In this screen you can choose between several tools for software management. Click on a link below to learn more.
Administration af programmer
“Opdatering af programpakker” = Update your system
“Configure Media” = Configure media sources for install and update
This tool[1], also known as drakrpm, is a program for installing, uninstalling and updating packages. It is the graphical user interface of URPMI. At each start up, it will check online package lists (called 'media') downloaded straight from Mageia's official servers, and will show you each time the latest applications and packages available for your computer. A filter system allows you to display only certain types of packages: you may display only installed applications (by default), or only available updates. You can also view only not installed packages. You can also search by the name of a package, or in the summaries of descriptions or in the full descriptions of packages or in the file names included in the packages.
To work, rpmdrake needs the repositories to be configured with “Configure Media” .
Vigtigt
During the installation, the configured repository is the medium used for the installation, generally the DVD or CD. If you keep this medium, rpmdrake will ask it each time you want to install a package, with this pop-up window :
If the above message annoys you and you have a good internet connection without too strict download limit, it is wise to remove that medium and replace it by online repositories thanks to “Configure Media” .
Moreover, the online repositories are always up to date, contains much more packages, and allow to update your installed packages.
Package type filter:
This filter allows you to display only certain types of packages. The first time you start the manager, it only displays applications with a graphical interface. You can display either all the packages and all their dependencies and libraries or only package groups such as applications only, updates only or backported packages from newer versions of Mageia.
Advarsel
The default filter setting is for new entrants to Linux or Mageia, who probably do not want command line or specialist tools. Since you're reading this documentation, you're obviously interested in improving your knowledge of Mageia, so it is best to set this filter to "All".
Package state filter:
This filter allows you to view only the installed packages, only the packages that are not installed or all of the packages, both installed and not installed.
Search mode:
Click on this icon to search through the package names, through their summaries, through their complete description or through the files included in the packages.
"Find" box:
Enter here one or more key words. If you want to use more than one keyword for searching use '|' between keywords, e.g. To search for "mplayer" and "xine" at the same time type 'mplayer | xine'.
Erase all:
This icon can erase in one click all the key words entered in the "Find" box .
Categories list:
This side bar groups all applications and packages into clear categories and sub categories.
Description panel:
This panel displays the package's name, its summary and complete description. It displays many useful elements about the selected package. It can also show precise details about the package, the files included in the package as well as a list of the last changes made by the maintainer.
Once you correctly set the filters, you can find your software either by category (in area 6 above) or by name/summary/description using area 4. A list of packages fulfilling your query and, don't forget, the chosen medium is shown with different status markers according to whether each package is installed/not installed/an update... To change this status, just check or uncheck the box before the package name and click on .
Tabel 1.
| Ikon | Legend |
|---|---|
 | This package is already installed |
 | This package will be installed |
 | This package cannot be modified |
 | This package is an update |
 | This package will be uninstalled |
Examples in the screenshot above:
If I uncheck digikam (the green arrow tell us it is installed), the status icon will go red with an up arrow and it will be uninstalled when clicking on .
If I check qdigidoc (which is not installed, see the status), the orange with a down arrow status icon will appear and it will be installed when clicking on .
Some packages need other packages called dependencies in order to work. They are for example libraries or tools. In this case, Rpmdrake displays an information window allowing you to choose whether to accept the selected dependencies, cancel the operation or get more information (see above). It may also happen that various packages are able to provide the needed library, in which case rpmdrake displays the list of alternatives with a button to get more information and another button to choose which package to install.
This tool[2] is present in the Mageia Control Center under the tab Software management.
Bemærk
To work, MageiaUpdate needs the repositories to be configured with drakrpm-editmedia with some media checked as updates. If they are not, you are prompted to do so.
As soon as this tool is launched, it scans the installed packages and lists those with an update available in the repositories. They are all selected by default to be automatically downloaded and installed. Click on the button to start the process.
By clicking on a package, more information is displayed in the lower half of the window. The print > before a title means you can click to drop down a text.
Bemærk
When updates are available, an applet in the system tray warns you by
displaying this red icon 
. Just click and enter the user password to update the system alike.
This tool[3] is present in the Mageia
Control Center under the tab Software
management. It is also available by a on the red icon in the system tray.
The first slider allows you to change how frequently Mageia will check for updates and the second the delay after booting before the first check. The check box gives you the option to be warned when a new Mageia release is out.
Vigtigt
First thing to do after an install is to add software sources (also known as repositories, media, mirrors). That means you must select the media sources to be used to install and update packages and applications. (see Add button below).
Bemærk
If you install (or upgrade) Mageia using an optical media (DVD or CD) or a USB device, there will be a software source configured to the optical media used. To avoid being asked to insert the media when you install new packages, you should disable (or delete) this media. (It will have the media type CD-Rom).
Bemærk
Your system is running under an architecture which may be 32-bit (called i586), or 64-bit (called x86_64). Some packages are independent of whether your system is 32-bit or 64-bit; these are called noarch packages. They don't have their own noarch directories on the mirrors, but are all in both the i586 and the x86_64 media.
This tool is present in the Mageia Control Center under the tab Software management.[4]
Column Enable:
The checked media will be used to install new packages. Be cautious with some media such as Testing and Debug, they could make your system unusable.
Column Update:
The checked media will be used to update packages, it must be enabled. Only media with "Update" in its name should be selected. For security reasons, this column isn't modifiable in this tool, you must open a console as root and type drakrpm-edit-media --expert.
Column medium:
Display the medium name. Mageia official repositories for final release versions contain at least:
Core which contains most programs available supported by Mageia.
Nonfree which contains some programs which are not free
Tainted free software for which there might be patent claims in some countries.
Each medium has 4 sub-sections:
Release the packages as of the day the this version of Mageia was released.
Updates the packages updated since release due to security or bug concerns. Everyone should have this medium enabled, even with a very slow internet connection.
Backports some packages of new versions backported from Cauldron (the next version under development).
Testing which is used for temporary tests of new updates, to allow the bug reporters and the QA team to validate the corrections.
To remove a medium, click on it and then on this button. It is wise to remove the medium used for the installation (CD or DVD for example) since all the packages it contains are in the official Core release medium.
Allows you to modify the selected medium settings, (URL, downloader and proxy).
Add the official repositories available on the Internet. These repositories contain only safe and well tested software. Clicking on the "Add" button adds the mirrorlist to your configuration, it is designed to make sure that you install and update from a mirror close to you. If you prefer to choose a specific mirror, then add it by choosing "Add a specific media mirror" from the drop-down "File" menu.
Change the list order. When Drakrpm looks for a package, it reads the list in the displayed order and will install the first package found for the same release number - in the event of a version mismatch, the latest release will be installed. So if possible, put the fastest repositories at the top.
A window pops up with the media list. Select the ones you want to update and click on the button.
Suppose you aren't happy with the actual mirror, because for example it's too slow or often unavailable, you can choose another mirror. Select all the actual media and click on to take them out. Click on , choose between update only or the full set (if you do not know, choose the ) and accept the contact by clicking on . This window opens:
You can see, on the left, a list of countries, choose yours or one very close by clicking on the > symbol, this will display all the available mirrors in that country. Select one and click on .
It is possible to install a new media (from a third party for example) that isn't supported by Mageia. A new window appears:
Select the medium type, find a smart name that well define the medium and give the URL (or the path, according to the medium type)
This item allows you to choose when to "Verify RPMs to be installed" (always or never), the download program (curl, wget or aria2) and to define the download policy for information about the packages (on demand -by default-, update only, always or never).
To guarantee a high level of security, digital keys are used to authenticate the media. It is possible for each medium to allow or disallow a key. In the window that appear, select a medium and then click on to allow a new key or to select a key and click on to disallow that key.
Advarsel
Do this with care, as with all security-related questions
If you need to use a proxy server for internet access, you can configure it here. You only need to give the and if necessary a Username and Password.
For more information about configuring the media, see the Mageia Wiki page.
[1] You can start this tool from the command line, by typing rpmdrake as root.
[2] You can start this tool from the command line, by typing MageiaUpdate or drakrpm-update as root.
[3] You can start this tool from the command line, by typing mgaapplet-config as root.
[4] You can start this tool from the command line, by typing drakrpm-edit-media as root.
