

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and Windows Server are leading competitors in the enterprise operating system market. RHEL demonstrates strength in terms of robust security, scalability, and comprehensive support, making it highly suitable for mission-critical enterprise workloads. In contrast, Windows Server is noted for its ease of use, particularly within Microsoft environments, due to its seamless integration with Microsoft's suite of products.
Features: RHEL is recognized for its strong security framework, stability, and built-in tools like Ansible and OpenShift, which facilitate automation and scalability. It supports a wide array of applications, providing a stable environment for diverse deployments. Windows Server, on the other hand, offers ease of use and integration with Microsoft’s Active Directory and Azure, enabling efficient resource management. It is designed to support a broad range of applications, familiar to users of Microsoft products.
Room for Improvement: RHEL users seek improvements in the areas of documentation and licensing transparency, as well as better integration with non-Red Hat solutions. More competitive pricing is also desired. For Windows Server, users often request simplified licensing, enhanced security features, and a more streamlined management console to improve user experience and reduce costs.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: RHEL provides flexible deployment options across hybrid and multi-cloud environments, and it is well-regarded for its stability and comprehensive support. However, response times for complex queries could be faster. Windows Server is praised for its straightforward deployment in Microsoft-centric environments, with reliable support. Still, there is room for improvement in speeding up issue resolution.
Pricing and ROI: RHEL's premium pricing is justified by its extensive features and support framework, providing cost-effectiveness for larger enterprises that prioritize security. Its subscription model offers predictable costs, albeit at a higher price point compared to open-source alternatives. Windows Server's licensing model is complex and costly, but it delivers ROI through its stability and seamless integration within Microsoft ecosystems. Both platforms provide strong returns based on different application scopes and enterprise demands.
A long lifecycle is key to having a good return on investment.
Being able to transform common manual tasks that previously took all day into processes that take an hour, half an hour, or even less, demonstrates clear value.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux has saved us time and increased productivity.
We're very competitive commercially and technically because of it.
We've seen value in Windows Server because the systems work smoothly without any problems.
Windows Server offers excellent value for money, particularly when compared to alternatives.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) support is great, as they go beyond their duty to help resolve issues and provide solutions even for third-party software such as XRDP.
When we do contact customer service, they are generally very knowledgeable and well-versed in our size.
Usually, I send the information, and they have something for me within hours, sometimes even minutes.
Our in-house team can also solve most issues.
If you go through a partner who sells or supports Windows, the support could be around seven out of ten, because Windows relies on these partners for assistance.
Microsoft's technical support for Windows Server has been lacking, with rare responses even with premium support.
Many of our applications scale really well, with some having several hundreds of VMs, which we couldn't accomplish on Windows.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) scales very well with the growing needs of our company.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) handles increases in users, applications, or data smoothly, which is why we use it for all our projects, as it provides us with confidence.
I've worked in companies with 20,000 to 100,000 users, and it scales beautifully without issues.
It's definitely scalable.
The solution is used extensively in our organization, and we have plans to increase the usage.
It works consistently with minimal downtime and very few bugs or glitches.
It just works, and that's really the key factor; I can't remember the last time we had a system go down and had to restore it due to a bad patch.
We've not had a service outage with Red Hat in six years.
We have experienced no blue screens or crashes and often achieved an uptime of 2,000 to 3,000 days without any issues whatsoever.
Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.
The tool is stable.
Addressing these limitations would significantly enhance the operating system's flexibility and efficiency.
The built-in security features of Red Hat Enterprise Linux were insufficient for our needs, necessitating the implementation of supplementary security measures.
By providing pre-installed, native automation tools within the operating system, Red Hat would streamline processes and improve user efficiency.
From a security perspective, sometimes, malware attacks and hackers take advantage of the tool's vulnerabilities.
Deploying antivirus and firewall software on the server is advisable, but having an external firewall adds an extra layer of security.
Windows Server needs to improve its speed and stability.
It may be considered expensive compared to other solutions like CentOS or Ubuntu, which offer some of the same features without additional costs.
Its pricing has room for improvement because it's more expensive in the local market due to purchasing power parity in India.
Windows Servers base their cost on the number of users and have high licensing fees, while Red Hat Enterprise Linux offers free versions alongside its paid, supported versions.
It is quite expensive.
Previously, a Windows Server with two processors cost around two 154 euros annually, but now it is estimated to be around 3,000 to 4,000 euros for the same configuration.
On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the most expensive, I rate it ten out of ten.
It also has strong security features, is OIS and FIPS certified, and has built-in Linux security configurations.
There is also no downtime.
The operating system allows for the simple addition of kernels, modules, and other applications, making it highly adaptable to various needs.
Windows Server is a stable and scalable solution.
The most valuable features of the solution stem from the fact that every Microsoft product is scalable, flexible, secure, and available on a certain budget.
The IP directory is the most valuable feature.
| Product | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) | 8.6% |
| Windows Server | 10.0% |
| Other | 81.4% |


| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 83 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 47 |
| Large Enterprise | 249 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 79 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 41 |
| Large Enterprise | 87 |
Red Hat Enterprise Linux offers stability, security, and support for mission-critical applications with robust tools and scalable architecture, ideal for diverse environments and hybrid cloud compatibility.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux provides organizations with a reliable platform ideal for high-performance computing and virtualization. Known for its robust security and seamless network administration, it integrates well with OpenShift and Ansible, ensuring adaptability and scalability. Despite challenges with documentation, upgrade complexity, and cost, RHEL remains a formidable choice thanks to its comprehensive documentation and extensive community support.
What are the key features of Red Hat Enterprise Linux?
What benefits should users look for when evaluating Red Hat Enterprise Linux?
Organizations across industries like financial services, telecommunications, and application hosting implement Red Hat Enterprise Linux for server and application management. Its compatibility with technologies such as SAP, Oracle, and Ansible supports functions including web, database, and enterprise solutions, ensuring stable and secure performance in high-pressure environments.
Windows Server is primarily used by organizations for hosting applications, deploying virtual machines, managing user accounts, and supporting enterprise infrastructures. It also assists in virtualization, remote access, web servers, and integrating with cloud environments.
As a key component in enterprise environments, Windows Server supports backend applications and operating systems. It's valued for its robust virtualization capabilities through Hyper-V, enabling organizations to efficiently manage resources and reduce costs. Active Directory facilitates management of user accounts and security policies. Additionally, it excels in hosting SQL databases, file-sharing, and executing communication tasks. The system's integration with Microsoft services enhances its adaptability in cloud deployments and network management. Performance and security features contribute to a reliable platform for managing diverse business operations.
What are the key features of Windows Server?Windows Server is widely adopted in industries requiring stable, secure infrastructure solutions. Enterprises leverage its capabilities for managing databases, hosting business applications, and optimizing virtualization strategies. In sectors like finance and healthcare, enhanced security features and integration with cloud environments prove essential for meeting regulatory requirements and supporting data-intensive processes.
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