Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) for AWS

I use Chef for application development and tool software upgrades. Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) plays a role in my organization's implementation of adhering to the Zero Trust model because I mainly use it for production workloads.

I currently use Ansible Automation Platform with RHEL. With Ansible, I also use it for package upgrades and to configure client servers to efficiently manage production servers.

Chef has helped streamline my application delivery process because I can simultaneously upgrade many applications using Chef by installing Chef Master and Chef Client servers. On the servers, I need to install Chef Client, then I can simultaneously upgrade and apply configuration for each server.

The business value of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) compares favorably to other Linux distributions I have used. It is mainly a stable operating system, and they provide the best end-to-end support, which is why I use it over other operating systems.

The most valuable features I have found in Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) are the Package Manager and Ansible, which can be used for automation. Red Hat is more stable for production workloads, which is why I use it.

It is easy to configure security with SELinux, which I use mainly for security purposes, along with the inbuilt firewall.

I have tried Red Hat Enterprise Linux Image Builder. It is very helpful because I can easily install images. I have built an image with Podman inbuilt tools and container tools in Red Hat. It is very easy to handle and compile an image.

The knowledge base offered by Red Hat Enterprise Linux provides clear documentation, making it easy to configure and manage the operating system in production and also in the public cloud.

I have done a major version update with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and Ansible Automation Platform. With Ansible, I can do updates step-by-step, and it is easy to handle errors. According to the errors, I can configure the next steps.

In my opinion, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) can be improved because the subscription cost is very expensive. I think additional features such as the integration of AI features in the future with the operating system and log management would help make it closer to a ten out of ten rating.

I have been working with Chef SaaS for around one year. I have been working with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) for around four years.

I have not faced issues with consistency regarding how Chef Habitat has aided in maintaining consistent application behavior. It is very efficient and very easy to configure and use in Chef cookbook, and there is extensive documentation available.

I would rate the technical support by Red Hat around nine out of ten. There is no room for improvement when it comes to response time and first-level support quality. They provide good support when required and they provide clear documentation.

The initial setup was straightforward.

I have seen a return on investment with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) around six months.

I am the user and I am working with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). I use Red Hat Linux 9 and 8 in my company. Overall, I would rate my experience with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) around nine out of ten. I am a customer of Red Hat.

My main use case for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) involves server deployments and managing Python applications, including running ETL pipelines. I deploy Python applications while managing product data engineering workloads, server operations, troubleshooting, and automation.

A specific example of how I use RHEL for my workloads includes running my production PySpark ETL pipeline that processes millions of customer records. I manage all the Python environments, configure Spark jobs, monitor resource utilization, troubleshoot logs, and optimize batch processing in the backend processes. Using RHEL ensures reliable data ingestion and transformation for our backend.

Apart from running ETL pipelines, I also use RHEL for server administration, shell scripting, process monitoring, dependency management, and troubleshooting production issues. Tools such as SSH, Cron jobs, and supervisorctl help me manage and automate application deployments and background services, including systemd.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is deployed on-premises at our organization. However, we have also utilized it as part of a hybrid infrastructure that combines on-premises servers with cloud-based environments, providing flexibility and security for sensitive production data.

We use Google Cloud Platform alongside our on-premises infrastructure for cloud-based workloads and data processing. I utilize RHEL in a hybrid environment with Google Cloud Platform, offering a consistent operating environment across both platforms that simplifies deployments, manages applications, and maintains security policies and configurations.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) has positively impacted my organization, which manages around 260 million customers. It has improved our production environment by providing better system scalability, security, reliability, and simplifying server management, which ensures our Python and PySpark workloads run consistently, ultimately enhancing our operational efficiency and reducing troubleshooting time.

Our overall operational efficiency has improved by more than fifty percent. Before using RHEL, we spent around seven to eight hours troubleshooting issues daily. Now, we save approximately twenty to thirty percent of that time, and troubleshooting server and deployment issues is around twenty to thirty percent faster due to better system monitoring capabilities.

We do not currently rely on Red Hat Satellite or Red Hat Lightspeed, focusing on RHEL's inbuilt tools. RHEL resolves pain points related to production stability, security management, dependency issues, server configuration consistency, and troubleshooting in our hybrid environment with Google Cloud Platform and on-premises servers.

The best features of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) that I have seen include stability, security, enterprise-grade performance, long-term support, and reliable package management. SELinux security, system monitoring tools, automation capabilities, and compatibility with cloud and container platforms make it reliable for running production applications and large-scale data engineering workloads.

Regarding SELinux security, it provides an additional layer of security through mandatory access controls, which helps me restrict applications and processes from accessing unauthorized files or resources, even if compromised. This feature is particularly useful in my daily work for running Python applications and PySpark jobs in production, as it reduces security risks without requiring constant manual monitoring, saving a lot of time.

Another feature I appreciate in RHEL is its integration, particularly with Podman and container technologies. Its system management and automation capabilities through tools such as DNF, systemd, and Cockpit make package management, service monitoring, and troubleshooting much easier, providing a secure, stable, and consistent environment for managing production workloads.

Regarding RHEL's capabilities in governance and security, especially with AI, I believe they are paramount. Protecting sensitive data, controlling access to AI workloads, and maintaining audit trails are essential in enterprise environments. Features such as SELinux, role-based access control, and secure container environments provide a strong foundation for RHEL's use.

To navigate security risks, I primarily use SELinux for user and role-based access controls, along with SSH security and regular security patching through package management. SELinux is particularly effective in restricting unauthorized access between applications and system resources, helping me protect production data efficiently.

RHEL supports our compliance efforts through system-level security controls, access management, audit logging, and SELinux policies. I track user activities, monitor privileged access, and maintain visibility of system changes. I see post-quantum cryptography as an important future requirement and am interested in adopting quantum-resistant encryption as organizational standards evolve.

I primarily manage CVEs through regular security updates and system patching using DNF and RHEL security advisories. I monitor relevant CVEs, assess their severity and impact, and prioritize critical vulnerabilities for immediate patching, reducing our exposure to vulnerabilities and maintaining secure, stable production environments.

I have some exposure to system roles in RHEL, which are particularly useful for automating server configurations. I use Image Builder to create standard system images with predefined packages and configurations, reducing manual effort and minimizing configuration errors for more repeatable deployments.

RHEL supports our zero-trust approach primarily through access controls, SELinux policies, file permissions, and encryption. This ensures that all applications and users only access the data they are authorized to use while protecting sensitive customer information through secure data transfers, restricted database access, and audit logging.

RHEL has helped me run AI and machine learning workloads in a stable environment, with SELinux protecting my AI applications and model-serving processes by restricting unauthorized access. Container technologies such as Podman help isolate workloads, while Python support and system monitoring simplify development and deployments for managing pipelines and AI services in production.

I use Ansible Automation Platform with RHEL. My experience with Ansible involves package installation, service management, and environment configuration, allowing for consistent deployments across servers while minimizing manual intervention and reducing configuration errors.

I have one suggestion for improving Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). While it is reliable, I believe package dependency management and major version upgrades could be simplified with better compatibility handling. Additionally, I would like to see more user-friendly troubleshooting tools, such as clear error messages and easier integration with modern Python and data engineering environments.

I would like to see more practical real-world documentation, especially for production deployments, performance tuning, and troubleshooting, as well as faster resolution of support tickets, which could greatly benefit developers such as myself.

Accuracy and reliability are critical for enterprise AI workloads. While RHEL offers a stable and secure environment, actual output accuracy depends largely on the models, data quality, and configurations used. I would like to see stronger built-in model validation and monitoring capabilities to ensure consistent, reliable outputs in production.

I have been using Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) since around four years ago.

RHEL is very stable and reliable, making it suitable for production workloads. Its updates and enterprise support minimize downtime.

RHEL supports our scalability needs for growing workloads, particularly for Python applications, PySpark jobs, and large-scale ETL pipelines, enabling scaling across physical servers, virtual machines, cloud environments, and containers.

I rate the RHEL knowledge base as good overall, with comprehensive official documentation that covers system administration and security troubleshooting. However, I believe it could be enhanced with more practical real-world examples and better coverage of modern technologies such as Kubernetes, Docker, and AI workloads.

Customer support is good, with helpful technical documentation and access to expert assistance for production issues. However, I believe the response time for complex technical issues could improve significantly.

I would rate customer support a seven out of ten.

Since we began using RHEL, we have not switched to any other enterprise Linux solution. RHEL has been part of our infrastructure for four years, providing us with scalability, security, and enterprise support.

We have experienced operational benefits, including reduced troubleshooting efforts and consistent deployments, estimating around a twenty to thirty percent decrease in time spent resolving routine infrastructure issues while improving production stability without reducing headcount.

Licensing and setup costs are managed by the company. RHEL has a higher licensing cost than free distributions such as Ubuntu and Debian, but I believe the cost is justified for enterprise environments due to official support, security updates, and long-term maintenance.

RHEL offers stronger business value in enterprise environments compared to general-purpose distributions such as Ubuntu, particularly in terms of enterprise-grade security, SELinux, long-term support, predictable updates, and centralized management capabilities. While Ubuntu is simpler and flexible for development, RHEL provides greater confidence for production workloads and stability.

Beyond Ubuntu, I have experience with Debian, which is lightweight and flexible. While Ubuntu offers a developer-friendly ecosystem, RHEL stands out with its strong enterprise-focused capabilities, including SELinux security, lifecycle management, predictable updates, enterprise support, and Ansible integration that reduces operational risks and simplifies infrastructure management.

Before choosing Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), we evaluated Ubuntu, Debian, and CentOS, comparing them based on security, stability, support, and licensing cost. RHEL stood out for its enterprise-grade security, predictable lifecycle, and vendor support.

I would rate Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) a ten out of ten overall.

I choose a perfect score for RHEL because it significantly reduces the troubleshooting nightmare that developers face, enhancing its overall efficiency.

While I have not independently managed a complete RHEL version upgrade using Ansible Automation Platform, I have observed that Ansible is useful for automating pre-upgrade checks, validating configurations, and managing dependencies, significantly reducing manual efforts while ensuring consistency.

My advice for others considering Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is that it is a secure, stable, and enterprise-ready Linux distribution, particularly useful for production environments and large-scale data workloads, where the long-term support and automation capabilities justify the licensing cost.

My main use case for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) involves applications on-premises, specifically an internal application for monitoring systems that was running on an on-premises virtual machine with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), which I believe was version 9 a year ago.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) fits into my monitoring setup as it supports a Grafana/Prometheus stack, which was basically monitoring our internal network devices, our servers, and storage, including a NAS back then.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is deployed in my organization on-premises on a VMware ESXi host, with a virtual machine running on that host that actually runs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).

I wouldn't say Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) plays a big role in my organization's process for managing regulatory compliance and upcoming mandates; we primarily use it to maintain and operate our virtual machines rather than for compliance and auditing.

I have only used Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) on-premises and have not done so in a hybrid environment.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) has definitely positively impacted my organization, making the management easier and providing access to data that upper management wants instantly, allowing me to provide it to them quickly.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) helps me solve the pain points of keeping an eye on my Linux servers, ensuring they run well, and tracking when their operating system licenses are expiring soon, which I believe is the main pain point it addresses.

The cool thing about Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) was that I could actually monitor the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) virtual machine remotely from Red Hat portal, seeing its memory usage, CPU usage, and disk space, as well as when the license would expire for it, which was very helpful, allowing me to do remote work on it as long as it was connected to the internet.

One of the best features Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) offers is the remote capabilities it provides.

Those remote capabilities have helped me in my day-to-day work because the workloads we were running on this Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) were pretty heavy, so instead of going into the server each time to check what's happening, I could access the dashboards with the actual metrics of the server on my browser, saving me a lot of time.

I could also identify what was throttling the server and where I needed to add more resources, which made things much easier for me.

We did not really use Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) for navigating security risks, but Red Hat portal provided us with security insights on our machine, which was helpful because I knew exactly what I needed to close on my machine to make it more secure.

While we do not use specific tools like Lightspeed or Satellite, the built-in security of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) shows me in the portal what is wrong with the security of the server, allowing me to manually address any issues.

I wanted to make a golden image out of our current server using Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and it worked pretty well; I created an image and used it to boot another machine with the same image, which worked great out of the box.

I don't think I can really find any places for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) to improve right now, as it already has a lot of features that work well for me.

I have used Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) for approximately two years.

Based on my experience, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is stable.

I find the knowledge base offered by Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) pretty helpful and have used it for my use case; it was particularly good for setting up the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) server we had in our ESXi host, being easy to navigate and helpful overall.

We did not previously have a paid licensed solution; we used open source and free Linux distributions like Ubuntu, but we never used a paid solution before Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).

We purchased Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) directly from Red Hat Enterprise portal and did not have any partners involved.

I think the business value of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is pretty good compared to other Linux distributions, especially for the remote management features that I mentioned earlier, which is why I think the value is so high.

I definitely see a return on my investment from my purchase; especially, I save time and reduce manual work, which I believe is the biggest reason for the return on investment from Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) licenses.

I would rate my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing as 10 out of 10 because it was pretty straightforward, with the setup of the actual environment, licensing, and installation being well documented and working as expected.

To be honest, I did not evaluate other options before choosing Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) as I already knew it was good, so we went straight for it.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I would give Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) a solid nine.

I choose a nine for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) because I think there's always room for improvement.

I really haven't explored the accuracy and reliability of output for its AI capabilities either; I think there was AI-related information that could help me with the metrics and resources on the virtual machines, providing quite useful insights to make my life easier, which I found good enough.

I do not currently use Ansible Automation Platform with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL); I have used Ansible as a separate tool but not as part of the platform.

For anyone looking into using Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), I suggest you definitely try it; it provides a lot of tools and features that you might need but don't have, and everything comes into your browser, making it pretty useful and easy to use.