CentOS / RHEL / Scientific Linux 6 Enable & Install EPEL Repo

Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux (or EPEL) is a Fedora Special Interest Group that creates, maintains, and manages a high quality set of additional packages for Enterprise Linux, including, but not limited to, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL),CentOS and Scientific Linux (SL). How do I enable it under CentOS 6 or RHLE 6 server?

          

You need to install the following rpms as per your Enterprise Linux version. Use thewget command to download rpm files

If you are running an CentOS6/EL6 version, enter:

$ cd /tmp$ wget http://mirror-fpt-telecom.fpt.net/fedora/epel/6/i386/epel-release-6-8.noarch.rpm# rpm -ivh epel-release-6-8.noarch.rpm

If you are running an CentOS5/EL5 version, enter:

$ cd /tmp$ wget http://download.fedoraproject.org/pub/epel/5/i386/epel-release-5-4.noarch.rpm# rpm -ivh epel-release-5-4.noarch.rpm

If you are running an CentOS4/EL4 version, enter:

The following may not be supported:

$ cd /tmp$ wget http://download.fedoraproject.org/pub/epel/4/i386/epel-release-4-10.noarch.rpm# rpm -ivh epel-release-4-10.noarch.rpm

Install epel*.rpm file using yum command

You can use the yum command instead of rpm command:

# yum install epel-release-6-8.noarch.rpm

Sample outputs:

Loaded plugins: product-id, rhnplugin, security, subscription-managerThis system is not registered to Red Hat Subscription Management. You can use subscription-manager to register.This system is receiving updates from RHN Classic or RHN Satellite.Setting up Install ProcessExamining epel-release-6-8.noarch.rpm: epel-release-6-8.noarchMarking epel-release-6-8.noarch.rpm to be installedResolving Dependencies--> Running transaction check---> Package epel-release.noarch 0:6-8 will be installed--> Finished Dependency Resolution Dependencies Resolved ================================================================================ Package            Arch         Version   Repository                      Size================================================================================Installing: epel-release       noarch       6-8       /epel-release-6-8.noarch        22 k Transaction Summary================================================================================Install       1 Package(s) Total size: 22 kInstalled size: 22 kIs this ok [y/N]: yDownloading Packages:Running rpm_check_debugRunning Transaction TestTransaction Test SucceededRunning Transaction  Installing : epel-release-6-8.noarch                                      1/1  Verifying  : epel-release-6-8.noarch                                      1/1 Installed:  epel-release.noarch 0:6-8 Complete!

How do I list all enabled repos?

Type the following commands:

OR

# yum -v repolist | less

Sample outputs:

How do I list all packages in EPEL repo?

Type the following command to list all packages from EPEL repo only:

# yum --disablerepo="*" --enablerepo="epel" list available

To search packages in epel repo only, enter:

# yum --disablerepo="*" --enablerepo="epel" search packageNameHere# yum --disablerepo="*" --enablerepo="epel" search nginx

How do I use EPEL repo?

Simply use the yum commands to search or install packages from EPEL repo:

# yum search nginx# yum update# yum --disablerepo="*" --enablerepo="epel" install nginx

Sample outputs:

Loaded plugins: product-id, rhnplugin, subscription-managerUpdating certificate-based repositories.epel/metalink                                                                                                                          |  13 kB     00:00epel                                                                                                                                   | 4.3 kB     00:00epel/primary_db                                                                                                                        | 4.1 MB     00:03Setting up Update ProcessResolving Dependencies--> Running transaction check---> Package dkms.noarch 0:2.0.10-1 will be updated---> Package dkms.noarch 0:2.1.0.1-1.el6 will be an update---> Package iftop.x86_64 0:0.17-1.el6 will be updated---> Package iftop.x86_64 0:1.0-0.1.pre2.el6 will be an update--> Finished Dependency ResolutionDependencies Resolved============================================================================================================================================================== Package                            Arch                                Version                                       Repository                         Size==============================================================================================================================================================Updating: dkms                               noarch                              2.1.0.1-1.el6                                 epel                               99 k iftop                              x86_64                              1.0-0.1.pre2.el6                              epel                               44 kTransaction Summary==============================================================================================================================================================Upgrade       2 Package(s)Total download size: 144 kIs this ok [y/N]: yDownloading Packages:(1/2): dkms-2.1.0.1-1.el6.noarch.rpm                                                                                                   |  99 kB     00:00(2/2): iftop-1.0-0.1.pre2.el6.x86_64.rpm                                                                                               |  44 kB     00:00--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Total                                                                                                                         543 kB/s | 144 kB     00:00warning: rpmts_HdrFromFdno: Header V3 RSA/SHA256 Signature, key ID 0608b895: NOKEYRetrieving key from file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-EPEL-6Importing GPG key 0x0608B895: Userid : EPEL (6)  Package: epel-release-6-5.noarch (installed) From   : /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-EPEL-6Is this ok [y/N]: yRunning rpm_check_debugRunning Transaction TestTransaction Test SucceededRunning TransactionWarning: RPMDB altered outside of yum.  Updating   : dkms-2.1.0.1-1.el6.noarch                                                                                                                  1/4  Updating   : iftop-1.0-0.1.pre2.el6.x86_64                                                                                                              2/4  Cleanup    : dkms-2.0.10-1.noarch                                                                                                                       3/4  Cleanup    : iftop-0.17-1.el6.x86_64                                                                                                                    4/4Installed products updated.Updated:  dkms.noarch 0:2.1.0.1-1.el6                                                 iftop.x86_64 0:1.0-0.1.pre2.el6Complete!