User Guide - Managing Software

Using PackageKit

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Managing Software with Pirut

This section explains Pirut, Fedora's graphical package management program. It demonstrates the different search facilities within Pirut and how to install a package. The Banshee music management package is used as an example.

Install Media Repository

Fedora 8 introduced an additional repository to Pirut that provides users with the ability to upgrade their version of Fedora using the dvd or cd iso. When opening Pirut for the first time after the install of Fedora Pirut asks for cd #1. This can be disabled by selecting Repository Manager and unticking Fedora Media Repository.

Starting Pirut

Pirut works the same in both GNOME and KDE, the only difference is the location of its menu item.

GNOME

Start Pirut by selecting Applications > Add/Remove Programs menu, entering the root password when prompted.

KDE

Start Pirut by selecting KMenu > Applications > System > Add/Remove Software, entering the root password when prompted.

Browse Software

Pirut starts in Browse view by default. This view organizes packages into related groups, displaying top level groups on the left and sub-categories on the right. When a tick is present next to a sub-category, it indicates applications from that group are installed.

To install Banshee for example, select the Sound and Video sub-category and press the [Optional Packages] button. Locate Banshee in the list and queue it for installation by ticking its box. Any package can be queued for installation by ticking the appropriate boxes.

To add packages from other groups or sub-categories to the queue, browse to the desired group or sub-category and proceed as before. The [Optional Packages] button is only available when the desired sub-category is ticked. Ticking a sub-category automatically queues any required packages for installation within that sub-category.

To install the queued packages press the [Apply] button.

Removing packages
Remove packages by un-ticking the appropriate boxes and pressing the [Apply] button.

After applying changes, Pirut prompts to confirm the packages you have selected. Proceed if the list is correct, otherwise cancel and refine the selection.

Dependencies

Pirut now resolves any dependencies. A dialog informs you which dependencies have been found, which are automatically marked for installation. Confirm this list to proceed.

Dependencies
Dependencies are packages that are required by another package to function correctly.

Dependencies can be removed
When a package is removed it is possible other packages may have relied on it to function correctly. If this is the case Pirut also removes these other applications. Check the dependency dialog and cancel if any of the packages marked for removal are still needed. This can be corrected by refining your package selection.

Search Software

When the desired application's name is known, the Search tab is more efficient.

Select the Search tab from the top of the window and enter Banshee into the search box. Press enter to begin the search. Results, including related packages, are shown in the box below. To find more information about a package before installation, highlight it and press the Package Details text below.

To queue a package for installation or removal, toggle its box as appropriate. Once all the packages have been selected press [Apply] .

List Software

The list tab displays all available packages. Packages can be queued for installation or removal in the same manner as before. Once satisfied with the selections, press the [Apply] button to commit the changes.

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Updating Software With Pup

This chapter explains how to use the Pup graphical update program, and how Puplet works to provide notifications of available updates.

Update Notifications

Puplet works constantly in the background, checking for available software updates from the enabled repositories. When updates become available a package icon appears in the notification area, along with an alert which appears for a short time and reveals the number of updates available.

Once the notification tray icon is present, there are a number of possible actions it can perform:

• Refresh checks for new updates
• View Updates launches Pup providing more detail about the package(s) to be updated, allow de-selection of available updates and/or starts the update process
• Apply Updates starts the update process selecting all available packages
• Quit closes Puplet, no packages are updated

The Package Updater (Pup)

This program features a scrollable text window under the heading Updates Available. In this text window all of the available updates are listed and selected by default. If you wish to remove any of the packages queued for update, mark the box next to the relevant package.

Some updates have a circular arrow icon next to them, indicating that these changes won't be applied until the next system reboot.

Further information about each update can be found by selecting the desired package and left-clicking the Update Details text.

Once satisfied with the package selection, choose the [Apply Updates] button. Pup checks for dependencies, ensuring that the updated packages will have everything required to function correctly. If dependencies are added a dialogue will appear, with new packages to be installed. Review this dialog and select [Continue] to complete the update.

The packages will then be downloaded and installed. If a reboot is needed for some of the changes to take place, you will be informed of this at the end of the updates.

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