How Do I Install Linux Applications on My Spinup Server?

Installing software on your Linux server depends on the distribution (or “distro”) you are using. Spinup currently supports:

Ubuntu (Debian-based)
AlmaLinux (Red Hat-compatible)
Amazon Linux (Amazon’s RHEL-based distribution)

Each distribution uses its own package manager to install, update, and remove software.

Ubuntu (APT)

Ubuntu uses the APT package manager (apt) for installing and managing software packages.

Common Commands

# Install a package
sudo apt install <package-name>

# Update your package lists
sudo apt update

# Upgrade all installed packages
sudo apt upgrade

# Remove a package
sudo apt remove <package-name>

# Search for packages
apt search <keyword>

# List package details
apt show <package-name>

# Add a third-party repository
sudo add-apt-repository <ppa or URL>

View the manual: man apt

AlmaLinux (DNF/YUM)

AlmaLinux uses the DNF package manager (backward-compatible with yum).

Common Commands

# Install a package
sudo dnf install <package-name>

# Update a package
sudo dnf update <package-name>

# Upgrade all packages
sudo dnf upgrade

# Remove a package
sudo dnf remove <package-name>

# Search for packages
dnf search <keyword>

# View package details
dnf info <package-name>

# Add a repository
sudo dnf config-manager --add-repo <repository_url>

View the manual: man dnf
Yum Cheat Sheet: https://access.redhat.com/articles/yum-cheat-sheet

Amazon Linux (DNF/YUM)

Amazon Linux also uses DNF or YUM depending on the version. The same commands listed under AlmaLinux will typically apply.

If in doubt, try dnf first; if unavailable, fall back to yum.

Best Practices

Always run sudo apt update or sudo dnf check-update before installing new packages.
Only install packages from trusted sources or repositories.
Avoid disabling core security features like SELinux or firewall rules unless absolutely necessary.

Need Help?

Email spinup@yale.edu
Post in the #spinup channel on Yale Slack

Keeping your system up to date and using package managers responsibly is key to maintaining secure, reliable servers in Spinup.