The dpkg environment settings are configured in /etc/dpkg/dpkg.cfg file.
Installing packages
Install this package (no dependencies)
# dpkg -i flashplugin.deb
List all installed packages
# dpkg -l
List this installed package && list all installed packages
# dpkg -l nginx
# dpkg -l
Install recursively all packages inside /packages/ directory
# dpkg -R --install /packages/
Unpack the package, but won’t install or configure it
# dpkg --unpack package.deb
It will configure the unpacked package
# dpkg --configure unpacked_package.deb
Removing packages
Remove this package, leave its configuration files (needs only package name)
# dpkg -r nginx
Remove this package, and its configuration files (needs only package name)
# dpkg -P nginx
Query packages
View the contents of the package
# dpkg -c nginx.deb
See status of the package. Is installed or not, and other details about it.
# dpkg -s nginx
List all files installed with nginx
# dpkg -L nginx