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Senior Software Engineer at a government with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Dec 1, 2022
An intuitive, easy-to-use interface with a wealth of available applications
Pros and Cons
  • "The flexible and extensive system makes it easy to cluster, check redundancies, and perform data backups."
  • "The operating system might not be able to handle big scientific problems which require a highly parallel system."

What is our primary use case?

Our organization uses the solution as a scientific workstation for forecasting, data collection, data presentation, and delivery of products in the form of bulletins or images to the general public. 

We have five to ten scientists who work on installations at any given time. We need a pretty powerful but flexible cluster system to operate and develop applications for general maintenance. 

We have over one hundred sites so we need something that is efficient. We use Smart Management to distribute packages and Ansible for some of our remote, repeatable management tasks.

How has it helped my organization?

The solution is very good and the best choice for us because it is quite versatile and familiar to staff. It has its own quirks from time to time, but by and large, the solution has been very reliable and useful for our purposes.

We operate in a high-security environment and the solution's security profiles meet our standards.

What is most valuable?

The solution is very versatile with an intuitive, easy-to-use interface and a wealth of available applications.

The flexible and extensive system makes it easy to cluster, check redundancies, and perform data backups. 

The solution's open source aspect is appealing because it invites collaboration. 

What needs improvement?

The operating system might not be able to handle big scientific problems which require a highly parallel system and symmetric multi-processor to run logic streams simultaneously. 

Buyer's Guide
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
December 2025
Learn what your peers think about Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2025.
879,310 professionals have used our research since 2012.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for twelve years.

I have used Linux since the 1990s. I started with Unix in 1979 as a student at Hopkins. I liked that Unix treated everything as a file and had a very consistent interface. 

Linux lived up to the spirit of Unix because of its core operating system that is modular with the basics and supports additional functionality as plugins. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is very stable. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is scalable. 

How are customer service and support?

Technical support is responsive and very good. I rate support an eight out of ten. 

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Ten years ago, I used VMS and AIX depending on the project. 

My job right now is on analytics-based systems so I use the solution. The organization has used it for twenty years. 

How was the initial setup?

The setup was completed twenty years ago so I do not have details. 

The solution is easy to troubleshoot if you have familiarity with Unix systems. Any system of this scale will require maintenance but it is relatively straightforward. 

What other advice do I have?

I rate the solution an eight out of ten. 

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Vicente-Perez - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Systems Specialist at a tech vendor with 51-200 employees
Real User
Top 20
Oct 30, 2024
Offers the greatest return on investment through reduced maintenance requirements and improved employee productivity
Pros and Cons
  • "Red Hat's support and the latest versions offer significant advantages, including efficient resource utilization with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, allowing us to run more workloads with fewer resources."
  • "There's room for improvement with some Linux tools."

What is our primary use case?

We are running standard workloads such as Spring Boot, Node.js, React platforms, and Liferay on Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

We chose Red Hat Enterprise Linux for our workloads primarily due to its strong support system and the extensive open-source community surrounding it, making it a widely known and utilized operating system globally.

How has it helped my organization?

Red Hat Enterprise Linux has enabled us to centralize our development using the OpenShift platform, where our developers utilize Red Hat Enterprise Linux servers for software runtimes.

It provides support, version updates, and security features that assist our containerization projects.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux has performed well in our critical business operations.

We rely on Red Hat Enterprise Linux for its built-in security features, timely support, and rapid release of the latest patches and updates.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux helped reduce risk and improve efficiency by enabling us to achieve more with fewer resources.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux has significantly contributed to business continuity and compliance efforts due to its seamless integration with our existing environment.

We are currently deploying our operator in the OpenShift environment, along with advanced cluster security. This automated solution scans Red Hat Enterprise Linux server images and can be customized to meet our needs.

The portfolio helps lower the total cost of ownership for our enterprise landscape due to its robust support system and rapid updates, making it the optimal solution.

What is most valuable?

Red Hat's support and the latest versions offer significant advantages, including efficient resource utilization with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, allowing us to run more workloads with fewer resources. Furthermore, the seamless integration with our existing systems adds substantial value.

What needs improvement?

My primary focus on assisting development projects and CI/CD pipelines has been largely issue-free. However, there's room for improvement with some Linux tools.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Red Hat Enterprise Linux for around 15 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Red Hat Enterprise Linux has consistently delivered strong performance for our business-critical operations.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Red Hat Enterprise Linux is scalable due to the container environment, which is beneficial as our needs change.

How are customer service and support?

The support from Red Hat is top-tier.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

What was our ROI?

Red Hat Enterprise Linux offers the greatest return on investment through reduced maintenance requirements and improved employee productivity due to its stability, security, and ease of management.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I have limited information regarding Red Hat Enterprise Linux pricing and licensing, but our managers appear satisfied.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate Red Hat Enterprise Linux ten out of ten.

While some may consider third-party Linux operating systems, Red Hat Enterprise Linux offers superior robustness, maintenance, and consistent platform upgrades, making it a more reliable choice due to its dedication to providing a consistently updated environment.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
December 2025
Learn what your peers think about Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2025.
879,310 professionals have used our research since 2012.
reviewer2587248 - PeerSpot reviewer
Technology Specialist at a comms service provider with 5,001-10,000 employees
MSP
Top 20
Oct 30, 2024
Enhanced security and documentation streamline workload management
Pros and Cons
  • "The documentation is excellent."
  • "One area for improvement is the Subscription Manager, which is sometimes an inconvenience, especially when it doesn't work well with Satellite."

What is our primary use case?

We primarily use Red Hat Enterprise Linux for auxiliary workloads in our larger clusters, such as logging and automation.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux was chosen for its centralized management tools, such as Satellite, which, despite occasional issues, simplifies numerous tasks with a streamlined, efficient approach.

How has it helped my organization?

Red Hat Enterprise Linux helps centralize our workloads.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux performs well for all our business-critical applications.

The built-in security features enhance some of our existing functionalities.

We conducted a purple team test and achieved a passing score with only minor issues identified. The robust security features inherent in Red Hat Enterprise Linux, such as its built-in tools, significantly mitigate our risk of cyber attacks by enhancing our overall security posture.

What is most valuable?

The documentation is excellent. It allows me to upload documents, inquire about specific details, and receive prompt answers, which is incredibly beneficial.

What needs improvement?

One area for improvement is the Subscription Manager, which is sometimes an inconvenience, especially when it doesn't work well with Satellite. Also, we experience issues with package management since different Red Hat packages may not be automatically obvious regarding their repositories.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Red Hat Enterprise Linux for almost seven years.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We appreciate the scalability of Red Hat Enterprise Linux due to its simplicity. Although some automation is necessary, tools like Ansible can streamline deployment to a few clicks, depending on the environment. However, deploying on VMware occasionally introduces additional complexity.

How are customer service and support?

The customer service and support are brilliant compared to other vendors.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I primarily use Red Hat Enterprise Linux at work and Debian at home. Red Hat Enterprise Linux is preferred at work due to its extensive documentation and robust support.

What was our ROI?

Time saved on troubleshooting issues and readily available support are the main returns on investment from using Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?


What other advice do I have?

I would rate Red Hat Enterprise Linux a nine out of ten, however, its cost remains a significant barrier. Although I don't personally handle the expenses, the price is frequently discussed, especially when dealing with cloud vendors. Due to this cost, we often avoid using Red Hat Enterprise Linux in our cloud environments despite its strengths. It would be ideal to utilize it consistently across all platforms, but the financial implications make it impractical for our cloud clusters.

While we utilize Red Hat Enterprise Linux for some containerizations, most employ alternative solutions.

I am interested in using AI with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, but we are not currently utilizing it.

When considering a third-party Linux OS as an alternative to Red Hat Enterprise Linux, the decision depends on the intended use. While other operating systems might be suitable for testing purposes, Red Hat Enterprise Linux is generally preferred for its reliability and comprehensive support, which is crucial when encountering critical issues. However, if immediate support is not a primary concern, alternative options can offer a cost-effective solution.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Datacenter System specialist at a manufacturing company with 201-500 employees
Real User
Top 20
Oct 30, 2024
Enterprise-level support enhances system operations
Pros and Cons
  • "We chose Red Hat Enterprise Linux for its broad distribution, enterprise-level support, and robust stability."
  • "I would like Red Hat to focus on continuous improvement."

What is our primary use case?

We currently use Red Hat Enterprise Linux to support various applications, including web servers and databases. Its functionality spans numerous operational aspects, encompassing a wide range of tasks with the exception of AI applications.

How has it helped my organization?

Red Hat Enterprise Linux has simplified patch management and centralized operations, eliminating the need for multiple distributions across various functions.

It performs well for our business-critical applications. It is a significant improvement over the various unsupported distributions used previously, providing reliable support and standardized update procedures across all deployments.

The built-in security features work well.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux helps reduce risk in our environment by simplifying management, which is critical for maintaining stability and security.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux enhances business continuity and compliance efforts by providing a unified platform for various tasks, simplifying operations and reducing the complexity of managing multiple open-source solutions.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux helps reduce our total cost of ownership through simplified management and comprehensive support resources, ensuring assistance if any issues arise.

What is most valuable?

We chose Red Hat Enterprise Linux for its broad distribution, enterprise-level support, and robust stability. These factors are particularly crucial for our work in government-related IT, where stability and security are paramount.

What needs improvement?

I would like Red Hat to focus on continuous improvement.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Red Hat Enterprise Linux for a year at this point. Although my experience with Linux is extensive, I am relatively new to the Red Hat Enterprise Linux world.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Red Hat Enterprise Linux is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Scaling is mostly about increasing the resources for specific virtual machines, and it hasn't been a problem.

How are customer service and support?

I have not personally used customer service, but it's reassuring to know that support is available if needed. I often try to resolve issues myself to learn new things.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

What was our ROI?

The return on investment lies in the time saved due to simplified management, allowing me to focus on more important tasks rather than maintenance.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?


What other advice do I have?

I would rate Red Hat Enterprise Linux nine out of ten.

While not currently using Red Hat Enterprise Linux for containerization, we have a Podman test machine that we use for our clients. We do plan to utilize it in the future.

Red Hat is an excellent choice due to its strong backing and foundation in open source. They have a comprehensive product stack, including not just Enterprise Linux, but also Ansible, OpenShift, and many other offerings. Red Hat also boasts extensive partner integrations with various manufacturers and developers through licensing agreements.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Mikko Hopeakivi - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Architect at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Top 20
Oct 30, 2024
Enables us to achieve continuity with flexible security enhancements
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable features for us are the flexibility and security that Red Hat Enterprise Linux provides."
  • "We have experienced some issues with the support."

What is our primary use case?

Our Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems support specialized voice applications and telecommunications systems, which are integrated into the larger infrastructure.

We chose Red Hat Enterprise Linux for our workloads due to its superior security and the straightforward implementation of security policies compared to other operating systems.

How has it helped my organization?

Red Hat Enterprise Linux has enabled us to centralize development, and we are using automation tools like Ansible and Red Hat Satellite Server to streamline the process of building and managing these operating systems.

It offers strong performance capabilities that are suitable for business-critical applications.

There are built-in security features that can be automated. We must gather all the relevant policies and incorporate them into our automation scripts to apply them to the operating system.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux has provided zero downtime, which is incredibly reliable for us. It has also contributed to our business continuity and compliance efforts.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux has contributed to business continuity and compliance efforts.

Since implementing Red Hat Enterprise Linux, our penetration test results have significantly improved.

Red Hat's portfolio helps reduce our total cost of ownership across our enterprise landscape.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features for us are the flexibility and security that Red Hat Enterprise Linux provides.

What needs improvement?

We have experienced some issues with the support.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Red Hat Enterprise Linux for around five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Red Hat Enterprise Linux has performed very well for our business-critical applications, and we have had no problems related to it.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Red Hat Enterprise Linux scales very nicely for us; it is good, flexible, and provides all we need.

How are customer service and support?

There have been some issues with support, but this might be because of our environments and their air-gap configurations. However, overall, the experience is quite satisfactory.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We chose Red Hat Enterprise Linux over other Linux distributors because of the security reasons. It's much easier to implement security policies with Red Hat Enterprise Linux compared to other OSs.

What was our ROI?

The biggest return on investment with Red Hat Enterprise Linux is the flexibility and security it provides.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?


What other advice do I have?

I would rate Red Hat Enterprise Linux ten out of ten.

While we plan to initiate containerization projects on Red Hat Enterprise Linux, we are postponing them because some of our legacy systems are not yet compatible.

We are planning to use AI for an upcoming project that will help people find solutions to problems with on-premises systems in environments without internet connectivity. Due to this air-gapped requirement, we must build and test various AI systems within that secure environment. Therefore, we are currently in the initial planning phase of this project.

I would advise choosing Red Hat Enterprise Linux because it fulfills our needs perfectly. Why choose something else?

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
App group manager at a comms service provider with 201-500 employees
Real User
Top 20
Oct 30, 2024
Contributes to business continuity and compliance efforts.
Pros and Cons
  • "The built-in security features are quite good."
  • "Red Hat Enterprise Linux has ongoing potential for improved integration with hosting solutions and VPNs as the demand for these technologies grows."

What is our primary use case?

We use Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Ansible, network monitoring systems, and similar applications.

We implemented Red Hat Enterprise Linux because it is widely used in our region and offers excellent support.

How has it helped my organization?

Red Hat Enterprise Linux has enabled partial centralization of our development processes.

It performs well for our business-critical applications and has robust built-in security features.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux has contributed to business continuity and compliance efforts.

What is most valuable?

The built-in security features are quite good.

What needs improvement?

Red Hat Enterprise Linux has ongoing potential for improved integration with hosting solutions and VPNs as the demand for these technologies grows.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Red Hat Enterprise Linux for around 15 years.

How are customer service and support?

The support has a good community. It's easy to find almost every resource needed.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

What was our ROI?

The biggest return on investment when using Red Hat Enterprise Linux is that it's Linux. I've lived so long with Red Hat Linux, so it has always had a good history.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate Red Hat Enterprise Linux eight out of ten.

When considering a third-party Linux OS, Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a strong option due to its excellent support and robust ecosystem.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
reviewer2519571 - PeerSpot reviewer
System Administrator at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Top 20
Aug 4, 2024
Offers built-in security features, helps with compliance and is highly stable
Pros and Cons
  • "Red Hat's greatest asset is its extensive community, which provides valuable support and advice when issues arise."
  • "While Red Hat offers essential starting and security documentation, I would like to see it officially recognize the more detailed and customized documents available in the community and make them accessible on its website."

What is our primary use case?

I used Red Hat Enterprise Linux to construct systems according to the application team's requirements. I build and support these systems through the development, testing, pre-production, and production phases, fulfilling both developer and operational roles. To ensure the systems can handle the application's demands and meet our cybersecurity standards, I implement all security measures outlined by our cybersecurity team.

How has it helped my organization?

The extensive knowledge base offers a full path from beginner to advanced levels. We can access everything needed to study, pass exams, and apply knowledge immediately. The information is presented clearly, without any abstract concepts.

Red Hat offers built-in security features that simplify risk management. Unlike Oracle Linux, which overlooks critical security features like C Linux, Red Hat actively develops and maintains robust security measures. As a result, Red Hat prioritizes system security, consistently providing updates to fortify its machines against potential threats.

Red Hat helps us maintain compliance by enabling us to create and modify firewall rules as needed, allowing for strong security measures that can be adjusted.

The security reports generated every three months are valuable for provisioning and patching as they identify vulnerabilities requiring remediation. I find all the necessary information to address these vulnerabilities and implement patches through the Red Hat Enterprise portal and community resources.

When I started using Red Hat Enterprise Linux five years ago, I noticed the benefits incrementally over time.

What is most valuable?

Red Hat's greatest asset is its extensive community, which provides valuable support and advice when issues arise. Due to the robust nature of this community, I have never required direct assistance from Red Hat Enterprise.

Red Hat offers customizable tools, such as Assemble, that enhance flexibility within enterprise products. Assemble is a platform capable of managing multiple systems from a single console.

What needs improvement?

While Red Hat offers essential starting and security documentation, I would like to see it officially recognize the more detailed and customized documents available in the community and make them accessible on its website.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Red Hat Enterprise Linux for three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Red Hat Enterprise Linux is the most stable system I have ever worked with.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Red Hat Enterprise Linux is scalable.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I changed jobs five months ago, and my new company uses Oracle Linux instead of Red Hat, so Oracle provides support rather than Red Hat.

I find Red Hat Enterprise Linux more flexible, with a larger community and numerous security advisors.

How was the initial setup?

We found it less complex to build a new system on the newer version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux and migrate data rather than upgrading the existing system from, for example, version seven to eight. A simple upgrade risks data loss.

One person can do the upgrades and migrations.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate Red Hat Enterprise Linux eight out of ten.

The system requires immediate maintenance due to necessary security patches, unresolved vulnerabilities, and a constant influx of operational tasks from other teams. These daily demands include critical adjustments such as modifying service ports and implementing local firewall rules.

I recommend new users visit the official Red Hat Enterprise Linux website to review the guides, explore the community, and research information related to their Red Hat Enterprise Linux tasks. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Fozia Nurye - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Officer at a financial services firm with 5,001-10,000 employees
Real User
Top 10
Nov 30, 2023
Convenient to use with good features and helpful support
Pros and Cons
  • "One of the valuable features is that it's convenient."
  • "There should be more upgrades to the security features."

What is most valuable?

One of the valuable features is that it's convenient. 

The rest of its features are really nice.

Red Hat enables us to achieve security standards certification. We have been certified for the PPI certification last year. 

Red Hat has been good when it comes to building with confidence and ensuring availability across our infrastructure. We are really confident about the security process.

It is implemented across multiple physical and virtual infrastructures. We have applied it on most production servers. They are integrated quite well. 

We use the Red Hat system roles feature. We have been using this for automation purposes and to find some tests. 

What needs improvement?

The response could be better for urgent issues. If there's an issue with live services, they need to be faster. 

It would be nice to have antivirus services.

There should be more upgrades to the security features. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I've used the solution for a long time. My organization has used it for more than three years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability is good. I'd rate it eight out of ten. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability is decent. I'd rate the solution eight out of ten. Different teams and departments, including application and development teams. 

We do not have plans to increase usage in the future.

How are customer service and support?

I'm very happy with the technical support.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We have got some other open systems like CentOS. We just have most of our production services to ReadyX from CentOS and Oracle. Red Hat is more secure. The support is very nice as well.

How was the initial setup?

I joined the organization after deployment and wasn't involved in the implementation. 

I'm not sure if the solution requires any maintenance. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I'm not really involved in the pricing or the licensing. However, it may be expensive. We have different licenses. 

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We evaluated different options.

What other advice do I have?

I'm a customer and end-user.

I'd rate the solution eight out of ten. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: December 2025
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.