How to Enable an EPEL Repository

The Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux (EPEL) repository provides additional high-quality packages for Linux distributions like CentOS, RHEL, and Fedora. Enabling the EPEL repository is essential for users who want to access software that isn’t included in the default repositories. This article will guide you through the steps to enable the EPEL repository on your system.

Step 1: Check Your System Version

Before enabling the EPEL repository, you should check your Linux distribution and version. This can be done using the following command:

This command will display information about your Linux distribution and version, helping you choose the correct EPEL package.

Step 2: Install the EPEL Release Package

The EPEL repository is made available through a package called

. Depending on your system version, you can install this package using the following commands:

For CentOS/RHEL 7

For CentOS/RHEL 8

For Fedora

The EPEL repository is already included in Fedora, but if you want to enable it, you can use:

Step 3: Enable the EPEL Repository

After installing the

package, the EPEL repository is typically enabled by default. You can verify its status by running:

or

You should see

listed in the output. If it’s not enabled, you can enable it manually using the following command:

or

Step 4: Install Packages from EPEL

With the EPEL repository enabled, you can now install packages that are available in this repository. Use the following command to install a package:

or

Replace

with the name of the software you wish to install.

Step 5: Updating Packages

To keep your system and installed packages up to date, regularly run the following command:

or

This ensures that you have the latest packages from both the default and EPEL repositories.

Conclusion

Enabling the EPEL repository is a straightforward process that greatly expands the software available to CentOS, RHEL, and Fedora users. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can access a wealth of additional packages and enhance your Linux experience. Whether you’re looking for utilities, libraries, or development tools, the EPEL repository has something for everyone.