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Oracle Linux Reviews

Vendor: Oracle
4.2 out of 5
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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 60% 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.
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Oracle Linux
May 2025
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Oracle Linux mindshare

As of May 2025, the mindshare of Oracle Linux in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category stands at 10.2%, down from 15.1% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Operating Systems (OS) for Business

PeerResearch reports based on Oracle Linux reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategoryOperating Systems (OS) for BusinessMay 18, 2025Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersMay 18, 2025Download
ComparisonOracle Linux vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)May 18, 2025Download
ComparisonOracle Linux vs Ubuntu LinuxMay 18, 2025Download
ComparisonOracle Linux vs Windows ServerMay 18, 2025Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
Ubuntu Linux4.313.4%95%147 interviewsAdd to research
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)4.49.6%96%277 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

Oracle Linux's most valuable features include its Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel optimized for Oracle products, zero-downtime patching with Ksplice, and ease of integration with Oracle applications. It offers strong security, stability, and high performance. Users appreciate its compatibility with Red Hat, cost-effectiveness, and comprehensive Oracle support. The pre-configured settings and easy deployment save time and resources. It is favored for minimal downtime, robust security, and streamlined management integration with Oracle's ecosystem.
  • "I have not had any stability issues with Oracle Linux."
  • "The solution provides the best return on investment."
  • "The advantages of Oracle Linux are that it is secure and provides end-to-end support from Oracle, from the operating system to the application ERP."

Room for Improvement

Oracle Linux requires improvements in security updates, documentation, and support from non-Oracle software vendors. Users seek enhancements in GUI design and better integration with cloud and virtualization environments. Challenges include slow deployment of updates, scalability, and compatibility with non-Oracle applications. Frequent kernel updates without needing reboots, ZFS file system support, and broader vendor certifications are requested. Licensing costs are perceived as high compared to competitors, and training resources are seen as limited.
  • "I feel that Oracle Linux should improve to have a graphical interface that would be much more user-friendly, similar to Ubuntu, so that people who want to interface with the Oracle servers can have Oracle Linux desktop on their personal laptops as well."
  • "Our level of expertise is not high enough. I had to find someone experienced with Oracle Linux since Windows is easier to learn, and most people have hands-on experience with it."
  • "Expertise in Oracle Linux is not extensive, so it was challenging to find someone with experience in this technology."

ROI

Users experience time savings and cost reduction with Oracle Linux, emphasizing its stability and reliability. They observe positive returns through its open-source benefits, reduced operational expenses, and seamless integration with Oracle tools. The system enhances continuity with minimal downtime and support consolidation. Although calculating returns can be challenging, the local expertise and financial benefits such as eliminating Microsoft costs and saving resources validate its value. Organizations also appreciate the enriched development tools and security investments.

Pricing

Enterprise buyers evaluating Oracle Linux find the pricing and licensing model favorable compared to other commercial Linux distributions. Oracle Linux is free to use, particularly appealing for testing, with support subscriptions available at Basic and Premier levels. These support subscriptions, including the Unbreakable Linux Network (ULN), are priced per system and offer flexibility in cost management. Users note that Oracle Linux support is more affordable than others, and Oracle's negotiation on pricing is favorable.
  • "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 deploying Oracle databases, high-performance computing, virtualization, and operating system needs across various platforms. It's favored for its compatibility, stability, enhanced features like Ksplice for patching, and cost-effectiveness. Companies leverage it for managing servers, applications, security, and cloud migrations. Oracle Linux supports virtual machines, DNS servers, web servers, and Oracle ERP, providing a flexible environment for enterprise applications, data management, and compliance with licensing requirements.

Service and Support

Oracle Linux customer service is often praised for its quality and expertise, although some find it expensive and slow to escalate issues. Many utilize My Oracle Support for resources. The technical support gets mixed feedback, with some finding it consistently responsive and knowledgeable, while others report delays and initial level inefficiencies. Users appreciate access to a comprehensive knowledge base and often rely on it, along with community forums, for issue resolution.

Deployment

Oracle Linux's initial setup is generally straightforward, especially for users with prior Linux experience. Many find it similar to Red Hat, utilizing templates and tools for efficiency. However, complexity may increase with additional configurations like High Availability or Grid Infrastructure. Pre-installed packages and thorough documentation aid in the process, though installation time can vary based on environment and expertise, ranging from a few hours to several days, highlighting the importance of experience.

Scalability

Oracle Linux is noted for its scalability, supporting various environments from small setups to extensive enterprise-level deployments. Users report smooth scaling experiences, especially in virtualized or clustered configurations. While some users mention constraints when deploying on non-Oracle hardware, many find it versatile across different platforms. Proper infrastructure planning enhances its ability to handle significant workloads efficiently. It's commonly used in cloud environments due to its adaptability, with most expressing satisfaction with its performance.

Stability

Oracle Linux exhibits strong stability across various environments, from small to large enterprises. Users consistently report reliable performance, with no major issues related to crashes or glitches. It effectively handles diverse workloads, making it a preferred choice in enterprise settings. Stability is comparable to other major distributions like Red Hat. Occasionally, kernel-related issues arise, yet Oracle Linux remains highly dependable, especially when using Oracle’s products. Overall, users confidently deploy it in production scenarios.
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%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Government
8%
Educational Organization
8%
University
7%
Comms Service Provider
6%
Healthcare Company
4%
Retailer
4%
Media Company
3%
Energy/Utilities Company
3%
Hospitality Company
2%
Insurance Company
2%
Non Profit
2%
Construction Company
2%
Real Estate/Law Firm
2%
Transportation Company
2%
Recreational Facilities/Services Company
2%
Wholesaler/Distributor
2%
Aerospace/Defense Firm
2%
Outsourcing Company
1%
Pharma/Biotech Company
1%
Legal Firm
1%
Performing Arts
1%
Engineering Company
1%
Logistics Company
1%

Compare Oracle Linux with alternative products

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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.

Oracle Linux customers

See here

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Oracle Linux reviews

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IT Admin at Rosy Blue NV
Verified user of Oracle Linux
Dec 4, 2024
Reduces costs, offers stability, and is an open-source platform

Pros

"The cost is a significant advantage of Oracle Linux. "

Cons

"The user interface for Oracle Linux could use improvement."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use case for Oracle Linux is that we are using it on Oracle Cloud. Our ERP is on Oracle Cloud as well. We downloaded a PDF to compare Oracle Linux with Ubuntu Linux for a vendor request on a project.

How has it helped my organization?

Our objective was to move from on-prem infrastructure to cloud infrastructure. By selecting Oracle Linux instead of Windows or Red Hat, we reduced costs significantly since Oracle Linux is free. 

Additionally, having Oracle application and operating system from the same vendor makes things easier and provides a single point of contact for resolution.

*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Read full review (614 words)
PeerSpot user
Assistant Vice President at ZTBL
Verified user of Oracle Linux
Apr 11, 2024
Provides excellent manuals and installation guides, offers good stability

Pros

"If we use Linux, Solaris, or some other operating systems, we have to build a lot of packages using RPMs (the packet manager). That's a difficult task. With Oracle Linux, we use a single command to update from the Oracle website. "

Cons

"The main challenge for new users of Linux is the command-line interface (CLI). It can be intimidating if you're not familiar with it."

What is our primary use case?

We use it for security purposes. Linux, or Solaris, offers more security and reliability than Windows operating systems. Windows is easier to attack. 

Most files used by hackers are executables, and if your vendor's operating system isn't secure, that's a problem. That's why we use Oracle Linux; it's compatible with our database.

What is most valuable?

If we use Linux, Solaris, or some other operating systems, we have to build a lot of packages using RPMs (the packet manager). That's a difficult task. With Oracle Linux, we use a single command to update from the Oracle website. 

It updates in minutes and downloads all necessary RPMs required for your database. This allows us to install our Oracle database without errors on Oracle Linux. We can prepare our server within 30 minutes if we have a good internet speed. Oracle platforms are steady and robust.

*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Read full review (1027 words)
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RK
Director of Provisioning Services at MRP ELITE
Verified user of Oracle Linux
Apr 29, 2025
Secure environment and seamless integration provide peace of mind

Pros

"The advantages of Oracle Linux are that it is secure and provides end-to-end support from Oracle, from the operating system to the application ERP."

Cons

"Our level of expertise is not high enough. I had to find someone experienced with Oracle Linux since Windows is easier to learn, and most people have hands-on experience with it."

What is our primary use case?

We are using Oracle ERP and Oracle Database, and we have installed Oracle tools and applications on Oracle Linux in a virtual environment.

What is most valuable?

The advantages of Oracle Linux are that it is secure and provides end-to-end support from Oracle, from the operating system to the application ERP. This gives us peace of mind. Compared to Windows, we prefer Linux to safeguard ourselves from different kinds of attacks and viruses.
*Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Integrator
Read full review (493 words)
Thomas Waltair - PeerSpot user
Regional Head AND Director Product Development at Neptune Software Group
Verified user of Oracle Linux
Apr 30, 2025
Provides outstanding performance and resource savings with effective customer service

Pros

"The solution provides the best return on investment."

What is our primary use case?

Our clients are using Oracle Linux for core banking deployment and enterprise application deployment.

What is most valuable?

The solution works closely with the operating system kernel, which gives better performance in terms of multi-threading and a distributed database. We work based on Oracle specifications, and whenever there are critical patches and vulnerability tests, we update with the latest security patches. The collaboration with Oracle WebLogic and other Oracle tools enhances performance as well.
*Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: MSP
Read full review (414 words)
RP
Senior Software Engineer at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Verified user of Oracle Linux
Jan 3, 2021
Product version discussed: 8.3
Core functionality is good, stable and can install in an hour

Pros

"Once installed, the product is good, I like it. The core of the software is really good."

Cons

"The installation documentation needs to be improved"

What is our primary use case?

I am using the solution for a project that I am trying to migrate it to the cloud. My experience with the cloud is at the beginners level. I haven't tested the solution very much yet but according to the published documentation, opinions etc., I see that Oracle Linux is the closest to my needs for future migration to the cloud.

What is most valuable?

Once installed, the product is good, I like it. The core of the software is really good.

*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Read full review (634 words)
SA
IT Department Manager at DHA Lahore
Verified user of Oracle Linux
Apr 29, 2025
Provides peace of mind with secure environment and excellent support while ensuring reliable integration

Pros

"Oracle Linux is secure, and we have end-to-end support from Oracle, from the operating system to applications and ERP."

Cons

"Expertise in Oracle Linux is not extensive, so it was challenging to find someone with experience in this technology."

What is our primary use case?

We are using Oracle ERP and Oracle Database, and we have installed Oracle tools and applications on Oracle Linux in a virtual environment.

What is most valuable?

Oracle Linux is secure, and we have end-to-end support from Oracle, from the operating system to applications and ERP. It provides peace of mind. Additionally, we prefer Oracle Linux over Windows to safeguard against different attacks and viruses. It's all happily integrated, providing a reliable and consistent environment for my team, which I value greatly.
*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Read full review (463 words)
MQ
Solution Architect at TB
Verified user of Oracle Linux
May 14, 2025
User interface needs refinement but serves well for server functionality

Pros

"I have not had any stability issues with Oracle Linux."

Cons

"I feel that Oracle Linux should improve to have a graphical interface that would be much more user-friendly, similar to Ubuntu, so that people who want to interface with the Oracle servers can have Oracle Linux desktop on their personal laptops as well."

What is our primary use case?

I am using Oracle Linux in the IT industry.

We configure Oracle Linux and give it to our customers, which amounts to thousands of people using it.

What is most valuable?

The features of Oracle Linux that we find most effective are when we normally use it as a VPN gateway. We configure it and make it an application-level gateway, and we use it for user authentication.

The main benefits we see in this operating system, apart from the user authentication and VPN gateway, are that we were using CentOS before. Since CentOS is stopping support and going to downstream support now, we moved to Oracle Linux for that matter. Otherwise, we were satisfied with the CentOS part.

*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Read full review (618 words)
PeerSpot user
Senior Infrastructure Specialist at a financial services firm with 11-50 employees
Verified user of Oracle Linux
Jan 26, 2025
Product version discussed: five onwards
Unbreakable system benefits enhance operations amid support limitations

Pros

"Oracle consistently performs better."

Cons

"Some applications supported by other operating systems are not supported, which is a pain."

What is our primary use case?

Currently, I see that everyone is looking into Linux. People are migrating to Linux from different proprietary hardware systems, which are often more expensive than x86 systems. This is the reason for moving to Linux. 

When it comes to Linux, if I have Exadata and all Oracle Linux operating systems, these are what I deal with. Nutanix, with hardware offering software-defined storage, also helps me. For clients with unlimited licenses, the advantage of HXIT6 hardware is that the license is not a constraint, prompting them to switch.

What is most valuable?

Oracle consistently performs better, like with Oracle Solaris. Linux systems are similar, however, Oracle Linux offers an unbreakable system. Oracle has just started this from version eight, which is distinct.

*Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Read full review (504 words)