Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users
Oracle Solaris Logo

Oracle Solaris Reviews

Vendor: Oracle
4.3 out of 5
Leave a review

What is Oracle Solaris?

Oracle Solaris is a trusted business platform that provides consistent compatibility, is simple to use, is always secure, and is designed to help you run your modern and legacy enterprise applications. The solution is the most recommended enterprise operating system for Oracle Database and Java applications and is engineered for large-scale enterprise deployments.

Get the Oracle Solaris Buyer's Guide and find out what your peers are saying about Oracle Solaris, Rocky Linux, Ubuntu Linux and more!
Oracle Solaris is the #12 ranked solution in top Operating Systems for Business. PeerSpot users give Oracle Solaris an average rating of 8.6 out of 10. Oracle Solaris is most commonly compared to Rocky Linux: Oracle Solaris vs Rocky Linux. Oracle Solaris is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 62% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 12% of all views.
Buyer's Guide
Oracle Solaris
December 2025
Get the report
Helped 880,315 peers since 2012

Featured Oracle Solaris reviews

Read more reviews

Oracle Solaris mindshare

As of January 2026, the mindshare of Oracle Solaris in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category stands at 1.9%, down from 3.0% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Operating Systems (OS) for Business Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Oracle Solaris1.9%
Rocky Linux12.2%
Ubuntu Linux9.4%
Other76.5%
Operating Systems (OS) for Business

PeerResearch reports based on Oracle Solaris reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategoryOperating Systems (OS) for BusinessJan 15, 2026Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersJan 15, 2026Download
ComparisonOracle Solaris vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)Jan 15, 2026Download
ComparisonOracle Solaris vs Rocky LinuxJan 15, 2026Download
ComparisonOracle Solaris vs Ubuntu LinuxJan 15, 2026Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
Rocky Linux4.312.2%100%18 interviewsAdd to research
Ubuntu Linux4.39.4%95%150 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers
Last updated Jan 11, 2026

Valuable Features

Oracle Solaris is appreciated for its virtualization flexibility, including Zones and LDOMs. It offers exceptional stability, scalability, and security, making it ideal for enterprise environments. ZFS is highly valued for its file management, deduplication, and encryption features. DTrace is favored for real-time troubleshooting. The platform is praised for seamless updates, robust kernel, and predictive self-healing capabilities, enhancing performance and reliability. Users benefit from its efficient resource optimization and minimal overhead integration.
  • "Oracle Solaris is a very good operating system."
  • "The ROI is primarily seen in the stability of the platform; we do not see the same amount of requirement for patching and restarting of services, and we can have systems running for a fairly long time without having to do any major things on the system."
  • "If I talk about the Oracle Solaris platform, it is a very robust system; when you run the database, it will run as intended."

Room for Improvement

Oracle Solaris faces challenges in certification for non-Oracle hardware and needs improvement in user interface, stability, and third-party support. It should enhance compatibility with x86 architecture and open source tools. Better user adaptability and easier installation are necessary, along with enhanced GUI tools. Its high cost, complex setup, and limited training options are concerns. Moreover, expanded monitoring, ZFS features, and a more efficient package management system are desired to improve usability and support.
  • "There might be some additional security features. The firewall must be more capable because security is the main concern of every organization and every user."
  • "Oracle is going to discontinue it, so I do not think any improvement is possible in Oracle Solaris."
  • "Oracle Solaris needs to improve its compatibility with office tools like Excel."

ROI

Many users experience high ROI due to Oracle Solaris' integration with the Oracle portfolio, stability, and reduced downtime. Its affordable nature, ease of patching, and troubleshooting are appreciated. Users find it efficient and say it demands less time for maintenance. Some mention audit requirements dictate its use, while others see cost challenges with certain architectures. Performance enhancements and reduced man-hours are common, but pricing and licensing vary per case.

Pricing

Oracle Solaris pricing can be complex and considered expensive compared to other systems like Linux. Organizations appreciate its integration and lifecycle benefits, especially when bundled with Oracle hardware. Licensing can save costs with core reduction using zones and LDOMs. While Solaris itself is free for use, support costs may apply, especially on non-Oracle hardware. Some find the licensing difficult, affecting adoption; however, others see it as affordable and complete. Pricing is generally on an annual basis.
  • "We don't use an authorized license."
  • "As a private user or individual, I wouldn't recommend it to others, considering it is a costly product."
  • "It is an expensive product. I rate the pricing a ten out of ten."

Popular Use Cases

Primary use case of Oracle Solaris includes supporting diverse environments such as databases, virtual machines, and critical applications. It is leveraged by financial institutions, telecoms, and energy companies for its robust management features. Many organizations utilize Oracle Solaris for virtualization, hosting, and database management. Reliable for compute storage, it is commonly used for bank core environments and mission-critical systems. Its integration with applications like WebLogic and FLEXCUBE is particularly valued.

Service and Support

Oracle Solaris customer service is available 24/7, with mixed feedback regarding speed and interaction quality. Support is professional but can be slow due to escalation processes. Users appreciate the online tools and the My Oracle Support portal. Technical support is generally rated positively, with responsiveness and knowledgeable staff, though some find it scripted. Satisfaction varies by geographic location, with past experiences highlighting better Sun support compared to Oracle's current service.

Deployment

Users describe Oracle Solaris's initial setup as straightforward and well-documented, citing the ease of installation, whether pre-installed or using ISO, supported by comprehensive Oracle documentation. While Solaris maintains command consistency for reuse of prior knowledge, some note it may require expertise for complex setups. Migration from other systems poses challenges, yet modern updates simplify processes. With familiarity, configuring features like ZFS becomes easier, though novices may find difficulty without prior experience.

Scalability

Oracle Solaris demonstrates strong scalability, effectively managing vast amounts of data and handling extensive computational tasks. Its vertical scalability allows for expansion to substantial processor counts and large memory capacities. Users notice seamless scaling and minimal issues when utilizing SPARC servers. The operating system adapts well to increased demands, whether for database management or broader IT infrastructure purposes, making it suitable for medium to large enterprises seeking robust scalability features.

Stability

Solaris users describe it as very stable and dependable, citing minimal downtime and crashes. Industry-specific compliments highlight its reliable architecture and effective logging. Though generally free from issues, some note potential stability challenges after system modifications or inadequate planning. Maintenance and support are deemed straightforward, with periodic updates executed smoothly. Reports consistently affirm Solaris as among the most stable operating systems, frequently earning high stability ratings from its user base.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our Oracle Solaris Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business16
Midsize Enterprise4
Large Enterprise25
By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews
Company SizeCount
Small Business90
Midsize Enterprise60
Large Enterprise249
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
12%
Computer Software Company
10%
Government
9%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Educational Organization
7%
University
6%
Hospitality Company
5%
Healthcare Company
5%
Comms Service Provider
5%
Performing Arts
4%
Retailer
3%
Outsourcing Company
3%
Media Company
3%
Energy/Utilities Company
3%
Real Estate/Law Firm
2%
Insurance Company
2%
Aerospace/Defense Firm
1%
Non Profit
1%
Transportation Company
1%
Pharma/Biotech Company
1%
Recreational Facilities/Services Company
1%
Legal Firm
1%
Construction Company
1%
Marketing Services Firm
1%
Wholesaler/Distributor
1%

Compare Oracle Solaris with alternative products

Go!

Learn more about Oracle Solaris

Oracle Solaris Features

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

  • Application binary guarantee
  • Unified archives
  • Rich selection of DevOps tools
  • REST-based configuration and monitoring
  • Software security assurance
  • Automated installer
  • Image packaging system and ZFS boot environments
  • Simplified system life-cycle, application life-cycle, and cloud capabilities
  • Constraint packages
  • Fault diagnosis
  • Service management facility

Oracle Solaris Benefits

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

  • Portable and scalable
  • Interoperable and compatible
  • Simple to use
  • Infrastructure designed to scale on large systems without code
  • Supports a wide range of hardware
  • 24 x 7 support from Oracle
  • Portability across different architectures
  • Supports tools optimized for Oracle hardware devices
  • Guarantees binary compatibility for your applications across various Oracle Solaris OS releases
  • Supports programming languages such as Perl, Ruby, and Python
  • Mitigates risk and easily proves compliance
  • Reduces costs
  • Helps reduce planned and unplanned downtime

Reviews from Real Users

Below are some reviews and helpful feedback written by PeerSpot users currently using the Oracle Solaris solution.

A CEO at a computer software company says, “The most valuable feature is virtualization. They have attained virtualization and it's quite simple to create the Oracle Solaris zones. The solution is quite powerful. Oracle Solaris is great due to the fact that it actually is meant for high-end servers. The high availability is great. You can clone and you can do quite a number of things with them. There's also the ZFS File system which is very good. Is one of the best file systems that there is.”

Diego A., Oracle ACE - Specialized in Systems Technologies at Telecom Argentina, mentions, “The most valuable features for me are virtualization (Containers, Zones, Security, PDOM's, LDOM's) and Performance, ZFS, Debugging with Dtrace.”

A Service Manager at a tech services company expresses that the solution is “Stable, scalable, and has easy installation.”

PeerSpot user Marcel H., Oracle ACE Director "Solaris," CEO, Enterprise Consultant at JomaSoft, explains, “Solaris includes two virtualization solutions: LDoms for SPARC and Solaris Zones. Both solutions can be combined to create private clouds. Solaris Zones is ideal to separate applications and to migrate from older to current hardware. LDoms is very efficient because it uses the hardware hypervisor of the SPARC servers. Both technologies increase Security, because they separate the applications from each other. Using the Security Compliance Framework we are sure the systems are set up properly.”

Shafiq K., Senior Manager IT Operations at a financial services firm, states, “The reliability of the solution is excellent. The security has been very good overall. We've found the solution to have good availability. The backup capabilities are quite good. The solution has proven to be quite stable so far. The product can scale. The solution is 100% free to use. It doesn't cost a company anything as it's embedded in the hardware.”

Oracle Solaris was previously known as Solaris 11, Solaris.

Oracle Solaris customers

Siemens, IVV

Related questions

  • 40
How does Oracle Linux compare with Solaris?
  • 57
Oracle Linux or RHEL​; Which Would You Recommend?
  • 57
What change management solution do you recommend for users to adapt to Windows 10 updates?
  • 66
What operating system do you use in your business?
  • 56
When evaluating Enterprise Linux, what aspect do you think is the most important to look for?
  • 51
What is the best Windows MSI installer?
  • 104
Which operative system would be a good alternative for DevOps?
  • 68
What features do you look for in an operating system?
  • 68
What operating system will be a good alternative for SLES?
  • 54
Why is Operating Systems (OS) for Business important for companies?

Product Categories

Product Categories
Operating Systems (OS) for Business

Popular Comparisons

Popular Comparisons
Rocky Linux vs Oracle Solaris Logo
Rocky Linux vs Oracle Solaris
Ubuntu Linux vs Oracle Solaris Logo
Ubuntu Linux vs Oracle Solaris
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs Oracle Solaris Logo
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs Oracle Solaris
Oracle Linux vs Oracle Solaris Logo
Oracle Linux vs Oracle Solaris
Windows Server vs Oracle Solaris Logo
Windows Server vs Oracle Solaris
SUSE Linux Enterprise vs Oracle Solaris Logo
SUSE Linux Enterprise vs Oracle Solaris
Windows 11 vs Oracle Solaris Logo
Windows 11 vs Oracle Solaris
openSUSE Leap vs Oracle Solaris Logo
openSUSE Leap vs Oracle Solaris
CentOS vs Oracle Solaris Logo
CentOS vs Oracle Solaris
Windows 10 vs Oracle Solaris Logo
Windows 10 vs Oracle Solaris
Kali Linux vs Oracle Solaris Logo
Kali Linux vs Oracle Solaris
Google Chrome Enterprise vs Oracle Solaris Logo
Google Chrome Enterprise vs Oracle Solaris
See all alternatives
 
Oracle Solaris Reviews Summary
Author infoRatingReview Summary
Head Of IT at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees4.5I've used Oracle Solaris for over 16 years in banking and enterprise environments, appreciating its stability, CLI/GUI flexibility, and strong performance, though I believe security and firewall features could still be improved for better protection.
SR AVP–Presales Cloud & Platform Management Services at Path Infotech ltd4.5I've used Oracle Solaris for over 20 years and found it stable, secure, and ideal for large organizations, though costly and complex for smaller ones. With its discontinuation, I now recommend switching to Oracle Linux.
System specialist at Savecore4.0I've used Oracle Solaris primarily for general IT operations and appreciate its stability, predictive self-healing, and scalability, though usability and ZFS flexibility could improve. Setup is straightforward, and it's cost-effective with strong security and virtualization features.
CIO at Clarinox Technologies4.0I tested Oracle Solaris on a regular PC and found it user-friendly with a lightweight, dark-themed interface. While it improved performance, its compatibility with office tools like Excel needs enhancement. Previously, I used Windows systems for similar tasks.
Network Administrator at Mzansi Security and Fire5.0In my company, Oracle Solaris integrates with our CRM, offering excellent security and user-friendliness. Despite its complexity, which could be simplified, its ability to facilitate immediate verification and integration with Home Affairs makes it valuable.
Customer Delivery Manager at SII3.0I use Oracle Solaris as an internal operating system. While it meets our needs, setting it up can be complex due to the number of commands required compared to other systems. I haven't considered other solutions or cloud providers yet.
Sr. Manager - System Analyst (Datacenter Infrastructure) at Sohar International5.0We are using Oracle Solaris on Sparkbox for our core applications and appreciate its built-in virtualization, which eliminates additional license costs. While it's stable and easy to set up, we occasionally encounter issues with the DataFast file system.
System specialist at Savecore4.5I use Oracle Solaris for mission-critical systems due to its excellent performance, reliability, and stability, especially with databases and applications. The ZFS file system is valuable, although Oracle's lack of development resources is a drawback.