The world of Linux distributions is unified by the Unix-like philosophy but divided by practical implementation. Two of the most prominent families are the Debian-based branch (which includes Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Debian itself) and the Red Hat-based branch (which includes Fedora, CentOS, and RHEL). The fundamental difference between these families, from an end-user perspective, is the package management system. Debian-based systems use .deb packages and tools like dpkg and apt. Red Hat-based systems use .rpm packages and tools like rpm and dnf (formerly yum). For a new user on Fedora 17—a somewhat dated but historically significant release that still used yum as its primary package manager—encountering a .deb file can be a source of confusion. This essay provides a complete guide for that user, explaining what a .deb package is, why it is not natively compatible with Fedora, and the methods—both practical and pedagogical—for handling such a situation.
After the conversion process, alien will output the name of the generated RPM package. You can install it using yum or rpm. Here's how to do it with yum:
sudo yum install ./package_name.rpm
Or, you can use rpm directly:
sudo rpm -i ./package_name.rpm
Replace ./package_name.rpm with the actual filename generated by alien. install deb package on fedora 17 user new
As a new user of Fedora 17, you may find yourself in a situation where you need to install a software package that is only available in the Debian package format, commonly denoted by the .deb extension. Fedora, being a Red Hat-based distribution, uses the RPM (Red Hat Package Manager) package format, which is different from the DEB package format used by Debian and its derivatives. However, there are scenarios where you might prefer or need to use software available in DEB format. This guide will walk you through the process of installing a DEB package on Fedora 17, highlighting the necessary steps and tools.
Solution: You skipped Step 3 in Prerequisites. Run su -c 'yum install alien' again.
alien PackageThe alien package is a popular tool for converting and installing DEB packages on RPM-based systems. Here's how to use it: Beyond the Package Manager: A User’s Guide to
alien package: Run the following command in your terminal: sudo yum install alienalien -r -c package.deb (replace package.deb with the actual file name)sudo rpm -ivh package.rpm (replace package.rpm with the actual file name)Now armed with the alien tool, Alex navigated to his Downloads folder where the .deb file sat innocently.
cd Downloads
He looked at the file: video-converter-1.0.deb. The moment of truth had arrived. The forums recommended converting the file to an RPM first, rather than installing it directly, to avoid potential disasters. He typed the command:
alien --to-rpm video-converter-1.0.deb
The terminal paused for a second, and then threw a warning: warning: video-converter-1.0.deb: building an rpm from a deb is not recommended. Or, you can use rpm directly:
sudo rpm -i
Alex hesitated. "Not recommended." It felt like a "Do Not Enter" sign on a door he really wanted to open. He took a deep breath. He wanted this software. He ignored the warning and pressed on.
The drive whirred, and within moments, a new file appeared in the directory: video-converter-1.0.rpm.
"It worked!" Alex whispered to himself. He had successfully transformed a Debian package into a Fedora package.