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  3. The rpm.versions System
  4. Introduction to the rpm.versions System
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Introduction to the rpm.versions System

Last modified: July 13, 2022

Overview

The rpm.versions system manages many of the packages on your cPanel & WHM server.

The packages that the rpm.versions system manages may include the following types of packages:

  • cPanel-provided packages.
  • Third-party software packages.
  • Custom packages that system administrators choose to install.
Important:

The rpm.versions system does not manage the packages for your operating system’s distribution. To install these packages, use WHM’s Install Distro Packages interface (WHM » Home » Software » Install Distro Packages). To change how your server handles updates for these packages, use the Operating System Package Updates section of WHM’s Update Preferences interface (WHM » Home » Server Configuration » Update Preferences).

What is an RPM?

RPMs are packages that you use to install software on Red Hat-based servers. RPMs contain the compiled code for each package on your system.

For more information about RPMs, visit the RPM website.

What is a source package?

Source packages (SRPMs) contain the source code for each package on your system. Source packages are not compiled. For more information, read our The rpm.versions File documentation.

Files

The rpm.versions system manages packages based on the settings that it finds in several YAML files on your server. These files use the following priority:

  1. The /var/cpanel/rpm.versions.d/local.versions file contains settings that system administrators set locally. These settings override all other rpm.versions system settings on the server.
  2. Third-party developers can create other .versions files in the /var/cpanel/rpm.versions.d/ directory, which override the cPanel-provided defaults.
  3. The /usr/local/cpanel/etc/rpm.versions file contains cPanel-provided settings, based on your server’s version of cPanel & WHM. All local .versions files override these settings.

For more information, read our The rpm.versions File, Target Settings, and How to Override the rpm.versions System documentation.

Warning:
Do not modify the /usr/local/cpanel/etc/rpm.versions file for any reason.

Customization options

In addition to the ability to override settings on a server, you can create and install your own custom packages, and modify the package installation process. If you wish to modify and replace cPanel-provided packages, read our How to Build and Install Custom RPMs on Red Hat Systems documentation.

Additional Documentation