RHEL Linux - Red Hat System Administration Practice Exam

yum install cowsay will do which of the following?

1. installs the software package for cowsay

2. install any dependencies for cowsay

3. installs the software package for cowsay, including any dependencies

4. none of the above

The correct answer is: installs the software package for cowsay, including any dependencies

When you execute the command `yum install cowsay`, the package manager `yum` performs a specific function that includes both the installation of the specified software package and the management of any required dependencies. The correct option indicates that it not only installs the 'cowsay' package but also automatically resolves and installs any dependencies that 'cowsay' might need to function correctly. This automatic handling of dependencies is a fundamental design feature of package managers like `yum`, ensuring that the software you install has all of the necessary components without requiring separate installation steps. In many cases, software packages rely on various libraries or other packages to work. By managing these dependencies, `yum` simplifies the installation process for the user, reducing the complexity of ensuring that all requisite software components are correctly set up before the main application can be used. As a result, users can be confident that when they install a software package via `yum`, the software will run smoothly without missing components. This is particularly useful in Red Hat derivatives where the list of dependencies can often be extensive.