Ubuntu Daily: Install rpm packages by converting them to deb

Ubuntu Daily: Install rpm packages by converting them to deb
Install rpm packages by converting them to deb

Once in a while you might want to install software that is neither in a repository nor available as a standalone deb package.

If you're in this situation, there is another option for you, converting an rpm file and installing the so created deb.

So if you do have an rpm file and want to install it, follow these steps:

1. Install the packages alien and fakeroot. This is easily done with the following command:

sudo apt-get install alien fakeroot

2. Download the rpm file and open a terminal in the directory the rpm is in.
3. Run the following command to start the conversion:

fakeroot alien NameOfThe.rpm

4. After a few seconds there will be a deb file that you can install like this:

sudo dpkg -i NameOfThe.deb