Understanding EPEL: Install and Use Extra Packages in Linux
- EPEL is a trusted repository created and maintained by a dedicated group within the Fedora community.
- It provides high quality packages that are not included in the base RHEL repositories.
- With more than 5,000 packages available, the EPEL repository greatly expands the capabilities of RHEL-based systems.
If you’ve ever searched for a software package on a RHEL-based distribution, only to find it missing from the default repositories, you’re not alone. This is a common challenge for many system administrators. You’ve probably encountered software that directs you to the EPEL repository as a solution.
But what exactly is EPEL, and why has it become an essential resource for many Enterprise Linux users? In this guide, we’ll explain what EPEL is and how you can easily enable and use it on your system.
What Is EPEL?
EPEL, or Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux, is a repository of additional software packages for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and its compatible derivatives like CentOS, Rocky Linux, and AlmaLinux. Managed by the Fedora Project, it provides a broad selection of free and open-source software that complements the official package sets found in these enterprise-grade operating systems. EPEL does not replace the default repositories and only includes the packages that are not present in those repositories.
Why Is EPEL Important?
Enterprise Linux distributions like RHEL prioritize stability and long-term support, leading to a curated set of software packages. While this approach ensures reliability, it can leave users searching for additional tools and utilities. The EPEL repository addresses this need by providing high quality additional packages built from Fedora sources. This allows users of RHEL-based distributions to access a wider range of tools, such as htop, ImageMagick, Chromium, and various programming language modules.
The goal of EPEL is simple yet essential: to bridge the gap between the extensive package library available in Fedora Linux and the more streamlined, stability-focused repositories of RHEL and compatible derivatives. You can browse all EPEL packages in the Fedora Packages web app, which provides detailed information about the packages and their available versions across various EPEL branches.
How to Enable and Use the EPEL Repository
Installation:
The EPEL repository is available as an RPM package. To install it on your system, execute the following command:
sudo yum install epel-release
OR
sudo dnf install epel-release
To verify the repository is installed and enabled, run this command to view all repositories on the system:
sudo yum repolist
OR
sudo dnf repolist
You should see the EPEL repository listed with the repo_id “epel” and repo_name “Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux.”
Install Packages from EPEL:
You can now search for and install packages available in the EPEL repository.
sudo yum install package_name
OR
sudo dnf install package_name
Temporarily Disable EPEL:
If you want to temporarily disable EPEL, you can do so using this command.
sudo dnf config-manager –disable epel
To enable it again, you can use the “–enable” parameter in the above command.
Final Thoughts
While EPEL isn’t a requirement for running enterprise Linux, it’s an incredibly useful resource. Think of it as your go-to toolkit for expanding your system’s functionality without compromising stability. At the time of writing, the EPEL repository includes thousands of additional packages, ranging from developer tools to essential applications that aren’t included in the base Enterprise Linux distributions.
For users still running older enterprise Linux distributions such as CentOS 6, 7, or 8, it’s crucial to consider their end-of-life status. These systems no longer receive official security updates, making them vulnerable to threats. If migrating to alternatives like AlmaLinux isn’t immediately feasible, opting for extended support can help protect systems.
TuxCare’s Endless Lifecycle Support (ELS) offers security patches for end-of-life Linux systems as long as needed beyond the end-of-life date. It allows organizations to continue maintaining security and compliance while having enough time to plan for migrations. ELS covers over 140 packages, including critical ones like the Linux kernel, glibc, OpenSSL, Python, and others. For a complete list of covered packages, you can visit here.
TuxCare currently supports these end-of-life Linux distributions: CentOS 6, CentOS 7, CentOS 8, CentOS Stream 8, Oracle Linux 6, Oracle Linux 7, Ubuntu 16.04, and Ubuntu 18.04.


