Control packages, updates and repositories on CentOS and RHEL with a single command-line tool. 02.06.2026 | reading time: 2 min What does `yum` actually do for you? It resolves dependencies, fetches RPMs from repositories and performs installs, updates and removals from the command line so a sysadmin can keep a server predictable and reproducible. A concrete update and install session Follow a sample maintenance session to see `yum` in action: ``` $ sudo yum check-update Loaded plugins: fastestmirror httpd.x86_64 2.4.6-93.el7 base $ sudo yum update -y Loaded plugins: fastestmirror Resolving Dependencies --> Running transaction check ---> Package httpd.x86_64 0:2.4.6-90.el7 will be updated --> Finished Dependency Resolution Transaction Summary Upgrade 1 Package Complete! $ sudo yum install -y httpd Loaded plugins: fastestmirror Resolving Dependencies --> Running transaction check ---> Package httpd.x86_64 0:2.4.6-93.el7 will be installed --> Finished Dependency Resolution Installed: httpd.x86_64 0:2.4.6-93.el7 Complete!``` Beyond install: history, search and cleanup Do more than install: use `yum search` to find packages, `yum info` to inspect them, `yum provides` to discover which package supplies a file, and `yum history` to roll back a transaction; keep caches lean with `yum clean all` so disk and metadata stay under control. Managing repositories and automation Add or remove `.repo` files under `/etc/yum.repos.d/`, pin packages with `exclude=` entries, enable security updates via `yum-cron` or equivalent, and script routine tasks with `yum -y` and `yum history` checks for automation in configuration management runs. Complementary tools Combine `yum` with `rpm` for low-level package queries and verification, and migrate to `dnf` on newer distributions; `yum-utils` supplies helpful extras like `package-cleanup` and `repoclosure`. Next steps for the sysadmin Practice on a disposable VM: add a custom repo, install and remove packages, and exercise `yum history` to undo mistakes; mastery of package management reduces downtime and is a strong skill for certifications and production work — learn more and prepare for exams like CompTIA Linux+ or LPIC-1 with intensive training at bitsandbytes.academy. Join Bits & Bytes Academy First class LINUX exam preparation. utilities infrastructure troubleshooting scripting
