Too many features to count, the built in, low overhead integration is a huge plus, as is the ease of patching, the ability to use DTRACE to real time troubleshoot issues, the integrated security and most of all the performance.
Enterprise Architect at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees
The compliance command simplifies how complex security audits are performed.
What is most valuable?
How has it helped my organization?
The compliance command simplifies how complex security audits are performed, saving time. Also the patching is better than Linux, just as easy to patch, but with the integrated snapshots easier to back out of a patch. This saves hours of patch prep each time you patch a server. Enabling admin/server rations exceeded any linux or windows solution.
What needs improvement?
One cool feature with Oracle Linux, is the ability to patch without a reboot. Getting this working on Solaris would rock! With the new M7/S7 chips, better DTRACE visibility into the hardware acceleration offloading would be nice. Difficult to explain a server that is 90% idle but doing the workload of 4 Intel servers.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Solaris since the early 90s.
Buyer's Guide
Oracle Solaris
January 2026
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What was my experience with deployment of the solution?
No major issues, the biggest challenge is retraining older Solaris 10 admins. The Linux admin shave no issues switching over.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
No issues, recovery from patching is simple and I have yet to have a Solaris 11 system core dump. Troubleshooting RCA on a core dump is very easy though.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
No issues scaling this, you can scale to over 1024 cores using the Fujitsu M10-s servers. I don;t think any Intel system can do that.
How are customer service and support?
Customer Service:
Customer service is what you would expect from a large multi-national company... but I rarely call support. The online tools are great.
Technical Support:The online tools are great, but the phone folks could use a little more training. But I rarely call them, as the online tools work %90 of the time.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used Linux, Windows, AIX and more. With Solaris 10, I stopped using AIX for any solutions, and focus on Solaris for larger systems, Linux for smaller systems and Windows when I need Microsoft. The new S7 is having me take a second look at using Solaris for the smaller systems as well.
How was the initial setup?
Install is simple, the OS is preinstalled on the servers. Installing from ISO is simple,and Oracle also has several VMs you can download and deploy.
What about the implementation team?
We use in-house staff most of the time. As I said, Linux admins can easily transition over. Patching is a great example.. linux is "yum update" and Solaris 11 is "pkg update"
What was our ROI?
The ROI is higher than Windows, due to the ease of patching and troubleshooting issues with DTRACE. Running down issues is wickedly fast, as you can use dtrace while the problem is happening.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Licensing is a core feature, as you can use zones and LDOMs to reduce the number of core you need to license Oracle product for. This is a huge saving for anyone using Oracle Database of Middleware.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Yes, we look at all options, and pick the OS that is the best match for the application. Solaris is more often or not the choice.
What other advice do I have?
Have an open mind when looking at a new OS. Many things have changed in the last five years, you can not compare Solaris 11 to older versions.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Malware Reseacher, Instructor, Consultant and Speaker at a security firm with 51-200 employees
By using Solaris Zones, I have consolidated big environments into just a few hosts.
What is most valuable?
Undoubtedly, Solaris is a very stable, extremely fast, and secure operating system. I have worked as a Solaris instructor for 16 years, and certainly I can assure you that it is incomparable.
An interesting point is that Oracle has been constantly introducing new features for Solaris, and this crucial fact makes Solaris a reference product in the market.
An interesting point is that Oracle has been constantly introducing new features for Solaris, and this crucial fact makes Solaris a reference product in the market.
How has it helped my organization?
Fantastic features are contained in Solaris, such as Zones and LDOM, which have given solutions to companies for which I have provided consulting services. By using Solaris Zones, I have consolidated big environments into just a few hosts. Additionally, by using the built-in resource manager feature from Solaris, it's possible to control and set up limits for CPU and memory consumption. Finally, installing packages and patches into a virtualized system are very simple tasks.
Solaris has made the administration simpler, easy and intuitive. Its innumerable security and performance features provide conviction to companies that they're moving forward in the right direction.
What needs improvement?
During my many years of use, I've suffered with small problems while implementing the advanced features of Solaris. They were always, however, resolved by referring to the old and legendary Sun Solve and, today, to the excellent Oracle documentation website (http://docs.oracle.com).
For how long have I used the solution?
I've worked with it for exactly 16 years since version 5.7 (Solaris 7). I've had the opportunity to follow dozens of features being implemented during this long period of time. Better yet, I have a good perspective about next new features which will be introduced in the near future, so I am sure Solaris will continue alive and strong for many years.
What was my experience with deployment of the solution?
I've had the small problems in the Areas for Improvement section, but other than that, I haven't had issues with deployment.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I've absolutely never had any issues with stability. Solaris is a very solid and stable operating system, and its release schedule ensures that all potential stability problems are resolved as soon as possible. Additionally, the Solaris kernel is one of most interesting and featured kernels that I have ever seen because almost everything is made and implemented by taking into account security and stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
One of the more remarkable advantages of Solaris is the fact that it scales almost linearly. New SPARC processors introduce more cores and Solaris' performance responds proportionally. In particular, I have observed a huge performance gain while processing mathematical applications.
How are customer service and technical support?
Customer Service:
They're straightforward. Honestly, I don't have constant contact with customer services, but the few contacts that I have had were fair enough. Oracle professionals always had a suitable behavior and an appropriate attention to problems.
Technical Support:When my clients needed technical support, the level of customer service was excellent because most field engineers are ready to solve any problem almost instantly.
When critical problems come up and the first level of engineers is not able to solve the issue, the problems are forwarded to more experienced specialist and it is enough to solve the issue quickly.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
A long time ago, an open Linux distribution was the main option for running most hosts, but raw performance and security problems forced us to migrate most critical systems to Solaris.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was not complex in any way. All Solaris implementations are extremely straightforward, easy to install, and well documented. Most Solaris commands are kept from older versions, which is a big advantage because we can reuse past knowledge.
What about the implementation team?
I always implement solutions by myself because have enough knowledge about Oracle solutions. Nonetheless, most vendors team that I could work together have an appropriate knowledge about all Oracle products.
What was our ROI?
The ROI of my customers have been very high. As Oracle Solaris provides a total integration with the remaining Oracle portfolio, the necessary time to implement any Oracle solution is very short. Furthermore, as Oracle Solaris is very solid and stable, usually the downtime is insignificant and all investment is recovered by keeping their business working well.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Before thinking about pricing and licensing, we should try to understand whether the return of investment will be enough and fair. For example, I have provided technical consulting services for several companies that, at first, chose another operating system, but after some time, they implemented Oracle Solaris because they understood the importance of an operating system which provides security, performance, and total integration.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
No, I didn't. Usually, I try to understand the customer's environment before making any choice, but most of the time I can use Oracle Solaris and part of its features as the more suitable solution.
What other advice do I have?
Before implementing Oracle Solaris, my best recommendation would be to know all its available features for making the right choices. I have seen several implemented solutions which are working, but they could have implemented better techniques and methods if more appropriate features had been chosen for the specific project.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. I'm a paid instructor for Oracle.
it_user431682Malware Reseacher, Instructor, Consultant and Speaker at a security firm with 51-200 employees
Vendor
Thank you for words, dear Yogesh. Oracle Solaris has been one of best OS for many years because it is full featured, has excellent performance, it's stable and secure.
I'm really glad for seeing that you have similar opinion about it.
I hope you have a good day.
Alexandre.
Buyer's Guide
Oracle Solaris
January 2026
Learn what your peers think about Oracle Solaris. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2026.
881,114 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Technical Assistant at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Stable product with an efficient feature of resource partitioning
Pros and Cons
- "The product's most valuable feature is partitioning resources and optimizing hardware utilization effectively."
- "They could also enable Oracle OEM for x86 architecture as well."
What is our primary use case?
We use the product to manage databases.
What is most valuable?
The product's most valuable feature is partitioning resources and optimizing hardware utilization effectively.
What needs improvement?
They could also enable Oracle OEM for x86 architecture as well. It is currently applied only to risk processors. It could help reduce costs associated with x86 environments compared to risk environments.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Oracle Solaris for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the platform's stability a ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate the platform's scalability a ten out of ten. It is suitable for medium-scale businesses.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup process is difficult and needs technical skills. It takes a few days to complete the implementation of all the parameters.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It is an expensive product. I rate the pricing a ten out of ten.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Oracle Solaris a ten out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
DBA Team Lead | Principal Apps DBA at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
A robust Unix-based operating system known for its stability, security features, efficient container and virtualization capabilities and reasonable annual licensing costs
Pros and Cons
- "It stands out for its exceptional stability."
- "The challenge arises from the differences in commands and configurations compared to more common systems like Linux."
What is our primary use case?
If our clients use Solaris exclusively on SPARC systems, it is recommended to perform system backups. This precautionary measure ensures the safeguarding of their data and system integrity.
How has it helped my organization?
It serves as a foundational platform, particularly in cloud environments, tailored for specific system designs rather than encompassing all aspects of system management.
What is most valuable?
It stands out for its exceptional stability.
What needs improvement?
It may not be as widely adopted and lacks abundant resources and tutorials compared to other Linux systems. The challenge arises from the differences in commands and configurations compared to more common systems like Linux.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using it for five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It offers high stability capabilities.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It provides good scalability features.
How are customer service and support?
I would rate its customer service and support an eight out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was fairly straightforward.
What about the implementation team?
Implementation is completed within a single day. Insert the installation and in a matter of minutes, the initial setup is complete. Following this, there are two steps for configuration, much like the process in Linux systems.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The annual license cost is fair and reasonable.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I would rate it eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Consultant at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Easy-to-scale product with good stability
Pros and Cons
- "Oracle Solaris provides an ease of use."
What is our primary use case?
We use the product as an operating system for web and database servers.
How has it helped my organization?
Oracle Solaris provides an ease of use. This aspect is very important for our organization.
What is most valuable?
The product has a seamless upgrade feature to set the ZFS file system.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Oracle Solaris for 20 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the product’s stability a ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have 70 Oracle Solaris users in our organization. It is easy to scale as we can use multiple PCs connected through one CPU. We use the product daily.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support services are fine. However, the team could be more knowledgeable.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We have used Windows and several versions of Linux before.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is easy. It takes around 30 minutes to an hour to install it on a new computer. It requires one admin executive to work on the process.
What about the implementation team?
The implementation can be done in-house.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Oracle Solaris a ten 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.
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Very agree with Scalability Issues