How to Install EPEL on Rocky Linux EL9 or EL8

In the evolving landscape of Linux distributions, the need for additional packages that aren’t natively available in the core repositories is a common challenge. Enter EPEL, or Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux, a crucial repository for users of enterprise-level operating systems. This guide will demonstrate how to install EPEL on Rocky Linux 9 or Rocky Linux 8, ensuring users can access a broader range of software packages tailored to their needs.

What is EPEL?

Origin and Purpose: EPEL is a free and open-source community-driven repository initiated and maintained by the Fedora Project. Its primary aim is to provide high-quality add-on software packages for enterprise Linux distributions.
Compatibility: While EPEL was initially designed for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and its derivatives, it’s also fully compatible with distributions like Rocky Linux, CentOS, and more.
Package Maintenance: One of the standout features of EPEL is its commitment to maintaining stable packages. This means that, unlike some repositories, you won’t find bleeding-edge software versions here. Instead, EPEL focuses on stability and security, ensuring enterprise users have a reliable software base.

Why EPEL Matters for Rocky Linux Users?

Extended Software Range: With EPEL, Rocky Linux users can access many additional packages unavailable in the default repositories. This broadens the scope of software solutions available for various tasks.
Security and Stability: EPEL’s commitment to stability ensures that the packages are both additional and reliable. This is crucial for enterprise environments where system uptime and security are paramount.
Community Support: Being a community-driven project, EPEL benefits from the collective expertise of numerous developers and Linux enthusiasts. This ensures that the packages are up-to-date and optimized for performance.

As you delve deeper into this guide, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of how to seamlessly integrate EPEL into your Linux distribution, unlocking a plethora of software solutions tailored to enterprise needs.

Table of Contents

Step 1: Refresh and Update Your Rocky Linux System

Before diving into the installation process, ensuring that your Rocky Linux system is updated with the latest packages is imperative. This ensures compatibility and optimizes the system for the new additions. To achieve this, execute the following command:

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

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

Step 2: Incorporate EPEL and EPEL Next Repositories for Rocky Linux

Integrating the EPEL repository is essential to enhance your Rocky Linux system’s capabilities. Given the diverse versions of Rocky Linux, aligning the EPEL repository version with your specific Rocky Linux version is crucial. For optimal performance and compatibility, installing both the standard EPEL and the EPEL Next repositories is advisable.

Option 1: Integrate EPEL for Rocky Linux 9

Enable the CodeReady Builder repository (CRB):

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

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:

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

Option 2: Integrate EPEL for Rocky Linux 8

Enable the PowerTools Repository:

Before integrating EPEL, enabling the PowerTools repository is essential, which provides additional development and debugging tools for Rocky Linux 8. To enable PowerTools, use the following command:

sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled powertools

Install EPEL and EPEL Next:

With PowerTools enabled, you can now incorporate the EPEL repositories for Rocky Linux 8. Execute the following command:

sudo dnf install \
    https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/epel/epel-release-latest-8.noarch.rpm \
    https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/epel/epel-next-release-latest-8.noarch.rpm

Step 3: Verification of EPEL or EPEL Next Installation on Rocky Linux

Upon successfully integrating the EPEL repository into your Rocky Linux system, validating the installation is prudent. 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:

dnf repolist | grep epel

Expected Output:

epel                Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux 9 - x86_64
epel-next           Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux 9 - Next - x86_64

If the output mirrors the above, it confirms that the EPEL repository has been successfully integrated into your system.

Step 4: Understanding Basic EPEL Command Tips

Being adept with the EPEL or EPEL Next repository commands can significantly enhance your package management experience. Here are some foundational commands to get you started:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

sudo dnf --enablerepo="epel" upgrade

This will upgrade all EPEL packages to their latest versions.

Conclusion

This comprehensive guide delved into the intricacies of installing EPEL and EPEL Next on Rocky Linux 9 and 8. The EPEL repository, an initiative of the Fedora Special Interest Group, offers many additional packages tailored for Enterprise Linux distributions. By integrating EPEL and EPEL Next, users can unlock a vast array of software solutions, enhancing the capabilities of their Rocky Linux systems. Ensuring the repository is correctly configured and regularly updated to harness its full potential is imperative. As a final recommendation, users should always validate installations and stay informed about updates to maintain system stability and security.

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