Oracle Linux Reviews

Name: Oracle Linux
Brand: Oracle
Rating: 4.2 (112 reviews)

Vendor: Oracle

4.2 out of 5

112 reviews
92% willing to recommend

1,203 followers

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What is Oracle Linux?

Oracle Linux is a stable, reliable, and scalable operating system primarily used for deploying and running Oracle databases. It is also suitable for various other functions, including managing operating systems and web servers, supporting traffic surveillance, and identity management.

Get the Oracle Linux Buyer's Guide and find out what your peers are saying about Oracle Linux, Ubuntu Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and more!

Oracle Linux is the #3 ranked solution in top Operating Systems for Business. PeerSpot users give Oracle Linux an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. Oracle Linux is most commonly compared to Ubuntu Linux: Oracle Linux vs Ubuntu Linux. Oracle Linux is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 61% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 14% of all views.

Helped 832,138 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

Marcelo Muniz

Database Engineer at kyndryl

It is important to work with a vendor who will sell you the correct product for your environment rather than just try to make the most money off of you. Study the solution and learn how to install it correctly and use it in the best ways. Follow best practices from Oracle and get some training in the operational system. The solution comes with a lot of features and options that you can use for free. It is reliable and you can even use an old version with no issues. It is not the most user friendly, but you can learn it with a bit of study. Overall, the solution beats other operational systems by a large margin. The solution is rated a nine out of ten.

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LLIEDNO

Sr. NetBackup System Administrator at University of Delaware

The graphic interface could be improved to work better in a desktop environment like Red Hat or Ubuntu. Few people use the solution because its marketing is faltering. Unless companies buy other items from Oracle such as ACSLS for managing tape libraries, there is no need to use the solution.

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Peter Karlsson

System specialist at Savecore

There is a desire to include ZFS as a supported file system from the installation phase. I find it to be an excellent file system that significantly simplifies storage management on systems. Unlike other setups where you need both a file system and a volume manager, ZFS combines these functionalities into a single package. It provides a proven and stable solution, eliminating the need for continuous testing with different technologies. ZFS is enterprise-proven and, compared to other Linux file systems, stands out in terms of management efficiency. While some file systems may offer slightly faster speeds, ZFS excels in overall performance, manageability, and reliability, making it a top choice in the Linux world. Another notable aspect that could be improved is minor compatibility with Red Hat. This is crucial for customers seeking ISV support. ISVs often limit their support to a select few distributions, typically Red Hat, and maintaining compatibility is vital for application functionality.

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Oracle Linux mindshare

As of February 2025, the mindshare of Oracle Linux in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category stands at 12.8%, down from 14.6% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	Operating Systems (OS) for Business	Feb 1, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Feb 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	Oracle Linux vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)	Feb 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	Oracle Linux vs Ubuntu Linux	Feb 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	Oracle Linux vs Windows Server	Feb 1, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Ubuntu Linux	4.3	15.1%	95%	139 interviews Add to research
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)	4.4	10.6%	97%	268 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Oracle Linux offers features like Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel for optimized Oracle Database performance, Ksplice for zero-downtime patching, and strong security measures. Users appreciate its stability, compatibility with Red Hat, and integration with Oracle applications. It provides cost-effective support and simplifies database configurations with pre-installed packages. The OS is known for being user-friendly and reliable, supporting enterprise-grade workloads, and enhancing overall performance.

"Ultimately, Oracle Linux as a product rates nine out of ten."
"Oracle consistently performs better."
"The platform is stable, and there is no risk of viruses, unlike the Microsoft platform."

Room for Improvement

Oracle Linux needs to improve its integration with non-Oracle products and provide timely security updates. Users find its documentation incomplete and support lacking compared to competitors. There is a demand for better hardware compatibility, an enhanced graphical interface, and more efficient virtualization support. The update process can be cumbersome, and pricing concerns are prevalent. Users also desire improved cloud support, ZFS inclusion, and a seamless file recovery system. Enhanced certification from various hardware vendors is requested.

"Addressing room for improvement in Oracle Linux, some applications supported by other operating systems are not supported, which is a pain."
"Some applications supported by other operating systems are not supported, which is a pain."
"The technical support for Oracle Linux is just okay. It is not as helpful or friendly as their application support."

ROI

Users experience time savings and error avoidance with Oracle Linux, which is open source, leading to cost savings. Downtime variables and redundancy through Oracle RAC were noted. Oracle Linux brings service continuity and positive returns from consolidating support and operational cost reductions. Although ROI calculations are challenging due to currency fluctuations, users appreciate stability, security, and development resources. Operational costs reduced by approximately ten percent by eliminating the need for Microsoft licenses.

Pricing

Oracle Linux, widely praised for its affordability, offers a free product with optional paid support. The pricing for support, lower than many competitors like Red Hat, varies based on server specifications and subscription levels, from Basic to Premier. Though some customers report high licensing costs, others appreciate the cost-effectiveness especially for enterprise solutions. Annual support costs are about $500 for a 2-socket server and $1600 for unlimited CPUs.

"The cost is relatively affordable."
"We are not paying anything for the operating system."
"We are currently operating the solution using a license-based version. We get licenses per machine."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations primarily use Oracle Linux for hosting Oracle databases and applications, leveraging its compatibility and performance on various platforms. They benefit from features like Ksplice for high availability and security enhancements. Oracle Linux serves as an operating system for high-performance computing, virtualization, cloud and on-premises environments, security, and traffic surveillance. Its flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and integration with Oracle technologies make it a popular choice for many enterprise needs.

Service and Support

Oracle Linux support is generally efficient, with varying satisfaction levels. Many appreciate quick escalation and issue resolution, though some experience slow response and costly service. Users find the knowledge base helpful, yet feel first-level support can be basic. Customers value multi-product expertise, but mention difficulties with support logistics. Some mention seamless ticket handling and the benefit of integrated support across Oracle services. While not everyone needs it frequently, feedback highlights room for improvement in certain areas.

Deployment

Oracle Linux's initial setup is generally straightforward, especially for those with prior Linux experience. Users find pre-installed packages and templates helpful, facilitating easy installation. However, some complex scenarios, such as High Availability setups or specific configurations, may require expertise. Transitioning from Red Hat is typically smooth due to compatibility, but certain versions and advanced configurations might pose challenges. Users recommend leveraging available documentation and possibly employing experienced administrators for complex environments.

Scalability

Oracle Linux demonstrates reliable scalability, effectively supporting small to large implementations. Users typically report no issues expanding environments, leveraging virtualization, clustering, and cloud options. It excels in high-performance settings, and remains stable across diverse workloads. While the scalability can depend on infrastructure sizing, many appreciate its capability in meeting growing user demands. Some users note specific constraints on non-Oracle hardware, but generally regard it as a robust and scalable operating system.

Stability

Users report that Oracle Linux is highly stable, suitable for enterprise use, and reliable across various environments. They note minimal issues with stability, often attributing any problems to hardware or third-party software rather than the OS itself. Users appreciate Oracle's hardware certification and integration with Oracle products, enhancing overall reliability. The platform has been commended for being resilient, maintaining performance without crashes, and providing solid support for Oracle applications.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Oracle Linux Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

14%

Educational Organization

Manufacturing Company

Government

Financial Services Firm

University

Comms Service Provider

Healthcare Company

Retailer

Energy/Utilities Company

Media Company

Construction Company

Insurance Company

Hospitality Company

Non Profit

Real Estate/Law Firm

Transportation Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Pharma/Biotech Company

Legal Firm

Outsourcing Company

Performing Arts

Marketing Services Firm

Logistics Company

Compare Oracle Linux with alternative products

Learn more about Oracle Linux

Oracle Linux is highly valued for its stability, reliability, scalability, good technical support, and ease of use. It has helped organizations to achieve faster DNS queries, stable development environments, reduced vulnerability issues, good performance for Oracle applications, and improved ability to run test scenarios and parallel queries across massive databases.

Oracle Linux Features

Oracle Linux has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:

The software is 100% free (no cost) to use, distribute, and update

Ksplice allows for zero-downtime kernel and user-space upgrades

DTrace provides comprehensive kernel and application tracing

For Oracle Linux Support clients, Linux management and high availability are available at no additional cost

It's Oracle-optimized and works well with Oracle Database and Oracle Applications
New workload optimizations:
- Enhanced memory performance by attempting to better locate a process near its memory and better placement of tasks that do not fit on a single NUMA node
- SPECjbb's performance has been improved by up to 3.6 times thanks to optimizations that help reduce lock contention.
- With bcache, it's simple to employ SSDs as a block cache for slower block devices. A new, scaled block layer subsystem supports many millions of IOps on NVM-Express and high-end PCI-E devices.
Oracle Linux has three deployment options:

Linux in the cloud: Oracle Linux Premier Support is included in all Oracle Cloud Infrastructure subscriptions at no additional cost.
Linux on premises: This is the industry's most comprehensive and open Linux distribution.
Embedded Linux design: Embedding a feature-rich Linux distribution is an optimized, cost-effective solution for your business.

Oracle Linux Benefits

There are many benefits to implementing Oracle Linux. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:

Save money by only paying for support for the systems you need
Improve security by applying patches faster and spending less time troubleshooting and updating
Improve Oracle software and hardware performance

Reviews from Real Users

Oracle Linux stands out among its competitors for a number of reasons. Two major ones are its stability and scalability. PeerSpot users take note of the advantages of these features in their reviews:

One PeerSpot reviewer, an IT Manager, reports, “I find the virtualization the most valuable.” He adds, “Oracle Linux is the best Linux operating system that I have ever known. It is very stable and strong.”

An Enterprise Architect at a financial services firm writes of the solution, “You also don't have memory issues, especially when it is engineered with platforms like Exadata and Oracle Cluster. These give you the most throughput and performance.” He adds, “It is very scalable, especially on platforms like Oracle Cluster and Exadata.”

Oracle Linux was previously known as Oracle Enterprise Linux.