The managed Linux environment at the College of Engineering has the ability to allow users to install packages from standard repositories on their own (without needing to contact IT directly).

  • self-service allows installation only from standard repositories, it is not possible to install local packages

How to Install a Package using Self Service

  1. Open terminal/command line

  2. Type in self-service (you will be prompted for your login password)

    1. self-service without any arguments prints help with a list of options

  3. To search for available packages for install, run the command below. This will search for available packages with <package name> in the name or description.

    1. self-service --search <package name>

  4. Run the following command to list packages that were installed using self-service

    1. self-service --list_installed

  5. To check for and install a package from a standard repository, run the following command. The install will be scheduled to run in the next 30 minutes.

    1. self-service --install <package name> [<package name> ... ]

How to Uninstall or cancel a Scheduled Install

  1. Open the command line

  2. To mark a package (which was installed with self-service) for removal in the next 30 min, run the following command

    1. self-service --uninstall <package name> [<package name> ...]

If you run this command against a package scheduled for install, this will cancel the install.