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Oracle Linux vs Oracle Solaris comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 7, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
9.3
Oracle Linux provides cost efficiency, reliability, and performance gains, offering open-source benefits and reducing operational costs by ten percent.
Sentiment score
8.5
Oracle Solaris offers strong integration and troubleshooting ease, but cost-effectiveness and complexity vary, impacting adoption and ROI.
Oracle Linux contributed to reducing our operational costs by about ten percent by saving us from the operating system and license costs we would have had to pay Microsoft.
In terms of ROI, there have been performance improvements because Oracle Solaris is lighter.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.9
Oracle Linux support is knowledgeable but criticized for high costs, delays, and communication; documentation aids in problem-solving.
Sentiment score
7.3
Oracle Solaris offers global 24/7 support with knowledgeable staff but faces regional quality variance and sometimes scripted interactions.
Not all support engineers at Oracle are the same, so sometimes I experience good support that resolves issues quickly, while other times, it loops.
It is not as helpful or friendly as their application support.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
8.4
Oracle Linux offers efficient scalability and adaptability but may face integration challenges with non-Oracle platforms in hybrid settings.
Sentiment score
8.1
Oracle Solaris excels in scalability and adaptability, efficiently handling workloads across diverse IT environments and supporting extensive storage.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.3
Oracle Linux offers enterprise-grade stability and reliability, seamlessly integrates with Oracle databases, and competes well with major distributions.
Sentiment score
8.2
Oracle Solaris is praised for its stability, with minimal issues, high reliability, and strong support enhancing user satisfaction.
Testing determines stability, as continuous Linux use and installations reveal more bugs.
 

Room For Improvement

Oracle Linux users seek better security patches, documentation, wider software integration, enhanced performance, and interoperability with Red Hat features.
Oracle Solaris needs better hardware certification, easier configuration, enhanced GUI, and broader software support for improved adoption.
Having a user interface would make tasks easier, saving time by avoiding the need to remember command-line instructions.
Some applications supported by other operating systems are not supported, which is a pain.
Oracle Solaris needs to improve its compatibility with office tools like Excel.
 

Setup Cost

Oracle Linux is free but requires a support license for updates, with costs ranging from $500 to $1600.
Oracle Solaris offers significant savings and robust integration, despite complex licensing and higher costs versus alternatives like Linux.
The cost of Microsoft OS is pretty high, and switching to Oracle Linux, which is free, reduced our costs by about 20% to 25%.
I find the pricing of Oracle Solaris to be affordable compared to competitors like Windows.
 

Valuable Features

Oracle Linux offers strong performance, security, and seamless Oracle integration, making it cost-effective and favored for enterprise operations.
Oracle Solaris offers virtualization, data management, stability, and integration features, ensuring high availability and performance for enterprises.
Since it's from the same vendor as Oracle applications, it's easier to manage issues, making not just the solution cost-effective but also streamlined in management.
Oracle Linux offers an unbreakable system.
The operating system is lightweight, which makes it easier to use on an average computer compared to systems like Windows.
 

Categories and Ranking

Oracle Linux
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
3rd
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.7
Number of Reviews
112
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Oracle Solaris
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
9th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.7
Number of Reviews
50
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Oracle Linux is 11.1%, down from 14.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Oracle Solaris is 2.4%, down from 3.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Operating Systems (OS) for Business
 

Featured Reviews

Marcelo Muniz - PeerSpot reviewer
The operational system is the best and is packed with free features like CapsLive
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.
Zandile Mushi - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers good security features and reliability
The tool is quite complex and difficult for anyone trying to use or study it. The complexity of learning the tool is an area of concern where improvements are required. Oracle Solaris' lighter and simpler version can be introduced. I feel that Oracle Solaris is a user-friendly tool because I am exposed to it.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Government
9%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Financial Services Firm
14%
Computer Software Company
12%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Government
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

How does Oracle Linux compare with Solaris?
When comparing Oracle Linux and Solaris, I believe that Linux is more secure and more flexible. It is also very suitable for enterprises that are already Oracle solution users. I found Linux to be ...
Which would you choose - Ubuntu Linux or Oracle Linux?
Ubunto Linux is a complete Linux operating system that is freely available with both community and professional support. This solution is suitable for both desktop and server use. It has a very app...
What do you like most about Oracle Solaris?
We use the solution as an internal operating system.
What needs improvement with Oracle Solaris?
One of the drawbacks is Oracle itself. Oracle has its good and bad they are not putting resources into the development.
 

Also Known As

Oracle Enterprise Linux
Solaris 11, Solaris
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

See here
Siemens, IVV
Find out what your peers are saying about Oracle Linux vs. Oracle Solaris and other solutions. Updated: March 2025.
844,944 professionals have used our research since 2012.