Oracle Linux Reviews

Name: Oracle Linux
Brand: Oracle
Rating: 4.2 (116 reviews)

Vendor: Oracle

4.2 out of 5

116 reviews
92% willing to recommend

1,034 followers

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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.

Helped 849,600 peers since 2012

Featured Oracle Linux reviews

Marcelo Muniz

Database Engineer at kyndryl

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.

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LLIEDNO

Sr. NetBackup System Administrator at University of Delaware

The graphic interface could be improved to work better in a desktop environment like Red Hat or Ubuntu. Few people use the solution because its marketing is faltering. Unless companies buy other items from Oracle such as ACSLS for managing tape libraries, there is no need to use the solution.

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Peter Karlsson

System specialist at Savecore

There is a desire to include ZFS as a supported file system from the installation phase. I find it to be an excellent file system that significantly simplifies storage management on systems. Unlike other setups where you need both a file system and a volume manager, ZFS combines these functionalities into a single package. It provides a proven and stable solution, eliminating the need for continuous testing with different technologies. ZFS is enterprise-proven and, compared to other Linux file systems, stands out in terms of management efficiency. While some file systems may offer slightly faster speeds, ZFS excels in overall performance, manageability, and reliability, making it a top choice in the Linux world. Another notable aspect that could be improved is minor compatibility with Red Hat. This is crucial for customers seeking ISV support. ISVs often limit their support to a select few distributions, typically Red Hat, and maintaining compatibility is vital for application functionality.

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Oracle Linux mindshare

As of April 2025, the mindshare of Oracle Linux in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category stands at 11.1%, down from 14.8% 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

Type	Title	Date
Category	Operating Systems (OS) for Business	Apr 30, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Apr 30, 2025	Download
Comparison	Oracle Linux vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)	Apr 30, 2025	Download
Comparison	Oracle Linux vs Ubuntu Linux	Apr 30, 2025	Download
Comparison	Oracle Linux vs Windows Server	Apr 30, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Ubuntu Linux	4.3	14.0%	95%	143 interviews Add to research
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)	4.4	9.9%	96%	275 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Oracle Linux's most valuable features include Oracle-validated configurations, Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel for enhanced performance, and Ksplice for zero-downtime updates. Users appreciate binary compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, streamlined configuration for Oracle applications, and robust security. It provides cost-effective, stable, and easy-to-use features optimized for Oracle products. The strong integration with other Oracle systems, application containers support, and efficient support structure make Oracle Linux a preferred choice for many organizations.

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

Room for Improvement

Oracle Linux requires faster release of security patches and bug fixes. Its documentation and support process need improvement, especially when dealing with hardware compatibility. The GUI and command-line interface could be enhanced for user-friendliness. Adoption of more diverse file systems like ZFS and improved virtualization performance are essential. Oracle Linux should also provide better integration with non-Oracle software while maintaining competitive pricing and a robust update mechanism to remain effective in changing technological landscapes.

"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."
"I think Oracle Linux's outage management can be improved to better handle outages."

ROI

Oracle Linux users experienced significant time savings and cost reductions, citing its reliability, stability, and effective performance. The redundancy offered by Oracle RAC added value by minimizing downtime and enhancing continuity. Many noted that Oracle Linux, being open source, improved ROI by eliminating license costs. Despite complexities in calculating ROI, especially in fluctuating economies, tangible benefits were realized through consolidated support and expert resources, helping organizations achieve moderate to positive returns.

Pricing

Enterprise buyers find Oracle Linux cost-effective due to its competitive pricing compared to other commercial Linux solutions. Oracle Linux itself is free, but users pay for support, offering Basic and Premier levels on a per-system basis. Although some users find Oracle Licensing expensive, the solution is generally considered affordable and less costly than Red Hat. Oracle provides flexible support options, and pricing may vary based on the level of support and additional products purchased.

"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 and managing databases, virtualization platforms, application servers, and operating systems. It's favored for high-performance computing, cost-effectiveness, security, and compatibility with Oracle environments. Users appreciate features like Ksplice for maximizing availability, compatibility with various platforms, and enhancements like the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel. It is also utilized in cloud migration, development, networking, and compliance with licensing requirements, serving diverse sectors like healthcare, finance, and government.

Service and Support

Oracle Linux customer service often receives positive feedback, with users highlighting the team’s competency. Many value the promptness, especially with high-priority issues. Some criticize the support model's complexity and response delays, particularly with engineering-level queries, though second-line support is faster. Technical support is expensive but effective with comprehensive resources. Customers appreciate the seamless integration with Oracle products, helping pinpoint problems across platforms. However, some find Oracle Linux support less helpful compared to application support.

Deployment

Many users describe Oracle Linux's initial setup as straightforward, benefiting from downloadable images and templates. Those with previous Linux experience found it simpler, though specific configurations, like high availability, posed challenges. Most installations reportedly took under two hours with familiar tools. Users pointed out similarities with other Linux distributions, which aided the transition. Some mentioned that certain enterprise-level configurations required additional expertise, but standard installations were generally uncomplicated.

Scalability

Oracle Linux handles scalability effectively, meeting the needs of diverse user bases from small to large-scale enterprises. Many individuals report favorable experiences with its performance when expanding resources or operating in clustered environments. Some suggest it requires compatible infrastructure for optimal scaling. The presence of stable releases and support networks enhances its reputation for accommodating expansion and varied enterprise requirements. Challenges are rare and usually resolve efficiently with proper planning and support.

Stability

Users consistently reported high stability with Oracle Linux, highlighting it as reliable and enterprise-grade. Issues are rare, with most being unrelated to the OS. Oracle Linux effectively handles potential errors that could affect other Linux distributions. Oracle's hardware validation and regular patch updates contribute to its robustness. Organizations appreciate its seamless integration with Oracle products, enhancing performance and reducing instability risks. It's favored for demanding environments due to its stable performance.

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%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Financial Services Firm

Educational Organization

University

Comms Service Provider

Healthcare Company

Retailer

Energy/Utilities Company

Media Company

Hospitality Company

Non Profit

Insurance Company

Construction Company

Transportation Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Pharma/Biotech Company

Outsourcing Company

Legal Firm

Performing Arts

Marketing Services Firm

Logistics Company

Engineering Company

Compare Oracle Linux with alternative products

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.