make up for ignoring her for most of January. How about a Valentines gift from 1-800-Flowers.com (http://www.1800flowers.com)
hi,
I installed Ubuntu Linux7.10.
When I operatedd, at that time Current
get cutoffs.So shortcuts from adminstrator,applicaton ,places
are not appearing.
so plz
tellme.
Hey..
i guess i have installed some hostile applet..
Everytime i open my mail box i get weird dialogue box that says
http://bitsmail01/mail/f2005107.nsf/SwitcherForm_Mail?OpenPage wants to load an applet.
GNU Classpath’s security implementation is not complete.
HOSTILE APPLETS WILL STEAL AND/OR DESTROY YOUR DATA!
I have to choose between cancel, trust applet and trust applet and include in whitelist..
This shows up evry time i click on any obeject in the mail box..
Please tell me how to get rid of this and uninstall this plug-in..
CsiJzt hi nice site man thx http://peace.com
[...] Installing using an RPM file Leave a Comment [...]
Tan Kod
Thanks for information, found to be very useful
I just installed an Adobe Reader on my Kubuntu (Hardy Heron) using the alien-conversion from rpm to deb format. Still, one problem: I know where the files are installed, but how do I get the Adobe Reader to appear in my program lists? The acroread file has been put in the /usr/bin/ directory but, first of all, it’s empty, and second, it’s not an executable file. What to do?
Would Alien package include in the inbuilt packages?