Ubuntu is mainly required for work services, your domain name services, and internet public-facing services.
Systems Engineer at a educational organization with 11-50 employees
Flexible, secure, easy to install, and there is good community support
Pros and Cons
- "There are several manuals online that are free and available to help you."
- "The repository needs to be kept up to date all of the time."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
It is flexible. It's the best of both worlds.
It's secure.
There is a lot of content available online that can help you, if you have an issue. There is good community support to help you with any issues you may encounter.
There are several manuals online that are free and available to help you.
What needs improvement?
The repository needs improvement.
The repository needs to be kept up to date all of the time.
For how long have I used the solution?
With my previous employment, I have used Ubuntu Linux for approximately five years.
It is not currently being used but has been used within the last year.
We were not using the latest version. It was between version 16.4 and 18.4.
Buyer's Guide
Ubuntu Linux
February 2025
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Learn what your peers think about Ubuntu Linux. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: February 2025.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's a stable solution.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I use a mix of different solutions, two of which are Ubuntu Linux and CentOS.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward and it is only ten minutes maximum to deploy.
We have one engineer to maintain this solution. It is not complex. It's something you install, configure, and walk away from.
What about the implementation team?
We did not use a consultant, we completed the installation ourselves.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We don't pay any fees.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution, and it works quite well.
I would rate Ubuntu Linux a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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Operations Manager at a retailer with 201-500 employees
Good user interface and a straightforward setup but have not used it long enough to really gauge its usefulness
Pros and Cons
- "The solution has a very good graphical user interface."
- "After only a week of using the solution, we haven't really found any limitations or missing features."
What is most valuable?
We're still in the learning phase. However, from what I have seen in the short time I've used it, it's been rather user-friendly.
The installation is pretty straightforward.
The solution has a very good graphical user interface.
What needs improvement?
After only a week of using the solution, we haven't really found any limitations or missing features. The experience has been pretty good so far.
For how long have I used the solution?
We're very new to the solution. We're still learning about the product. It's only been a week or so, so far.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability, so far, has been good. We haven't had any issues with bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze on us. It's been very reliable so far.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have about 20 users on the solution currently. However, I've mostly restricted the usage to just myself as I explore the solution. It's still early days. We haven't done any scaling.
While the solution is still new to us, we'll continue to use it so long as the solution itself proves to be useful to the company.
How are customer service and technical support?
We haven't yet dealt with technical support in any way. Therefore, I can't speak to their level of knowledge or responsiveness.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I did previously use a different solution, however this was recommended to us by colleagues and we're trying it out.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is not complex. It's pretty straightforward. We didn't have any issues implementing the product.
The deployment was pretty fast as well. We had it set up within an hour.
What about the implementation team?
I handled the implementation myself. I didn't need the assistance of an integrator or consultant.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution isn't really expensive at this time. So far the version we are using goes, it is being used on the virtual machine. That was a free download.
What other advice do I have?
We've just installed Ubuntu very recently. I'm just trying to see how it is right now. We have it installed on Windows 10 Pro. While we use the on-premises version, we're very interested in exploring the cloud.
I'm not sure just yet if I would recommend the product to others simply due to the fact that I've basically just started using it. I need at least a month of working on it in order to be able to tell if it works how we hope it will and if I would recommend it to others.
Right now, I would recommend the solution at a six out of ten. I need more time to really analyze it properly.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Buyer's Guide
Ubuntu Linux
February 2025
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Learn what your peers think about Ubuntu Linux. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: February 2025.
838,713 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Senior Product Manager at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Great customization, good stability, and very good documentation
Pros and Cons
- "The setup is fairly easy."
- "There are some drivers that are not there encoded, however, I thought that was pretty normal. They could be more comprehensive."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution as an operating system.
What is most valuable?
The customization of the solution is its most valuable aspect.
The solution offers good documentation.
The setup is fairly easy.
The solution's pricing is overall pretty good.
What needs improvement?
Right now, the solution is working quite well for us. I can't think of a feature that is lacking.
There are some drivers that are not there encoded, however, I thought that was pretty normal. They could be more comprehensive.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the product only for about a few months at this point.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable. It's reliable. We don't seem to have any issues with bugs and glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We've never tried to scale the solution. I wouldn't be able to comment on its scalability.
We have 30 to 40 people on the solution currently.
How are customer service and technical support?
We never really contact technical support. Typically, if we face issues, we try to handle it in house by ourselves. There is pretty good documentation available, and in that sense, we're satisfied with the level of information we can find to help us navigate the solution.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was not complex. It was quite straightforward. However, we don't use it in any complicated way.
Deployment is very fast. It only takes about an hour or so to set up.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing of the solution is pretty fair.
What other advice do I have?
We're on the latest version of the solution.
I'd recommend the solution to other users.
I'd rate the solution eight out of ten overall.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Senior Developer at a tech services company with 5,001-10,000 employees
The initial setup experience was the best of all other distributions.
What is most valuable?
I like it that Ubuntu is actually free and was one of the first with a decent hardware recognition during installation. It is still free, where some other distributions are no longer free and with a large and active community. A large community means that if you run into issues you have a place to find a solution or to help others.
How has it helped my organization?
I have used it professionally on some occasions but mainly to maintain the home network. Long Time Support has helped me to prevent regular updates on stable servers.
What needs improvement?
The Linux for desktop marketing could be improved but that is not only for Canonical/Ubuntu an issue.
How could these areas be improved? All parties (commercial, idealogical and non-commercial (I.e. the rest)) together could be a force to rekon with. But I do not think that there is a way to let them join forces. So, it is down to smaller initiatives to make people aware of the alternatives to Windows. Also, the required buying of Windows on each PC does not help. I think this is not helpful for IT as a whole.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used Linux for over 20 years now and Ubuntu for over 10 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is rocksolid!
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I did not run into scalability issues.
How are customer service and technical support?
I used community support (and Google) for the issues I ran into and solved most within a short time.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I used other distributions, such as Slackware, Mandrake, Redhat, Debian and, of all of those, I like the way Ubuntu is setup the best.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup experience was the best of all other distributions and it was a smooth ride :)
What other advice do I have?
Go for it if you need al Linux based server. Just start downloading it and using it. It is free.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Informatico aziendale at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
It's a very stable, quality OS, but big changes are in store from the Unity7 environment to Unity8.
What is most valuable?
The OS functionalities, stability, security and the freedom to customize it.
How has it helped my organization?
I use Ubuntu only at home, so it has not changed how I use the PC.
What needs improvement?
Ubuntu is on its way for big changes. The transition from the desktop environment Unity7 to Unity8 is in progress. So, I prefer to wait until Unity8 is released to answer this question.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used it since it was first released in October 2004.
What was my experience with deployment of the solution?
With a little attention to the hardware compatibility, all is OK.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
No. Linux in general is a very stable OS. I use only the LTS releases of Ubuntu that are more stable than the others.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
At home I don't have to scale my system, so no issues.
How are customer service and technical support?
Customer Service:
I don't pay for a customer service, so I can't answer.
Technical Support:I don't pay for a customer service, so I can't answer.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I had used Windows, and I switched to Linux out of curiosity at first, and then for the quality of the OS after.
How was the initial setup?
For me at least it was straightforward. Ubuntu was from the first release an easy distribution to install and use, with a big support from the community.
What was our ROI?
I have a very valuable tool that costs me nothing and that allows me to do all the things I need. So the ROI for me is very high.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
A Linux system is generally free. The GPL License is very clear and in favor of the collaboration.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Not really. For me, ten years ago the options were only two; stay with Windows or change to Linux.
What other advice do I have?
Don't be afraid. Try it, it's free, you can try it on your PC without installing it, and there is a big community of users for the primary support.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Cybersecurity Consultant at SecuriCIP
A stable solution for collecting third-party logs with a firewall
What is our primary use case?
We configured it as a third-party log collector, receiving Postfix gateway logs. Additionally, we removed the on-site and electric agents. I use it for a unified firewall solution and have installed an identification package and other similar tools.
What needs improvement?
The solution's stability could be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Ubuntu Linux for three months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The product is stable.
I rate the solution’s stability an eight out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
We never had issues with support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used Kali Linux before.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is easy and takes an hour to complete. To deploy, download the ISO file and put it in a firmware and configuration server.
What about the implementation team?
I deploy the solution by myself.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Technical Content Writer at a computer software company with 51-200 employees
Safe and fast but needs a better user interface
Pros and Cons
- "It's offered as open-source, and therefore does not cost anything to use."
- "Linux does not provide a user-friendly interface."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution for running some applications and for various apps or software. It provides integration with operating systems.
What is most valuable?
The solution is stable.
The scalability is good.
In terms of deployment, it's a pretty quick process.
Ubuntu's safe and fast. People have migrated from Windows to Linux due to this.
It's offered as open-source, and therefore does not cost anything to use.
There is a strong community around it that can help with troubleshooting.
What needs improvement?
I don't have many technical insights about the product. I can't speak to what features are missing.
For user interfaces, there are other operating systems such as Windows and Mac that are more user-friendly. Linux does not provide a user-friendly interface.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've been using the solution for quite a while. It's been five years or so.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability is good overall. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's reliable. The performance is good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution does not need to be scaled.
We have 30 to 35 users on the solution currently.
We might increase usage in the future. However, it's hard to say, as we have many Mac users as well. They would not migrate to Linux Ubuntu.
How are customer service and support?
We've never contacted technical support. It's open-source. There is a growing community around it. The tech support is only available through that community.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is pretty straightforward. It's not too difficult or complex.
The deployment takes about 30 or 40 minutes. It's fairly quick.
What about the implementation team?
I can handle the implementation myself. I don't need the help of integrators or consultants.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution is open-source. It's free to use. We don't have to pay for it.
What other advice do I have?
We're using the latest version of the solution.
I'd rate the solution at a seven out of ten.
This solution is ideal for people who want to build safer applications or if their goal is to quickly do their development. Those types of users should definitely try this system.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Information Technology System Administrator at a outsourcing company with 201-500 employees
Easy to manage and has easier installation than Windows
Pros and Cons
- "I feel the graphical interface to be very user friendly, as is first time installation."
- "Debian have a more stable operating system than Ubuntu Linux."
What is our primary use case?
We use the solution as a desktop appliance.
What is most valuable?
I like that the solution is stable and easy to manage.
What needs improvement?
As I use Debian with KDE and love it more than Ubuntu, I choose to rate Ubuntu Linux as a nine out of ten, whereas I rank Debian as a ten. This is because I feel Debian have a more stable operating system than Ubuntu Linux. This is my sole reason for this rating.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Ubuntu Linux for five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable, although I feel Debian, which I use with KDE, to have a more stable operating system than Ubuntu Linux.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
While the scalability can vary, I do feel the solution to be scalable.
How are customer service and support?
Canonical does not provide us with technical support for the solution.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I make use of Debian with KDE and feel Debian's operating system to offer more stability than Ubuntu Linux.
How was the initial setup?
First time installation is very user friendly. It is very easy, even more so than Windows.
What other advice do I have?
We make use of the solution for our in-house use.
I feel the graphical interface to be very user friendly, as is first time installation.
I also work in the private sector and have my own company for implementing surveys for reviews and clients. My first suggestion would be to go with open source. We use Proxima and also use uni version in the domain control of it. We use Ubuntu Linux on the client side. So, I strongly recommend using open source and not spending too much money on the licensing with Microsoft.
As all of the applications are usually now on the database, what else does one need? A single operating system consisting of scalability and speed means the person will not have to deal with all the dump stuff that happens behind. Of primary importance is to have a good internet connection and Chrome. For these small jobs, I see no need for use of Windows or Mac. Apple or Microsoft should be used for designing other things. I am referring to Ubuntu and Linux use.
I rate Ubuntu Linux as a nine out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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