The dnf utility, which is based on Dandified Yum (DNF), is the client software for installing and managing packages on systems running Oracle Linux 8 or later releases. These packages can come from either the Oracle Linux yum server or from ULN. While installing or upgrading packages, dnf also automatically handles package dependencies and requirements.

DNF provides significant improvements in functionality and performance when compared to the traditional yum command. DNF also brings a host of new features, including modular content, and a more stable and documented API. DNF is compatible with Yum v3 for editing or creating configuration files and for managing repositories and packages. You can use the dnf command and all its options in the same manner as how you use the yum command on previous releases of Oracle Linux.

To provide backward compatibility, the yum and dnf commands are interchangeable. You not only can perform tasks similar to those that you performed in earlier releases of Oracle Linux, but you can also avail of a wider range of new features that are available in dnf, such as improved package management and performance. To view syntax differences between dnf and legacy yum commands, see Comparing Yum Version 3 With DNF.

When you run the dnf command, the system connects to either the yum server repository or to the ULN channel and downloads the latest software packages to the system in RPM format. The dnf command then displays a list of the available packages so that you can select which packages you want to install.

For more information, see the dnf(8) manual page and https://dnf.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html.