Description of problem: RPM's man page info on --initdb implies that any existing RPM database will be replaced by a new, empty database. Possibly this used to be the effect, but currently --initdb only ensures that an RPM database is present (in fact, just the Packages file), and doesn't do anything if the database already exists. Therefore it is safe and unnecessary to do an --initdb at any time, such as just before a --rebuilddb. The man page section on --initdb could say: "Use --initdb to ensure that the database exists, without changing any existing database; use --rebuilddb to rebuild the database indices from the installed package headers in the Packages file." Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): rpm-4.4.2-32.i386 How reproducible: Steps to Reproduce: 1. man rpm 2. 3. Actual results: Expected results: Additional info:
--initdb meaning clarified in rpm.org manual now.