Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-11

How to Fix: RPM installation error: failed dependencies

RPM installation error fix for failed dependencies on GNU/Linux OS.

Quick Answer: Try reinstalling the application or using a different package manager, such as yum or dnf, to resolve the dependency issue.

The RPM installation error 'Failed dependencies: libncurses.so.5 is needed by sap-1.7.54-0.i686' occurs when the system cannot find or install the required libncurses.so.5 library for the SAP application. This issue affects users who are trying to install SAP on their GNU/Linux OS using RPM.

This error can be frustrating because it seems like a simple dependency issue, but it requires more investigation to resolve. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to identify and fix the libncurses.so.5 dependency issue.

⚠️ Common Causes

  • The libncurse library is sometimes linked in different ways depending on the system architecture (32-bit or 64-bit). This can lead to issues with dependencies when installing applications like SAP. Additionally, some systems may have a version mismatch between the installed and required libraries.
  • It's also possible that the issue lies within the RPM package itself, where the dependency information is incorrect or incomplete.

🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps

Identify and Install libncurses.so.5 from an alternate source

  1. Step 1: Check if there are any alternative sources for libncurses.so.5, such as a different repository or a local package manager.
  2. Step 2: If the library is available in a different location, install it using the appropriate package manager (e.g., yum or apt-get). For example, on a 32-bit system, you can try installing libncurses-devel from the RPM repository: `yum install libncurses-devel`.
  3. Step 3: After installation, verify that the new version of libncurses.so.5 is available by running `ls -lZ /usr/lib/libncurses*`.

Reinstall the SAP package with the correct dependencies

  1. Step 1: Try reinstalling the SAP package using the `--force-reinstall` option: `rpm --force-reinstall i sap-1.7.54-0.i686.rpm`.
  2. Step 2: If the issue persists, try removing the existing SAP package and its dependencies before reinstalling it: `rpm -e sap-1.7.54`.
  3. Step 3: After removal, reinstall the SAP package: `rpm -i sap-1.7.54-0.i686.rpm`.

💡 Conclusion

To resolve the RPM installation error 'Failed dependencies: libncurses.so.5 is needed by sap-1.7.54-0.i686', try identifying and installing libncurses.so.5 from an alternate source or reinstalling the SAP package with the correct dependencies. If you are still experiencing issues, consider checking the system's architecture and library versions for any potential conflicts.

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