We use Red Hat Enterprise Linux in the enterprise for production environments. We mostly use it on bare metal servers, which are dedicated. In terms of deployment, we use the on-premises version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for SAP with HA and Update Services 9.2
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We have better security and management, but it's not easy to see deployed security features
What is our primary use case?
How has it helped my organization?
Red Hat Enterprise Linux has given us better insights and allowed us to manage the environment more effectively. In terms of overall performance improvements, it has provided us with increased visibility into security, which has been helpful for our cybersecurity team.
Its built-in security features seem pretty sufficient for our purposes, but we have other teams that manage the security and build aspects. I am more involved in the maintenance of it, but in terms of the built-in security features, I find it sufficient. The security team also takes care of the compliance aspect.
I mainly use the Red Hat database for vulnerabilities. It is pretty good for determining whether or not a vulnerability has been resolved.
We use Red Hat Satellite for patching. I like Red Hat Satellite for patching and keeping us secure.
We have used Red Hat Enterprise Linux in hybrid environments. It seems to work fairly well. For hybrid environments, it is probably one of the easier ones to deploy because it allows us to scale.
We were able to realize the benefits of Red Hat Enterprise Linux immediately after the deployment.
What is most valuable?
In terms of the organization and structure, the support is on point. The reporting and other things are very standardized. It does not leave much room for error when working in production environments.
What needs improvement?
When we first deploy Red Hat Enterprise Linux, it is very challenging to determine which security features have been deployed. It would be beneficial to have more insight into this. Additionally, once it is built, there does not seem to be an option to retroactively change security features, which can make it difficult to ascertain which ones have been deployed.
Their knowledge base is very verbose. There is too much information. It can complicate things a little bit. It is very detailed. If they can shorten it, that might be helpful.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Red Hat Enterprise Linux for a few years now, approximately seven to eight years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I would rate the stability of Red Hat Enterprise Linux as seven out of ten. We do encounter problems, most of which can be resolved. Occasionally, we face issues that cannot be resolved until the kernel developers address them. These are typically dealt with through quarterly releases or major upgrades.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
In terms of scalability, I would rate Red Hat Enterprise Linux about a nine out of ten. It is easy for us to make snapshots when we are patching. If we need to clone, we can do so, although they might not be full backups necessarily.
How are customer service and support?
We use their portal for contacting support. The support from Red Hat is quite quick because it operates on a service-level agreement (SLA). For the paid support features, they are very responsive.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I am familiar with CentOS, and I have used OpenSUSE and SUSE Enterprise for testing and comparison purposes.
CentOS did not have as many security features. Of course, CentOS had the community support. CentOS was bought by Red Hat, and then the support started lacking. It was then discontinued to promote Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
How was the initial setup?
We have done some physical to virtual migrations using VMware. We have been mostly involved in that. We have done a little bit of virtual-to-cloud migration but not as much as physical-to-virtual.
The migration is more on the complex side. There are quite a few players involved. We need to collaborate with different teams. We need to make sure that the database is there, and that the database team is always involved. It is not terribly simple. It requires quite a bit of project planning and coordination. We usually have a six-month project so that it can be planned and tested.
It does require maintenance on our end but not very frequently.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Red Hat Enterprise Linux licensing is quite costly, but I personally do not deal with pricing.
What other advice do I have?
My advice to new users would be to focus more on the build aspect because it can be overlooked by many new users.
The Leapp utility works well when you do not have a much-customized environment. The more customized your environment is, the more complicated it gets to get Leapp to work to switch over to Red Hat Enterprise Linux. It is possible, but the more customized your environment is, the harder it is because it will require the kernel module. Convert2RHEL is pretty much the same as Leapp. The more customized the environment, the harder it is. It is feasible. It is just a matter of how much time you are willing to spend on it.
I would rate Red Hat Enterprise Linux a seven out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Ensures customer satisfaction but needs to offer better documentation
What is our primary use case?
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is just a piece of an operating system for my company, and what we need the most is STIG compliance because we have a lot of different customers.
How has it helped my organization?
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) has helped my company since, with it, we have gotten more customers. Now, our company can say upfront that we use Red Hat and are STIG compliant while also being security-focused, which really helps open up the door to people who want to get their stuff done.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of the solution is its good integration with Ansible.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux has not helped centralize development in our company, especially since we deal with unique use cases in our organization. My company still develops locally on CentOS, but once our company actually completes the product for our customer, it gets shipped somewhere else and we can't centralize things since we don't have that much time to spare owing to which we stay disconnected after the aforementioned process.
My company plans to use the product for containerization projects, especially since we are in the process of converting to Kubernetes.
Based on my assessment of the the built-in security features when it comes to areas like risk reduction, business continuity, and compliance, I would say that I am a big fan of the tool.
In terms of the portability of applications and containers built on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) to keep our organization agile, it has been pretty good since all the containers have been very portable without having to deal with any environmental issues.
If I had to give a suggestion to a colleague who is looking at open-source cloud-based operating systems for Linux instead of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), I would say that one should look at AlmaLinux since it is the closest thing one can get to Red Hat.
The product's deployment model is usually in a single data center, and it consists of one machine at a time. Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) does not use a public cloud.
What needs improvement?
The documentation is an area of concern where improvements are required. Sometimes, I go to look at stuff in the tool's documentation to see how to configure something, and it doesn't make any sense. The tool's documentation is written by someone who already knows how it works for those who need to learn how it works. Everything else in the documentation is really good, though. I would describe the documentation as a kind of a hit or miss.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) for about six months.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is a scalable solution.
I would like to expand the use of the product in the future, but our company's business model is contract-based and very slow, which makes it difficult to work with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).
How are customer service and support?
As per my evaluation of the technical support offered by the product, I would consider the support services offered to be at a 50-50 rate since everything really depends on who you get to talk to from the support team. Some of the people from the product's support team to whom we reached out didn't understand our use cases or our problems, so they couldn't help us at all. Some of the support staff members who understood what our company meant when it came to the issues associated with the product were able to help us in 30 seconds. My colleagues who contacted the product's support team were satisfied with the technical team's services. I rate the technical support a six out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
In my company, we used to use CentOS. Now that CentOS has reached the end of life phase, it doesn't meet our company's needs, so we transitioned to Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).
Previously in my company, we used to use CentOS. CentOS will reach the end of life phase in the upcoming month, which is the reason why my company had to choose another product like Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).
How was the initial setup?
The solution is used on an on-premises model.
Deploying Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) was surprisingly easy. The installers were the same as the ones used for other solutions.
My company did not have a strategy to deploy the product since we just needed Red Hat to hurry up, put it on a box, and figure it out.
What about the implementation team?
My company did not seek the help of a third party to help us with the product's deployment phase.
What was our ROI?
The biggest ROI I have experienced from the use of the solution revolves around the area of customer satisfaction. My company's customers who use the product have a lot less to be changed in the product and it has helped save a lot of development and redevelopment time for our organization.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The cost and setup are not areas that are transparent for me. The tool's licensing part has been a real pain because when our company sells a system to a customer, they take full control of it in their data center, and we are not allowed to access it, even though they bought it from us. The license transfer has always been really awkward because our company initially had the license until our customers tested it and accepted the product. I was hoping to find somebody to talk to about the license transfer part with Red Hat products, but I don't know where to find someone associated with the solution.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
My company briefly evaluated a product named Debian, but after that, our company's customers specifically asked us to go for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).
What other advice do I have?
Considering that the licensing part associated with the product is a pain, I rate the tool a seven out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
A review from a long time Linux user
Casi perfecto
I love it for its long-term support, constant updates, and focus on security. Additionally, for its emphasis on compatibility and integration.
Director of technical services
Has plenty of proprietary features that is super helpful
Unveiling the Power and Performance: A Comprehensive Review of Red Hat Enterprise Linux
The security
2. OpenShift: Agile solutions for modern enterprises.
Is well documented and stable, but the support needs improvement
What is our primary use case?
Red Hat Enterprise Linux serves as the foundation for our cluster infrastructure, allowing us to deploy applications and connect servers. We further enhance operational efficiency by deploying Kubernetes on top.
We chose Red Hat Enterprise Linux for its stability and well-rounded features and its proven track record of decades of reliable operation.
How has it helped my organization?
Red Hat Enterprise Linux's built-in security features and mandatory access control help to mitigate and secure the OS from threats.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux is well documented and anyone with a technical background can easily understand and use the OS.
Red Hat's image builder is helpful.
Building upon the industry's 95 percent adoption of Linux OS, our Red Hat Enterprise Linux with Kubernetes setup has helped our operations.
We have not encountered any downtime while using Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux enables us to achieve security standards certification.
The performance of Red Hat Enterprise Linux is consistent between on-premises and cloud deployments. The key difference is simply a shift from owning hardware to renting cloud space for the operating system.
What is most valuable?
Red Hat is open source, so what we get with Red Hat Enterprise Linux is valuable support that is not included in the free version.
What needs improvement?
Recently, whenever we have applied a Red Hat patch, we have encountered errors requiring additional work. Unfortunately, the release notes for these patches are not always updated accurately, creating further challenges during troubleshooting. Specifically, the notes often fail to mention dependent packages that are also updated alongside the main package.
While the OS hardening feature is helpful, it could benefit from additional automation. A one-click package for hardening all files would significantly improve efficiency compared to the current manual process, especially considering the hundreds of files we've processed over the years.
The support has room for improvement.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Red Hat Enterprise Linux for eight years.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate Red Hat Enterprise Linux a six out of ten.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux is deployed across multiple locations in our organization with 95 percent of our employees that use it.
To ensure optimal performance and security, we must prioritize installing operating system updates as they become available.
Taking the Red Hat administration course beforehand will significantly ease the user experience when using Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
RHEL the scalable OS
- Rich knowledge articles in redhat knowledge base, something thats not available in open forums like Stack overflow.
- Great security with SE linux
- Expensive licenses.
- Scalable with respect to benchmarks performed with othe Linux distributions.
Can be leveraged without resource constraints but should have more open-source options
What is our primary use case?
We use Red Hat Enterprise Linux in different application servers.
What is most valuable?
The tool's most valuable feature is simplicity. There is value in having a fully CLI-based operating system instead of a GUI-based one. It is lightweight and can be leveraged without resource constraints.
What needs improvement?
I want Red Hat Enterprise Linux to stick to the open-source routes. As a company, we experience challenges in managing the budget.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the product for three years.
What other advice do I have?
From a licensing perspective, Red Hat Enterprise Linux is flexible. We leverage our licenses based on the VMware cluster.
Accessing the knowledge base from the public perspective is challenging. You can get much more from the documentation if you are a supported organization. If Red Hat Enterprise Linux continues to keep the documentation open-source, it will benefit us.
We leverage Ansible to help with the upgrades. It makes upgrades easier. We rely on a reseller for Ansible AWS upgrades.
We are shifting our Red Hat Enterprise Linux servers from version 7 to version 8.
I rate the product a seven out of ten.