what is RPM, and how do I use it to install software?

RPM (RPM Package Manager) is a popular utility for installing software on Unix-like systems, particularly Red Hat Linux. 

1. Log in as root, or use the su command to change to the root user at the workstation on which you want to install the software.
   
   
2. Download the package you wish to install. The package will be named something like DeathStar0_42b.rpm.
   
   
3. To install the package, enter the following command at the prompt: rpm -i DeathStar0_42b.rpm

   If you are upgrading from an earlier version of the software package, run RPM in upgrade mode, as in the following example: rpm -U DeathStar0_42b.rpm

For more information about RPM, visit: http://www.rpm.org/ You can also view the manual page on RPM using the following command: man rpm

You can find information about graphical interfaces to RPM at: http://www.rpm.org/software/gui/

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