EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) is a Fedora Project initiative that provides additional, high-quality packages for Rocky Linux, Alma Linux, CentOS Stream, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). EPEL does not replace base distribution packages; it adds software not in the default repos.

For Rocky Linux or Alma Linux 8 (and CentOS 8), see How to install and enable EPEL repository on Rocky Linux/CentOS 8.

EPEL Next is built against CentOS Stream (EPEL is built against RHEL). EPEL Next is a subset of packages rebuilt for Stream and is used on top of the regular EPEL repo. This guide shows how to install and enable EPEL and EPEL Next on Rocky Linux 9 and Alma Linux 9 (and other RHEL 9–compatible distros).

In this guide you’ll:

• Update the system and enable the CodeReady Builder (CRB) repository
• Install EPEL and EPEL Next using the official Fedora RPMs for EL9
• Verify with dnf repolist and use common dnf commands for EPEL (search, info, check-update, upgrade)

Update and refresh your system

Before we proceed, ensure that you have the latest packages installed. This step ensures compatibility and optimizes the system for the new additions. Execute the following command to achieve this:

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sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

This command will refresh the package repository information and upgrade all the packages on your system to their latest versions.

Integrate EPEL

Enable the CodeReady Builder repository (CRB)

This repository contains additional packages that complement the main distribution and enhance its capabilities. To enable CRB, execute:

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sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled crb

Install EPEL and EPEL Next:

With the CRB enabled, proceed to install the EPEL repositories tailored for Rocky Linux 9 using the following command:

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sudo dnf install \
    https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/epel/epel-release-latest-9.noarch.rpm \
    https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/epel/epel-next-release-latest-9.noarch.rpm

Remember to type y when prompted to confirm installation.

Verify EPEL and EPEL Next Installation

Once the EPEL repository is successfully integrated into your Rocky Linux or Alma Linux system, validate that it is set up correctly. This ensures the repository has been correctly configured and ready for use. To achieve this, the dnf repolist command serves as an efficient tool.

Execute the following command:

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dnf repolist | grep epel

If all went as expected, you should see an output similar to this

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$ dnf repolist | grep epel

epel                Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux 9 - x86_64
epel-cisco-openh264 Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux 9 openh264 (From Cisco) - x86_64
epel-next           Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux 9 - Next - x86_64

Basic usage of EPEL

These are common use cases and commands when working with the EPEL repository:

Searching for Specific Packages

If you’re unsure about the exact name of a package but have a general idea, you can use the dnf search command:

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sudo dnf --enablerepo="epel" search keyword

Replace keyword with a term related to the package you’re looking for. This will return a list of packages that match or are related to the keyword.

Getting Detailed Information

To get detailed information about a specific package, including its description, version, and dependencies:

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sudo dnf --enablerepo="epel" info package_name

Checking for Package Updates in EPEL

To see if there are updates available for packages you’ve installed from EPEL:

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sudo dnf --enablerepo="epel" check-update

This will list all packages from EPEL that have updates available.

Removing a Package

If you’ve installed a package from EPEL and wish to remove it:

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sudo dnf remove package_name

Replace package_name with the name of the package you want to uninstall.

Disabling EPEL Temporarily

There might be times when you want to install or update packages without considering the EPEL repository. To temporarily disable EPEL during a DNF operation:

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sudo dnf --disablerepo="epel" command

Replace command with the DNF command you wish to execute.

Keeping EPEL Packages Updated

To ensure that all packages you’ve installed from EPEL are updated:

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sudo dnf --enablerepo="epel" upgrade

This will upgrade all EPEL packages to their latest versions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is EPEL?

EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) is a Fedora Project repository that provides additional packages for RHEL and compatible distributions (Rocky Linux, Alma Linux, CentOS Stream). Packages are built to work alongside—not replace—base distribution packages and are based on Fedora packages.

What is EPEL Next?

EPEL Next is built against CentOS Stream rather than RHEL. It is a subset of EPEL (only packages that need rebuilding for Stream) and is intended to be used together with the regular EPEL repo on Stream-based systems.

How do I install EPEL on Rocky Linux 9 or Alma Linux 9?

Enable the CodeReady Builder (CRB) repo with sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled crb, then install the EPEL and EPEL Next release RPMs: sudo dnf install https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/epel/epel-release-latest-9.noarch.rpm https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/epel/epel-next-release-latest-9.noarch.rpm. Verify with dnf repolist | grep epel.

What is the CodeReady Builder (CRB) repository?

CRB (CodeReady Builder), formerly PowerTools, is an optional repository that provides additional development and dependency packages. Enabling CRB is required (or recommended) before installing EPEL on RHEL 9 and compatible distros like Rocky Linux 9 and Alma Linux 9.

How do I search for packages in EPEL?

Use sudo dnf --enablerepo="epel" search keyword (replace keyword with your search term). To get details about a package: sudo dnf --enablerepo="epel" info package_name.

Conclusion

You now have EPEL and EPEL Next installed and enabled on Rocky Linux 9 or Alma Linux 9. Use dnf search, dnf info, and dnf install with the EPEL repo to add extra packages. For more third-party repos (e.g. newer PHP), see how to install and enable the Remi repository on Alma/Rocky Linux 8 and 9.