Oracle Solaris vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) comparison

Oracle Solaris vs. Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

ROI

Sentiment score

4.6

Oracle Solaris offers high ROI with stability, integration, reduced downtime, performance boosts, and cost benefits, enhancing operational efficiency.

Sentiment score

6.3

Red Hat Enterprise Linux enhances reliability, security, and efficiency, reducing downtime and costs, with robust support and automation.

In terms of ROI, there have been performance improvements because Oracle Solaris is lighter.

For more quotes and insights, download the Oracle Solaris report

Technology Consultant at Clarinox Technologies Kenya

A long lifecycle is key to having a good return on investment.

Troels Hansen

Architect at KnowIT

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.

Chris Perrault

Systems administrator at a retailer with 501-1,000 employees

I invest effort and money in RHEL 8, expecting the system to be secure and reliable when serving my clients.

Suresh Babu Thatikonda

Associate Director at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

Customer Service

Sentiment score

4.6

Oracle Solaris support is 24/7, efficient yet sometimes slow, with helpful tools and mixed user ratings on effectiveness.

Sentiment score

7.3

Red Hat Enterprise Linux support is praised for expertise and responsiveness, though some users report inconsistent and slow initial responses.

The technical support by Oracle is good.

Prabir Kumar Kundu

SR AVP–Presales Cloud & Platform Management Services at Path Infotech ltd

For more quotes and insights, download the Oracle Solaris report

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.

Antoine Ragland

Senior Infrastructure Systems Administrator at a healthcare company with 1,001-5,000 employees

When we do contact customer service, they are generally very knowledgeable and well-versed in our size.

Tucker Hewitt

Solutions Architect at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees

Usually, I send the information, and they have something for me within hours, sometimes even minutes.

ChristianLopez

Team manager at Evertec

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score

6.1

Oracle Solaris excels in scalable performance, efficiently handling extensive workloads with robust file systems and virtualization, despite hardware dependencies.

Sentiment score

7.3

Red Hat Enterprise Linux excels in scalable, versatile environments with strong automation and cloud integration, despite some cost concerns.

Regarding vertical scalability, Oracle Solaris is probably one of the most scalable operating systems in the industry.

Peter Karlsson

System specialist at Savecore

For more quotes and insights, download the Oracle Solaris report

Many of our applications scale really well, with some having several hundreds of VMs, which we couldn't accomplish on Windows.

Sean Doyle

Solutions Architect at a transportation company with 10,001+ employees

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) scales very well with the growing needs of our company.

Sheldon Kroner

Director, DevOps at Lightedge Solutions

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.

reviewer2753943

Cloud Administrator at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

Stability Issues

Sentiment score

8.2

Oracle Solaris is highly stable and secure, with rare crashes and minimal disruptions, making it ideal for reliable operations.

Sentiment score

7.9

Red Hat Enterprise Linux is praised for its stability, reliability, and performance, making it ideal for critical business environments.

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Oracle Solaris report

It works consistently with minimal downtime and very few bugs or glitches.

reviewer2592627

Senior DevOps Engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

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.

Jason Cummings

Senior software engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

We've not had a service outage with Red Hat in six years.

ScottPalmer

Team Lead, Linux Systems & Tools at a tech vendor with 5,001-10,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

Room For Improvement

Oracle Solaris needs improvements in hardware support, GUI, training, cost reduction, integration, package management, and open-source tool support.

Users seek RHEL improvements in CLI, third-party integration, licensing costs, security, GUI appeal, documentation, and cloud-native support.

The firewall must be more capable because security is the main concern of every organization and every user.

Shafiq Khan

Head Of IT at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

Oracle Solaris needs to improve its compatibility with office tools like Excel.

For more quotes and insights, download the Oracle Solaris report

Technology Consultant at Clarinox Technologies Kenya

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

Prabir Kumar Kundu

SR AVP–Presales Cloud & Platform Management Services at Path Infotech ltd

Addressing these limitations would significantly enhance the operating system's flexibility and efficiency.

reviewer2592627

Senior DevOps Engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

The built-in security features of Red Hat Enterprise Linux were insufficient for our needs, necessitating the implementation of supplementary security measures.

reviewer2591346

IT Infrastructure Engineer at a manufacturing company with 11-50 employees

By providing pre-installed, native automation tools within the operating system, Red Hat would streamline processes and improve user efficiency.

reviewer2620827

Systems Engineer at a tech vendor with 501-1,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

Setup Cost

Enterprise users find Oracle Solaris pricing complex; it's beneficial for performance but costly compared to Linux, with desired pricing improvements.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux is valued for support and enterprise-grade features, but smaller entities find its pricing high.

I find the pricing of Oracle Solaris to be affordable compared to competitors like Windows.

For more quotes and insights, download the Oracle Solaris report

Technology Consultant at Clarinox Technologies Kenya

It may be considered expensive compared to other solutions like CentOS or Ubuntu, which offer some of the same features without additional costs.

Sitakanta Chaudhury

Cloud Infrastructure Architect at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees

Its pricing has room for improvement because it's more expensive in the local market due to purchasing power parity in India.

Syed Azhar

Cloud engineer at a tech services company with 11-50 employees

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.

reviewer2592627

Senior DevOps Engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

Valuable Features

Oracle Solaris offers superior virtualization, security, performance, ZFS features, and seamless Oracle integration, praised for stability and reliability.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux offers strong security, stability, extensive support, and compatibility with hybrid environments for streamlined enterprise operations.

The operating system is lightweight, which makes it easier to use on an average computer compared to systems like Windows.

For more quotes and insights, download the Oracle Solaris report

Technology Consultant at Clarinox Technologies Kenya

Additionally, regarding security, you do not have to implement any antivirus software.

Prabir Kumar Kundu

SR AVP–Presales Cloud & Platform Management Services at Path Infotech ltd

Oracle introduced a GUI environment with Solaris 11.5.

Shafiq Khan

Head Of IT at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

It also has strong security features, is OIS and FIPS certified, and has built-in Linux security configurations.

Sitakanta Chaudhury

Cloud Infrastructure Architect at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees

There is also no downtime.

Siphosethu Ndebele

Linux/DevOps Engineer at Ekwantu Consulting

The operating system allows for the simple addition of kernels, modules, and other applications, making it highly adaptable to various needs.

reviewer2641572

Technical Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

Categories and Ranking

Oracle Solaris

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

16th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (R...

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

1st

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

433

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2026, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Oracle Solaris is 2.5%, up from 2.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is 7.0%, down from 9.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Operating Systems (OS) for Business Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)	7.0%
Oracle Solaris	2.5%
Other	90.5%

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

Featured Reviews

Shafiq Khan

Head Of IT at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

Long-term server platform has supported secure banking operations and simplified virtualization

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.

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Gowtham Chettikam

Vice President at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

Automation has transformed daily operations and supports secure, continuous infrastructure

When considering improvements to Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), I see one primary area. Within your portal, if you provided more study material along with demonstrations similar to the sessions we are attending, which feature a user-friendly guide, you could incorporate this into your Red Hat console. When I want to install an agent or something else, typing in the console should provide me with clear step-by-step instructions. Throughout the years, installation steps have been available, but regarding AI agents or Ansible automation, I need to verify whether clear information exists. Including this information would be beneficial. Additionally, if you add the sessions that have occurred to your portal or another location, this would help us review them multiple times to gain better understanding. Time is limited, and many sessions occur simultaneously, making it impossible to attend everything. Making these sessions available on your website would be very helpful.

Read full review

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Comparison Review

it_user281973

Storage and VMware Expert at a comms service provider with 1,001-5,000 employees

Aug 24, 2017

It's improved our company's system environments that run Oracle databases.

Red Hat is mission critical to our environment Red Hat has improved the mission critical environments running Oracle databases, while CentOS has improved our web environment and MySQL. Oracle and SAP Environment and all HPC environments. 10 years No issues Very stable i don´t find any problem…

Read full review

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

14%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Construction Company

Financial Services Firm

12%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	21
Midsize Enterprise	5
Large Enterprise	32

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	92
Midsize Enterprise	50
Large Enterprise	309

Questions from the Community

How does Oracle Linux compare with Solaris?

When comparing Oracle Linux and Solaris, I believe that Linux is more secure and more flexible. It is also very suitable for enterprises that are already Oracle solution users. I found Linux to be ...

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Oracle Solaris?

I find the pricing of Oracle Solaris to be affordable compared to competitors like Windows.

What needs improvement with Oracle Solaris?

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...

Which would you choose - RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux) or CentOS?

Red Hat Enterprise Linux is fantastic. It is an inexpensive solution that has excellent security, performance, and stability, and also lots of features. I specifically like that the solution has fe...

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)?

My experience with the pricing, the setup cost, and the licensing of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) has been pretty good. I have no complaints.

What needs improvement with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)?

I've never really thought about how Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) could be improved, but the only thing I wish they had that I've asked Red Hat for so far is something resembling managed service ...

Ubuntu Linux vs Oracle Solaris

Comparisons

Compared 14% of the time

Oracle Linux vs Oracle Solaris

Compared 14% of the time

CentOS vs Oracle Solaris

Compared 10% of the time

Rocky Linux vs Oracle Solaris

Compared 9% of the time

Windows 11 vs Oracle Solaris

Compared 8% of the time

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SUSE Linux Enterprise vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 9% of the time

Ubuntu Linux vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 9% of the time

Windows Server vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 8% of the time

AlmaLinux vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 7% of the time

Kali Linux vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 4% of the time

More Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) Competitors

Product Reports

Oracle Solaris

Download Oracle Solaris product report

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Download Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) product report

Also Known As

Solaris 11, Solaris

Red Hat Enterprise Linux, RHEL, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) for AWS

Overview

Oracle Solaris stands out for its virtualization capabilities, stability, and comprehensive security measures. Its compatibility with databases and scalable nature make it ideal for enterprise applications, while features like ZFS, DTrace, and Live Upgrade ensure efficient file management and minimal downtime.

Known for exceptional stability and security, Oracle Solaris integrates seamlessly with enterprise environments, supporting IT operations, database hosting, and virtualization. With built-in virtualization through Zones and LDOMs, it efficiently manages cloud frameworks and virtual machines, especially on SPARC systems. Users benefit from predictive self-healing and high availability, critical for mission-centric systems. However, enhancements in third-party x86 support, GUI improvements, and more Linux-like usability would broaden its appeal. Improved documentation, marketing efforts on product continuity, and robust hardware support across platforms would further strengthen its position.

What are Oracle Solaris' most important features?

Built-in Virtualization: Utilize Zones and LDOMs for efficient server management.
Exceptional Stability: Ensure systems remain operational under demanding workloads.
Comprehensive Security: Safeguard data with robust protocols.
ZFS File Management: Manage files efficiently across systems.
DTrace: Troubleshoot system issues effectively.
Live Upgrade: Minimize downtime during updates.
Predictive Self-Healing: Enhance reliability with advanced system diagnostics.

What benefits and ROI should users look for in reviews?

High Availability: Keep mission-critical systems running smoothly.
Scalability: Expand capabilities within diverse server environments.
Robust Performance: Handle intense workloads with ease.
Database Compatibility: Seamlessly integrate with enterprise applications.
Efficient Resource Management: Improved CPU and memory usage reporting.

Oracle Solaris sees strong implementation in industries like banking, CRM, telecom, and manufacturing. It supports database applications and core banking solutions while managing critical applications with strong system management capabilities. Its use in handling environments like Intel and Unix enhances infrastructure benefits, crucial for mission-centric operations.

Oracle

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?

Stability and Security: Maintains high stability and advanced security measures, critical for enterprise environments.
Extensive Support: Offers robust support through community and documentation, assisting with problem-solving and integration.
Automation with Ansible: Simplifies tasks and enhances efficiency, optimizing operations across the infrastructure.
Hybrid Cloud Compatibility: Supports cloud environments, enabling flexibility and strategic deployments.
Scalable Architecture: Adapts to different workloads, making it suitable for growing organizational demands.

What benefits should users look for when evaluating Red Hat Enterprise Linux?

Reliable Performance: Ensures consistent and secure operations across diverse environments, including cloud infrastructure.
Efficient Management: Centralized operations make it easy to manage enterprise workloads effectively.
Community and Documentation: Access to a strong community and comprehensive documentation aids in resolving issues.
Integration Capabilities: Easily integrates with technologies like OpenShift and SAP, enhancing operational versatility.
Adaptability: Supports a wide range of environments and technical requirements, improving strategic deployment.

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.

Red Hat

Sample Customers

Siemens, IVV

Travel Channel, Mohawk Industries, Hilti, Molecular Health, Exolgan, Hotelplan Group, Emory University, BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina, HCA Healthcare, Paychex, UPS, Intermountain Healthcare, Brinker International, TransUnion, Union Bank, CA Technologies

Oracle Solaris vs. Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)