EPEL6 FAQ
What is EPEL6?
EPEL6 is an add on repository for RHEL and it's variants. It contains packages that are not shipped by RHEL.
How do I use it?
Install the epel-release package from any mirror:
rpm -Uvh http://mirrors.tummy.com/pub/fedora.redhat.com/epel/beta/6/x86_64//epel-release-6-5.noarch.rpm
IMPORTANT: Enable the 'optional' repo/channel from RHN. Some packages from this channel may be needed as dependencies of EPEL packages.
Then install packages as normal with yum and other tools.
What can be in EPEL?
EPEL6 will not ship any packages that have src.rpms on public mirrors under 6* directories with the following exception: If the binary rpm is only shipped in some arches in RHEL, EPEL may ship a package as close as possible to the RHEL version with a leading package Release of 0. (ie, libfoo-1.2-0.x) (note that EPEL maintainer must keep up exactly with the RHEL src.rpm where possible).
EXAMPLES:
foobar-1.1-1.src.rpm is available on mirrors and shipped on all arches in RHEL. This package should not be in EPEL.
foobar-1.1-1.src.rpm is available on mirrors, but only shipped for x86_64. This package can be in EPEL, but MUST be shipped as foobar-1.1-0.1.src.rpm
foobar-1.1-1.src.rpm is not available on mirrors. This package can be in EPEL at whatever version (keeping in mind that it should stay as stable as any other EPEL package in a release).
Beta vs release mode
Currently EPEL6 is in "beta" mode. This means packages are added to the buildroot after they are built and pushed out once a day in mass. This is expected to change soon and move to a normal release setup. See: https://www.redhat.com/archives/epel-devel-list/2011-January/msg00052.html