Oracle Solaris Reviews

When I started, I was working on Oracle ERP, which is the EBS solution. Currently, I work in a bank where we use our core banking environment with Flexcube and other Oracle products on Oracle Solaris. Along with the databases, we are using database 11g, 12c, and 19c. We are an Oracle shop.

Oracle Solaris is a very good operating system. Most of the time, we do not need to change or replace any configuration. If at any point in time we need to change something, it is really simple and a user-friendly environment. Although it is a CLI, Oracle introduced a GUI environment with Solaris 11.5. Currently, 11.5 has the operating system GUI as well as the CLI. The technical persons working on the operating system most of the time prefer to work on the CLI. It is actually really good and easy to use.

As it is a server-level operating system, most of the time you do not need any extra features in the operating system because you are not using the operating system on home machines, desktops, or laptop machines. The extra features are not needed if we are talking about the enterprise level or an official operating system.

In my opinion, the GUI was missing, as I mentioned earlier. Oracle has already introduced it. 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. Although it has very good security features, there might be some additional capabilities. There might be some more multipathing security in the storage area.

I have been working with Oracle Solaris for almost the last 16 to 17 years.

The setup process is really simple. When you are working with the LDOMs and PDomains, you can create the operating system and the zones with some statements in any text file. You can run the statements and the operating system can be created. It is really simple when you are initially creating the operating system.

We are using Oracle Linux with Oracle Solaris where we need the environment on the Intel platform. Most of the time we use Oracle Linux. AIX is actually a competitor, the IBM product. They are also supporting SPARC now. IBM is supporting the SPARC environment. They have their own operating system, and although I did not use it, it is good.

We are still working with Oracle, and our Supercluster is already in use. However, as Oracle has discontinued the Supercluster machine, we are currently using SPARC machines with the M3 processors. These are T8-2, which are the latest ones.

As we are on SPARC machines, SPARC is tightly coupled with Oracle Solaris operating system. We are currently using Oracle Solaris as our operating system for our core environment. Although we are using Oracle Linux as well, currently in our production environment, we are on Oracle Solaris.

We are using Oracle Solaris operating system. Currently, we are using the PDomains, LDOMs, zoning, and virtualization. We are currently using the whole virtualization structure in our production environment.

The ZFS file system is part of the Oracle proprietary environment. Oracle most of the time in their engineered machines uses the ZFS storage environment. Currently we are using ZFS with our Supercluster environment, but not with our other environment.

Oracle Solaris is basically the Unix environment, and the Unix environment is much more secure than Linux and the Windows environment. Most of the time, you do not even need to have any antivirus with it. However, mostly in the banking sector, because this is a regulatory requirement, organizations have to have deep security or something similar for security purposes.

As we are on the server environment, the SPARC environment is a multiprocess environment with multiple users simultaneously connected. It actually boosts the performance when multiple users are connected. There is no tackling or tweaking with the performance. It is actually really user friendly and the performance is very good with Oracle Solaris. It saves money and cost because it is bundled with no license fee for Oracle Solaris. You can have the media and use it. However, most of the time, it works with the SPARC processors, which is really good.

Most of the time, Oracle Solaris is being used on the on-premises environment. However, if you are using any Oracle appliance, you can use it on the cloud as well. It can be considered a hybrid type of operating system.

I used to research the products, and my role is the solutioning. Initially, I started with implementation. I used Oracle Database mainly, implementing Oracle Database on multiple operating systems. Before Oracle bought Sun Solaris, I was using Sun Solaris as well.

I used to do the solutions on Intel and Unix platforms. The majority of our products, since we are using Oracle products, run best on Oracle software, which is Oracle Solaris or Oracle Linux.

I have used the Oracle Solaris operating system only to deploy the database.

If I talk about the Oracle Solaris platform, it is a very robust system. When you run the database, it will run as intended.

Normally, you do not get any major issues on the OS side. Additionally, regarding security, you do not have to implement any antivirus software. These are the added advantages of the Oracle Solaris environment.

Oracle is going to discontinue it, so I do not think any improvement is possible in Oracle Solaris.

It is very expensive. Because of the cloud, one of the biggest challenges for customers who are using Oracle Solaris is that they do not have any options. They either have to do cross-platform migrations, which are costly solutions, or they have to change many things.

I have been dealing with Oracle Solaris for more than 20 years.

I have faced no issues with the products during these years on Oracle Solaris.

The technical support by Oracle is good. The support is good.

Positive

It is easy, not complex. If somebody knows about the Oracle Solaris operating system, it is easy for them. But if somebody does not know or has never seen the software, it is very difficult.

For big organizations who look for performance, better security, and better manageability, I usually recommend Oracle Solaris.

It is not recommended for smaller organizations because you need a specialized person to manage this operating system. Linux can be managed by anybody. However, maintaining Oracle Solaris, creating clusters, and tuning at the OS level needs a specialized resource. Smaller organizations may not have those resources, or it will be too costly for them to maintain.

Everybody is moving towards the cloud. I am not sure how they are going to do that because it is going to be a dead product already compared to its competitors.

I would recommend Oracle Linux instead of Oracle Solaris now.

On a scale of 1-10, I rate Oracle Solaris a 9.

General IT operations is our primary use case, and we have customers running Oracle Solaris databases on it. I am using it for other more general purpose operating system duties as well.

I work as an infrastructure person, so I use the infrastructure tier of the software. From Oracle, I primarily use Oracle Solaris and Linux.

Predictive self-healing is very useful because you receive a notification about potential hardware issues before they happen, allowing you to take preventive care. If you have a CPU or memory module that is failing, the predictive self-healing will diagnose that. It knows the pattern of failure and informs you that this component is about to fail. Depending on how your system is configured, you might be able to blacklist that component.

For example, if it is memory and you have configured your system appropriately, you can blacklist that memory in advance before it fails so that the operating system stops using that specific DIMM. This prevents a critical failure when the memory actually fails.

There can always be enhancements. The usability can be enhanced, and they need to enhance the web management. In Linux, you have the Cockpit that is fairly useful. The Oracle Solaris similar features are more cumbersome to use because they are designed for more advanced users, so the ease of use for novice system administrators might be something that should be improved.

There are things with ZFS I would to see improved when it comes to device removal, the ability to shrink a Z-pool, and to be able to remove devices and restructure a Z-pool without having to rebuild it from scratch. There are other technical and feature functions that are a couple of layers deeper than what most people are looking for.

I have been using SunOS since 1986.

Oracle Solaris is an operating system, so you integrate it into your environment when it comes to support for backups, management tools, and other things. Integration is fairly easy. When discussing integration, it usually refers to higher levels in the stack such as CRM or databases or other similar components.

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. We can have systems running for a fairly long time without having to do any major things on the system. It simply works. When you need to update the operating system, it is a fairly straightforward operation with a very short downtime since you can do the update while running. If you have any kernel updates, you just reboot the system in the end. From that standpoint, it reduces the system management overhead and allows you to run things without disruption. We have customers who are running things for a couple of years without any interruptions whatsoever.

Regarding vertical scalability, Oracle Solaris is probably one of the most scalable operating systems in the industry. You can scale up to hundreds of CPUs or cores on the system without any problems. You can scale to terabytes of memory in a single system without any problems.

Horizontal scaling is not really an operating system feature, it is more of an application and infrastructure consideration for multiple machines working together. Oracle Solaris supports most of the normal protocols needed for horizontal scalability. Currently, we are using it more for horizontal scalability to run a large number of workloads on the same physical system using the built-in virtualization technologies such as LDOMs and zones. This allows us to run multiple workloads on the same physical system efficiently.

The setup is quite straightforward. You need to have a basic understanding of how an operating system functions and how to set it up. Thanks to ZFS, you can use all the storage as a storage pool, eliminating the need to think about partitioning of disks. When installing Linux, you need to consider where to put the data, how to do the partitioning, what volume groups to have, and similar considerations. The fact that Oracle Solaris uses ZFS as the file system makes it easier to get running because there are fewer things to consider.

Oracle Solaris is fairly affordable. You can run it for free on certain x86 platforms, and if you want support, it is quite compatible with Linux support. When running on SPARC hardware, the operating system and virtualization functionalities are covered by the hardware support, making the operating system free.

We are using certain features in Oracle Cloud, and we offer Oracle Solaris support in our own cloud environment for our customers.

The system supports most of the relevant security standards for encryption and security certification. It is a C2 certified operating system with trusted extensions for mandatory access control and data labeling. It applies to many three-digit US secured organizations. You can encrypt data using ZFS, encrypt datasets on the system, and it has support for most modern security features you would want on a network. The range of security features is fairly extensive, including mandatory access control, encryption, and network security.

On a scale of 1-10, I rate Oracle Solaris an 8.

Neutral

In my company, Oracle Solaris is linked to our CRM, which serves as a database of information. For security companies, we have monthly subscriptions to check their credit scores and everything, and the tool is also linked with the Home Affairs department for verification since it is a database that pulls up the details of the users or whoever is trying to join the company.

The most valuable features of the solution are its security features and user-friendliness. It can be hard to use but is a reliable and understandable tool.

The tool is quite complex and difficult for anyone trying to use or study it. The complexity of learning the tool is an area of concern where improvements are required. Oracle Solaris' lighter and simpler version can be introduced. I feel that Oracle Solaris is a user-friendly tool because I am exposed to it.

I have been using Oracle Solaris for five years. I am a user of the product.

There are times when the product can be down. In general, I can vouch for the fact that the product's stability is good.

It is a scalable solution to which users can be added.

In my company, 300 to 400 people use the tool.

I have contacted the product's support team whenever there was a glitch or when the tool was offline. My company normally contacts the product's supplier to be able to communicate with Oracle's support team. Sometimes, Oracle sends our company an email stating that some maintenance work is being carried out. I am happy with the support provided by Oracle.

The product's initial setup phase was easy.

I took care of the installation on a couple of PCs when I was initially administering the interface. Whenever there's a backlog queue, and someone comes to me and tells me that the files are not going through or we can't get anything out, I see that there is a backlog, and I go to it. I am used to doing the product's installations.

The solution is deployed on the private cloud.

As a private user or individual, I wouldn't recommend it to others, considering it is a costly product. For a private company, it is a reliable product. An individual can't use much of the solution since it is a complex tool.

My company chose Oracle Solaris since a lot of companies, especially private ones, are getting linked with the Home Affairs department, which is involved in verifying the identities of the companies. The product is user-friendly and can be used for verification immediately, so your company does not need to produce some files for the Home Affairs department and wait for them to get back to you later. The security features of Oracle Solaris are quite amazing.

It would be hard for a newbie with no experience with Oracle to learn about the product.

I recommended the tool to those who plan to use it.

At a point when I was looking to design my own database and make it look similar to Oracle Solaris, I realized that it could get expensive.

I rate the overall tool a ten out of ten.

We use it as customers, integrators, and resellers.

Our primary use case is for mission-critical systems.

Solaris' performance and reliability for running databases and applications is very good.

One of the main advantages is the rock-solid reliability. It works. The stability is very good. It has a very good track record in the data security database.

A valuable feature is the file system it has, ZFS. It does check on old data which enables us to be able to rely on the date that's written on the discs. We know the data is correct because when you read the data, you can verify the checks of the data itself.

One of the drawbacks is Oracle itself. Oracle has its good and bad they are not putting resources into the development. 

I have been using Oracle Solaris in different formatations since around 1986.

We use the solution as an internal operating system. 

Setting up Oracle Solaris can be complex because it requires more commands than other systems. 

The product is stable. 

We plan to increase the tool's usage. Our organization has many users because we deploy applications on servers, and many users connect to these applications.

The solution's support is fine. 

The to0ol's installation can be completed in two hours. 

We don't use an authorized license. 

Oracle Solaris is a good solution, but I don't think it is widely used. Most companies prefer Linux or Windows. However, its security features are good. I rate the overall product a six out of ten. Users need to be mindful of the tool's flexibility. 

I manage a wide range of systems, from low-end to high-end, including Super Clusters, totaling around 250 physical and virtual systems.

Solaris Zones and Containers are my favorite features.

The primary drawback with this product is the lack of version updates. Despite my association with Oracle, I find it a concern that they are persisting with version 11.4 without transitioning to version 12. Updating to a new version would convey a sense of innovation and progress, even if they are incorporating numerous enhancements, fixes, and security measures.

I have been working with it for more than twenty years.

The stability of the system is incredible; once installed, it remains stable unless modifications are made.

Its scalability is a key feature. Whether it's functioning as a virtual assistant or handling various tasks online, the system allows for easy adjustments, additions, or removal of resources, making it highly scalable.

Occasionally, when there's a support call, there might be instances where we don't receive immediate technical assistance. However, based on my extensive experience in support, I understand that solutions can be delivered promptly. Overall, Oracle's support is reliable and effective, I would rate it nine out of ten.

Positive

I hold certifications from IBM and am MSP UX certified. I've worked extensively with SCO Unix and began my career with various Unix systems, including the black. Despite having experience with a range of Unix systems, I decided to focus on Solaris due to its diverse opportunities.

The initial setup was straightforward.

The current setup with hardware devices involves a higher cost, but the performance is top-notch.

The platform is highly efficient and stable, offering a straightforward toolset compared to others. One notable advantage is its simplicity; where other operating systems might require four or five commands, Solaris typically accomplishes the same task with just one command. I would rat it nine out of ten.

The solution can be used to run some applications on your PC. 

Oracle Solaris's operating system is good. 

The scalability of the solution can be improved. 

I have been using Oracle Solaris for ten years. 

Oracle Solaris is highly stable. I rate the stability a ten out of ten. 

The solution is scalable. Three people are using the solution at present. I rate the scalability an eight out of ten. 

The technical support is helpful and the response time depends on the severity of the problem. 

The initial setup is straightforward. The deployment takes three hours time.

The deployment can be done in-house. 

The solution is free to use. 

I recommend using this solution. I rate the overall solution an eight out of ten. 

We are running Oracle Solaris on Sparkbox.

Oracle Solaris can run on Spark. You run Oracle Solaris as the operating system, and you can run Oracle Solaris on Intel x86, also. 

We are using it for our core applications.

We like that the virtualization is built in, so you don't have to spend extra money on buying licenses for a hypervisor. When you buy the box, you are getting everything, including the Virtualization.

It is one of the most flexible predictive systems.

The setup is easy.

It is stable and reliable. 

Currently, it supports the DataFast file system. Sometimes we face some issues with the DataFast file system where there is some sort of slowness, which is intermittent. If it could support other file systems, it would be better.

It is very stable. We haven't had any EOS problems so far. There are no bugs or glitches and it doesn't crash or freeze. 

We've contacted support in the past. They are helpful and responsive. 

Positive

The solution's initial setup is very simple and straightforward. 

We are customers and end-users. 

I'd advise potential users to use it. They have declared a long support life, and Solaris it will be supported until 2034. Although you don't see a future roadmap, they have declared support for the existing Solaris until 2034, which is a very long way to go. If you get it now, you know that you will still be able to use it for ten years. 

I'd rate the solution ten out of ten. It offers great flexibility.