{"id":14914,"date":"2025-12-08T08:20:02","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T08:20:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bodhost.com\/kb\/?p=14914"},"modified":"2026-02-26T14:02:05","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T14:02:05","slug":"how-to-install-rpm-package-in-linux-ubuntu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bodhost.com\/kb\/how-to-install-rpm-package-in-linux-ubuntu\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Install RPM Package in Linux Ubuntu"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many Ubuntu users eventually come across software <\/span>that\u2019s<\/span> only available as an RPM file, which is when the question of <\/span><\/span>how to install an RPM package in Ubuntu<\/span><\/span> usually comes up.<\/span><\/span> Since Ubuntu uses the DEB packaging system, RPM files <\/span>don\u2019t<\/span> install directly, but the good news is that you can still use them safely through conversion tools. In this guide, <\/span>we\u2019ll<\/span> walk you through simple methods used by Linux admins and developers in real-world setups.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Ubuntu Doesn\u2019t Support RPM Files Natively\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Ubuntu is based on Debian, which relies on DEB packages and the APT package manager. RPM files belong to Red Hat-based distributions like RHEL, CentOS, Alma Linux, and Fedora.<\/span><\/p>\n

Because of this packaging difference, Ubuntu cannot process RPM packages directly and needs a conversion tool.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Method 1: Install RPM on Ubuntu Using Alien\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Alien is a popular tool that converts RPM packages into DEB formats. It\u2019s simple, safe, and widely used.<\/span> With the following steps, you can install an RPM package in Linux.<\/span><\/p>\n

1: Update system packages<\/strong><\/h4>\n

sudo apt update<\/em><\/p>\n

2: Install Alien<\/strong><\/h4>\n

sudo apt install alien<\/em><\/p>\n

3: Convert the RPM file to DEB<\/strong><\/h4>\n

sudo alien package-name.rpm<\/em><\/p>\n

Alien creates a <\/span>.deb<\/span> file in the same folder.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4: Install the converted DEB package<\/strong><\/h4>\n

sudo dpkg -i package-name.deb<\/em><\/p>\n

5: Fix dependency issues (if any)<\/strong><\/h4>\n

sudo apt –fix-broken install<\/em><\/p>\n

Tip:<\/span><\/b> Use Alien only for trusted RPM sources to avoid compatibility issues.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Method 2: Extracting an RPM File Without Installing It<\/strong><\/h3>\n

You can extract an RPM file to manually access binaries or configuration files.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Install rpm2cpio<\/strong><\/h4>\n

sudo apt install rpm2cpio<\/em><\/p>\n

2. Extract the RPM content<\/strong><\/h4>\n

rpm2cpio package-name.rpm | cpio -idmv<\/em><\/p>\n

This extracts all files into your current directory.<\/span><\/p>\n

Common Errors While Installing RPM on Ubuntu and How to Fix Them<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

1. Dependency Issues<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Run:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

sudo apt –fix-broken install<\/em><\/p>\n

2. Alien not converting due to missing utilities<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Update Alien:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

sudo apt install –reinstall alien<\/em><\/p>\n

3. RPM architecture mismatch<\/strong><\/h4>\n

You may be trying to install a package meant for another CPU architecture.<\/span>
\n Check architecture:<\/span><\/p>\n

dpkg –print-architecture<\/em><\/p>\n

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