Years of cluster work have become smoother as I provision nodes and manage servers with confidence
What is our primary use case?
I am a RHCE certified and RHCSA certified professional. I use Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) to deploy the OS for node provisioning across any make of clusters. I work with the HPC cluster team and receive clusters on RHEL-based systems. Over the last seven years, I have been working with RHEL 7, RHEL 8, RHEL 9, and currently RHEL 10. I primarily work with HPC clusters.
Since creating HPC clusters is not part of my responsibilities, I focus mainly on installation, node provisioning, password management, SSH proxies, and NGINX and web server configuration.
What is most valuable?
There are several valuable features I appreciate. I can obtain any versions, software, or RPM packages easily through the subscription manager or without it. Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is very hands-on for me and runs smoothly. It even runs on just 1 GB of RAM, which is excellent for my needs. The installation process is very easy compared to other distributions. Since I work with clusters, this simplicity is invaluable.
When comparing the installation process of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) to other distributions, I find that a non-technical person can easily follow the prompts. The installation guides are clear and documented step-by-step. For example, the first prompt asks for language, keyboard, and installation preferences, and each step is straightforward. In contrast, Ubuntu and other distributions require creating disks and involve more complex UI elements that are not as user-friendly. Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) has a clean interface that allows even non-technical people to install the OS easily.
I have only studied from the direct books provided by Red Hat for RHCSA and RHCE certification, and every detail is available in their documentation and website. I appreciate the clean and detailed information provided in their resources.
What needs improvement?
I encounter pain points when trying to add patches for certain versions I need for RHEL purposes. While creating HPC clusters on RHEL 9, I sometimes need EPEL repositories for RHEL 7 or 8. Adding patches from these repositories is very painful because Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 9 does not easily support these older package versions. This is a recurring problem I always face.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) since I started my career, which is 6.7 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I have not experienced stability issues. I have used multiple OEMs including HP, Dell, Exatron, and NVIDIA servers. I always prefer recommending Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) to my customers because it is very stable. I have only experienced one server crash in all my years, and that was due to an OEM issue, not Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) itself. I have never encountered data problems or server crashes from Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Scalability is not an issue. I can easily add more nodes to clusters. The installation is very fast, which allows me to scale quickly. I use Ansible and PXE servers to facilitate this process, and I can scale to many servers very quickly with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).
How are customer service and support?
When I was working for a customer and faced an issue while installing a package, I requested Red Hat support and they helped me resolve it.
I have raised requests in the morning around 11:00 AM and received responses within one to two hours. They ask for logs and version information, and then provide a response within approximately 30 minutes. I give Red Hat support a nine out of 10 rating. I would give a full 10 if they could push their support to be slightly faster. When someone is on-site conducting installations and encounters an issue, that person needs to wait at least one or two hours for a response. Red Hat could improve by responding a bit more quickly.
How would you rate customer service and support?
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Regarding the pricing of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) subscription, I believe the pricing is fair. The support that Red Hat provides is very good. Whenever I encounter issues, Red Hat always provides fast resolution. The pricing is justified given the quality of support offered.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I have used Ubuntu as an alternative distribution. However, I always choose Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) over every other distribution. I started my career learning from Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), which is the main reason I prefer it. Additionally, Ubuntu and other distributions have many dependencies that require adding different packages and configurations. When troubleshooting on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), I find solutions easily. With Ubuntu, troubleshooting requires digging much deeper.
What other advice do I have?
I have been working with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) for approximately seven years.
Regarding updates and maintenance, I only need maintenance time when upgrading the OS. When upgrading the kernel version or transitioning from RHEL 8 to RHEL 9, I only need to install the RPMs and reboot the server once. Maintenance primarily involves patching and the subsequent reboot requirement.
Every time a cluster issue occurs, Red Hat never requests high downtime or suggests data loss scenarios. They maintain very low risk and require very low downtime.
Stable, Secure, But Complex for Beginners
What do you like best about the product?
I use Red Hat Enterprise Linux mainly for running servers and managing enterprise-level applications. It's great for hosting databases, web services, and virtual machines, and it gives me a stable and secure environment that's reliable for long-term projects. The support and documentation are really helpful when troubleshooting or setting up complex systems. What I like most about Red Hat Enterprise Linux is how stable and reliable it is. I don’t have to worry about unexpected crashes, and it handles heavy workloads really well. I appreciate the support and documentation—whenever I run into a problem, there’s usually a clear solution available. It just makes managing servers and enterprise systems a lot less stressful. My experience integrating Red Hat Enterprise Linux with other tools has generally been positive, and I've found certain integrations really helpful—like using monitoring tools to keep track of server performance and automated backup solutions to protect data.
What do you dislike about the product?
One thing that could be improved with Red Hat Enterprise Linux is that it can feel a bit complex for beginners, especially when setting up or configuring advanced features. There are a lot of commands and configurations to learn, and the documentation, while thorough, can sometimes be too technical for someone. For beginners, setting up the system and managing software packages can be confusing at first, so simpler installation guides or wizards would help. Basic system administration tasks, like configuring users, networks, or security settings, could be made more intuitive.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Red Hat Enterprise Linux solves stability and security issues for me. It keeps servers running reliably, handles heavy workloads without crashing, and simplifies managing updates and patches.
A Stable, Secure Foundation for Enterprise-Grade Software Infrastructure
What do you like best about the product?
What we like most about Red Hat Enterprise Linux is its stability and enterprise-grade support. The predictable release cycle, strong security updates, and wide ecosystem compatibility make it well suited for long-running, mission-critical production workloads. The initial setup is straightforward, with clear documentation and reliable installation and package management tools, allowing teams familiar with Linux to deploy systems quickly and confidently.
What do you dislike about the product?
Some limitations of Red Hat Enterprise Linux include licensing costs and the overhead of subscription management. It can be less flexible than community-driven distributions for rapid experimentation, and access to the latest software versions may lag behind upstream releases.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Red Hat Enterprise Linux addresses the need for a stable, secure, and fully supported operating system in production environments. It reduces downtime and security risks through reliable updates, certified software, and enterprise-grade support, making it well suited for critical enterprise and cloud workloads.
Reliable, Secure, and Enterprise-Ready
What do you like best about the product?
I appreciate that Red Hat Enterprise Linux is the market leader for Linux operating systems. It's reliable, flexible, and cost-effective. I find it strong in security and suitable for enterprise-grade applications, making it a great replacement for some legacy Unix systems. The initial setup is rather easy, and one of the benefits is that it's based on open source, which makes it more customizable and user-friendly.
What do you dislike about the product?
Since Red Hat Enterprise Linux is now owned by IBM after its acquisition, there are concerns about its cost effectiveness, the freedom of open source development, and the quality of customer support.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
We use Red Hat Enterprise Linux for enterprise applications, solving issues from support functions to cybersecurity management. It's reliable, flexible, cost-effective, and strong in security, suitable for enterprise applications and replacing legacy Unix systems. It's customizable and user-friendly due to its open-source base.
Mature, Stable, and Security-First: RHEL Keeps Surprises Out of Prod
What do you like best about the product?
See, I'm more into ethical hacking and security stuff so for that the only distro I primarily used is redhat. RHEL doesn’t chase shiny features. It ships mature, well-understood components. That means fewer surprise attack surfaces and fewer “oops, upstream broke prod” moments. Most distros ship SELinux and tell you to disable it. RHEL treats it as a first-class citizen.
What do you dislike about the product?
As a security guy, I dislike RHEL because it’s overly conservative. Backported patches complicate vuln validation, packages are outdated, SELinux is painful to manage, and the locked subscription model slows labs and automation. Great for defense, frustrating for real security testing.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
RHEL solves the problem of running secure, stable systems at scale without surprises. It gives me predictable patching, long-term support, strong defaults like SELinux, and built-in compliance alignment, so I spend less time firefighting and more time actually improving security. The benefit to me is simple: fewer production incidents, cleaner audits, and an OS I can trust to stay hardened and stable over time.
Reliable and Secure for Mission-Critical Systems
What do you like best about the product?
I use Red Hat Enterprise Linux as a reliable and secure operating system for running servers and handling production workloads. I appreciate its reliability and consistency, as I can depend on it to run for long periods without issues, essential for production environments. The long-term support and predictable update cycle give me confidence that updates won’t break my systems unexpectedly. I also value its strong security features, detailed documentation, and seamless integration with enterprise tools like Ansible and OpenShift. These features simplify system management and automation, making Red Hat Enterprise Linux a polished, enterprise-grade Linux platform I trust.
What do you dislike about the product?
While I find Red Hat Enterprise Linux very dependable, there are a few areas that could be improved. The subscription and licensing model can feel complex and costly, especially compared to community-based distributions, and it sometimes adds overhead for smaller teams or non-production use. Newer software versions can also take longer to become available because of RHEL’s focus on stability, which can be limiting when I need the latest features.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
I use Red Hat Enterprise Linux for stability, security, and manageability in production workloads. It ensures long-term support, compliance through timely patches, and reduces downtime with enterprise support and a robust ecosystem.
Boosts Security and Scalability with Ease
What do you like best about the product?
I really appreciate how Red Hat Enterprise Linux has evolved very rapidly and provides a highly secure platform. It's great for building private cloud environments, and I find it trustworthy. The availability of open-source applications and codes is a big plus, offering cost-saving benefits for supporting larger private cloud solutions. It's also supportive of containerizations and Kubernetes, which enhances scalability. I like how the product provides a more secure way and the enterprise-level support from Red Hat is helpful. The licensing cost is mostly free, which is a huge benefit for us. It's a highly stable and evolved operating system that supports the enterprise environment effectively, with low costs for growing cloud environments. The initial setup isn't too hard, and the availability of resources like blogs and YouTube videos helps in resolving issues and enhancing knowledge.
What do you dislike about the product?
NA
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Red Hat Enterprise Linux provides a secure environment with low or no licensing costs, and offers enterprise-level support for our cloud platforms, making it cost-effective and highly stable for scaling.
Strong security and automation have supported reliable hybrid deployments and growth
What is our primary use case?
I work with both the cloud version and the on-premises version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). I have worked with Red Hat Cloud and Red Hat Enterprise on-premises.
For the cloud-based products, the main use cases for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) include deploying websites and complex software for customers, such as SaaS software on the cloud, specifically Red Hat Cloud.
What is most valuable?
When choosing Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) in the cloud, security requirements were not a consideration for me because Red Hat provides us with the SLA regarding security compliance. I am more than satisfied to use Red Hat Cloud for security purposes, while I manage some other forms of security, such as my own keys and access in Red Hat Linux systems.
I really appreciate the zero trust networking that Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) has, and it also provides the WAF, along with certified images from Red Hat. For my current work on containers, Red Hat provides certified images that minimize vulnerabilities of CVEs, improving security significantly.
Although I do not have much knowledge about virtualization technology, I can say that for the hybrid cloud on OpenShift with the operators provided by Red Hat, the ready-to-use operators take care of underlying security, patching, and updates, so I do not have to handle monitoring or security myself.
Security is highlighted as an advantage across various aspects, such as the zero trust networking feature and the availability of certified images, which are instrumental in minimizing vulnerabilities and enhancing security.
What needs improvement?
While there are good aspects, I would appreciate improvements in the command-line interface (CLI). Red Hat could do more on the CLI side instead of focusing so much on UI development.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) for around five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Regarding stability, I have not experienced performance issues, crashes, or downtimes with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL); any problems usually arise from my applications, not from the Linux system.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is definitely scalable.
Whether I have expanded the usage of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) depends on the business requirements, as RHEL comes with a cost that my company can afford because IBM owns Red Hat, so everything scales on RHEL.
How are customer service and support?
Regarding my experience with Red Hat's technical support team, I find that they come very quickly with answers. However, sometimes the first person who responds might be a technical support agent without in-depth knowledge, so for more complex issues, a specialized engineer comes to the rescue, depending on the criticality of the subject, especially if it is production or a staging environment. They answer according to the SLA and support terms.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Determining whether Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is cost-effective depends entirely on the business. If your business faces compromises leading to significant losses, then investing in Red Hat Enterprise is truly necessary. However, if your business is small or medium-sized, you can manage with the free versions.
How was the initial setup?
Regarding the deployment aspect, my experience has been straightforward because it is all automated with Ansible; all I need to do is provide an IP address, and it takes care of all the variables and boots up automatically.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Regarding the pricing, setup costs, and licensing costs of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), I have heard that the licensing cost is significant compared to free alternatives such as CentOS or AlmaLinux, which are managed by Red Hat. I previously used CentOS, which is free, but I had to manage everything, including security, patching, reboots, and storage.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
The key differences between Red Hat and other Linux technologies I have used include the advantages of excellent technical support, good documentation, and a large community for problem-solving. A disadvantage is that it is not open source, meaning limited flexibility, and the high cost associated with Red Hat compared to others.
What other advice do I have?
I would advise other organizations considering Red Hat to start using it as their applications grow larger, rather than waiting for their business to become huge, as delays can lead to complications.
Currently, I am working on bare-metal services where I install Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). Using AWS for Red Hat is indeed a good option, as you can get the image directly from AWS with a subscription cost per hour for Red Hat licensing.
Red Hat helps keep applications operational because it provides built-in monitoring tools that offer a good overview of all running services, including built-in agents that come with the Red Hat subscription to identify potential breakouts. Regarding reducing risks, Red Hat also provides secure images that indicate the latest security patches available worldwide.
The knowledge base offered by Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is excellent; the documentation is fantastic and is supported by a large community that answers questions effectively.
When comparing the business value of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) to other Linux distributions, I find that RHEL is more stringent with its security, requiring users to be careful not to trespass, whereas other Linux systems do not enforce such strict security measures, and users must manage security themselves.
On a scale of one to ten, I would rate Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) overall as a product and solution at eight, possibly eight and a half.
Best OS for Performance, Security, and Stability
What do you like best about the product?
This is the best OS we have used. We have been ensured its performance, security and stablity. The os is fast enough while performing complex task. Strong Product documentation and Community.
What do you dislike about the product?
It is abit strict while working in its code. The cost and its subscription management seems to be complex. It takes some time to learn to operate, but once it done its very easy to manage.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
its opensource, portable and stable, secure OS to use. Easy to setup and easy to integration with other product.
Flexible commands have simplified cloud automation and daily containerized workflows
What is our primary use case?
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is user-friendly and easy to use. The affordability and free open source nature are main points. Multiple tools can be installed easily, and the interface is very user-friendly.
I am using Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) on Docker. I work on Docker with both Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and Docker. Installation of so many tools is easy and simple for my Red Hat machine.
What is most valuable?
The features of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) that I find to be the most valuable and useful are that it is user-friendly. The command is very user-friendly and easy to use, and easy to remember. That is a main point. I install it everywhere on my cloud server because I am using a virtual machine also on my PC.
A specific feature of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is that I can install multiple tools without any interruption. I can configure everything easily, such as network ports. I can configure networking using vim commands and multiple commands. Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) provides more alternate commands for my convenience.
What needs improvement?
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is very good. Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) provides the updated latest version yearly. However, they could provide more flexibility in areas such as adding more networking features. For security reasons, since security is a main key point for privacy in upcoming years, they could provide more DPDK for fast signaling and add more new protocols.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have more than four years of experience with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) needs some improvement for stability. I am currently working on the latest version only. The latest version is not familiar to me, and I need to upskill on my side also. Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) should provide more free courses for the upcoming or latest version that explain what changed between the latest and previous versions. Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is not providing courses on sites or readable materials that explain what commands should be used.
How are customer service and support?
I have communicated with the technical support of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). Previously, I did receive technical support in my previous company, and they provided an update for my servers. I rate the technical support services of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) as good, giving it a 9 out of 10.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I used SUSE Linux and CentOS before Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is much better than CentOS and SUSE. Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) provides its own cloud, OpenStack.
What other advice do I have?
The knowledge base offered by Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) provides free courses for everyday work. I am currently using shell scripting, which is very useful for automation and easy to deploy on Docker and CI/CD pipelines for Jenkins. Shell scripting is the main knowledgeable area right now.
The most important security feature in Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is that it provides multiple ports in the Linux machine that are connected via the kernel. The kernel is the main core of the network of Linux. No one can bypass this kernel line. The networking security feature is a main point.
I am not familiar with Image Builder for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and have not built any images using Red Hat.
Regarding the pricing of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), I am not purchasing any membership right now. I purchased it previously, but I am not currently.
I chose Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) because it is so user-friendly. In every server, I need to use it for security reasons, and it is user-friendly for everyone. The source code is very simple. I can create my own tools and automation scripting.
My overall rating for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is 10 out of 10.
