EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) extends Rocky Linux with thousands of production-ready packages maintained by the Fedora Project. Tools like iotop, fail2ban, updated development libraries, and web server modules arrive through EPEL without sacrificing stability. If the default repositories feel limited, EPEL unlocks modern tools and development capabilities in minutes.
This guide covers installing EPEL on Rocky Linux 10, 9, and 8 with version-specific setup details. Rocky Linux 10 and 9 use the CRB repository, Rocky Linux 8 uses PowerTools, and standard EPEL is sufficient for all three. EPEL Next exists for CentOS Stream 9 compatibility and is optional on Rocky Linux unless a package specifically calls for it.
Refresh and Update Your Rocky Linux System
Before installing EPEL, update your Rocky Linux system with the latest packages. This ensures compatibility and reduces the risk of conflicts during installation. Next, run the following command:
sudo dnf upgrade --refreshThis command will refresh the package repository information and upgrade all the packages on your system to their latest versions.
Import the EPEL Repository
EPEL installation requirements differ by Rocky Linux version. Rocky Linux 10 and 9 rely on the CRB repository for development packages, while Rocky Linux 8 uses PowerTools. Each version needs its development repository enabled before installing EPEL. The standard EPEL release package is sufficient for Rocky Linux; add EPEL Next only if a specific package requires CentOS Stream 9 dependencies.
Check Your Rocky Linux Version and Development Repository Status
Before enabling EPEL, verify your Rocky Linux version and check which development repository (CRB or PowerTools) is available on your system. Run this command to see all available repositories:
dnf repolist --all | grep -E '(crb|powertools)'Rocky Linux 9 or 10 output (CRB repository):
crb Rocky Linux 9 - CRB disabled
Rocky Linux 8 output (PowerTools repository):
powertools Rocky Linux 8 - PowerTools disabled
The output shows repository ID, name, and status (enabled or disabled). If CRB appears, you’re on Rocky Linux 9 or 10. Alternatively, if PowerTools appears, you’re on Rocky Linux 8. Next, you’ll enable the appropriate repository in the steps below based on your version.
Option 1: Install EPEL on Rocky Linux 10
Rocky Linux 10 targets RHEL 10 compatibility and uses the CRB repository for development packages. First, enable CRB:
sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled crbFollowing this, install the EPEL repository:
sudo dnf install -y https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/epel/epel-release-latest-10.noarch.rpmOption 2: Install EPEL on Rocky Linux 9
Rocky Linux 9 targets RHEL 9 compatibility and normally uses only the standard EPEL repository. First, enable CRB:
sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled crbThen, install the EPEL release package:
sudo dnf install -y https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/epel/epel-release-latest-9.noarch.rpmIf you need a package that explicitly requires CentOS Stream 9 dependencies, add EPEL Next alongside EPEL:
sudo dnf install -y https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/epel/epel-next-release-latest-9.noarch.rpmOption 3: Install EPEL on Rocky Linux 8
Rocky Linux 8 targets RHEL 8 compatibility and uses the PowerTools repository for development and debugging tools. First, enable PowerTools:
sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled powertoolsThen, install the EPEL repository:
sudo dnf install -y https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/epel/epel-release-latest-8.noarch.rpmRocky Linux is an RHEL-compatible distribution and does not require subscription management. Rocky Linux 10 and 9 use the crb (Code Ready Builder) repository, while Rocky Linux 8 uses powertools. The standard epel-release package covers Rocky Linux; enable epel-next-release only when a package specifically calls for CentOS Stream 9 dependencies.
Verify EPEL Installation Success
Verify the EPEL repository is properly configured:
dnf repolist | grep epelRocky Linux 10 output (EPEL only):
epel Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux 10 - x86_64
Rocky Linux 9 output (EPEL only):
epel Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux 9 - x86_64
If you added EPEL Next for a Stream-specific package, you will also see:
epel-next Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux 9 - Next - x86_64
Rocky Linux 8 output (EPEL only):
epel Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux 8 - x86_64
If you see the appropriate EPEL repositories listed, the installation succeeded.
Searching for Available EPEL Packages
With EPEL installed, you can now search for available packages and discover what’s available beyond your default repositories. Use the dnf search command to find packages by keyword:
dnf search htopThe output displays matching packages with brief descriptions:
===================== Name Exactly Matched: htop ====================== htop.x86_64 : Interactive process viewer ==================== Name & Summary Matched: htop ==================== htop-devel.x86_64 : Development files for htop
This searches package names and descriptions across all enabled repositories including EPEL. To view detailed information about a specific package, use dnf info:
dnf info iotopThe output shows complete package metadata including the repository source:
Available Packages
Name : iotop
Version : 0.6
Release : 29.el9
Architecture : noarch
Size : 59 k
Source : iotop-0.6-29.el9.src.rpm
Repository : epel
Summary : Top like utility for I/O
License : GPLv2+
Description : Linux has always been able to show how much I/O was going on
: (the bi and bo columns of the vmstat 1 command).
Watch for the Repository: epel line to confirm the package comes from EPEL. Additionally, you can list all available EPEL packages with:
dnf repository-packages epel list available | head -20This command displays the first 20 packages from EPEL with their versions and architectures, making it easy to browse what’s available for your Rocky Linux system.
Installing Your First EPEL Packages
With EPEL installed, you immediately gain access to thousands of packages. Here are practical examples of high-value tools commonly installed from EPEL:
Disk I/O Monitoring: Install iotop
iotop is a real-time disk I/O monitoring tool available only through EPEL, not in Rocky Linux’s default repositories. It shows which processes consume the most disk bandwidth, invaluable for diagnosing slow systems. Install it with:
sudo dnf install iotopNext, verify the installation completed successfully:
iotop --versionThen, launch the monitor with superuser privileges:
sudo iotopThe interface displays processes sorted by disk I/O activity with columns showing read/write bandwidth, process ID, user, and command. Press q to exit. Use iotop to identify which processes cause disk bottlenecks during database operations, backup tasks, or container workloads.
Intrusion Detection: Install fail2ban
fail2ban monitors logs and blocks repeated failed login attempts, protecting SSH and web services from brute-force attacks. Install it from EPEL:
sudo dnf install fail2banNext, start and enable the service:
sudo systemctl start fail2ban && sudo systemctl enable fail2banThen, verify fail2ban is running and protecting your system:
sudo fail2ban-client statusThis shows active jails (protection rules) monitoring SSH and other services. fail2ban automatically blocks IP addresses after configurable failed login attempts, reducing brute-force attack exposure on internet-facing servers.
System Monitoring: Install htop
htop provides an interactive process viewer with color-coded resource usage, making it easier to monitor system performance compared to the standard top command. Install it from EPEL:
sudo dnf install htopNext, launch htop to view system resources:
htopThe interface shows CPU usage per core, memory consumption, running processes, and system load averages with intuitive color coding. Press F10 or q to exit. Use htop to quickly identify resource-heavy processes, sort by memory or CPU usage with interactive keys, and send signals to processes directly from the interface.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
PowerTools or CRB Repository Not Found
Verify which repository your Rocky Linux version uses:
cat /etc/rocky-releaseRocky Linux 8 uses powertools, while versions 9 and 10 use crb. Next, check if the repository exists:
dnf repolist --all | grep -E '(powertools|crb)'If disabled, enable the appropriate one for your version.
EPEL Repository Not Showing After Installation
First, list all configured repositories:
dnf repolist --allIf EPEL appears but shows as disabled, enable it manually:
sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled epelIf you also installed EPEL Next on Rocky Linux 9, enable it as well:
sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled epel-nextPackage Installation Fails from EPEL
First, clear the DNF cache and rebuild repository metadata:
sudo dnf clean all && sudo dnf makecacheThen, verify EPEL is accessible:
sudo dnf --enablerepo=epel list available | head -20If packages appear, EPEL is working correctly.
Wrong EPEL Version Installed
First, check your Rocky Linux version:
cat /etc/rocky-releaseNext, check installed EPEL version:
rpm -qa | grep epel-releaseIf versions don’t match, remove the wrong EPEL package:
sudo dnf remove epel-release epel-next-releaseFinally, reinstall the correct version following the instructions above.
Disable or Remove EPEL Temporarily
If you need to troubleshoot package conflicts or test whether a package comes from EPEL, you can temporarily disable the repository without uninstalling it:
sudo dnf config-manager --set-disabled epelIf you enabled EPEL Next on Rocky Linux 9, also disable it:
sudo dnf config-manager --set-disabled epel-nextTo re-enable EPEL later, use the same syntax with --set-enabled instead of --set-disabled. Alternatively, if you need to completely remove EPEL including all installed packages from it, uninstall the release packages:
sudo dnf remove epel-release epel-next-releaseThis removes the EPEL repositories from your system but leaves any packages you’ve already installed from EPEL intact. Your other Rocky Linux packages remain unaffected.
Managing and Updating EPEL
Your Rocky Linux system now has EPEL configured and ready to use. EPEL is maintained by the Fedora Project, the upstream organization behind Fedora Linux and supported by Red Hat, ensuring packages are stable and trustworthy. From here, you can install monitoring tools like iotop and fail2ban, additional development libraries, or explore specialized repositories like Remi for PHP versions (which depends on EPEL) or nginx-mainline for web server enhancements.
Keeping EPEL Packages Updated
EPEL packages receive regular security and bug fix updates alongside your standard Rocky Linux updates. Keep your system current by running the system upgrade command:
sudo dnf upgradeThis command updates all installed packages including those from EPEL, thereby ensuring you receive security patches and improvements.
Removing EPEL Packages
To uninstall a specific EPEL package, use the standard DNF remove command:
sudo dnf remove package-nameFor example, to remove iotop:
sudo dnf remove iotopDNF displays any dependent packages that would also be removed and prompts for confirmation before proceeding. The command output shows exactly what will be removed and how much disk space will be freed. Importantly, EPEL repositories remain available for future use even after removing individual packages from them.