Some good reasons to use Red Hat Linux RHEL instead of derivatives CentOS, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, SUSE or Oracle Linux

Introduction

In the vast ecosystem of Linux operating systems, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) emerges as a pre-eminent choice, especially for enterprise applications. With a growing number of Linux distributions derived from RHEL, such as CentOS, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, SUSE, and Oracle Linux, it is essential to understand the distinctive reasons that make RHEL a superior choice in certain enterprise contexts. This article aims to explore the unique benefits of RHEL in depth, highlighting why it may be preferable over its alternatives for critical business needs.

History and Development of RHEL

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), now an integral part of IBM's portfolio following the acquisition of Red Hat, was originally conceived as an ambitious project by Red Hat. Specifically designed to meet enterprise needs for a reliable, secure Linux operating system with long-term professional support, RHEL has been a game changer in enterprise operating systems since its launch in the early 2000s. Its rapid rise and growing adoption by enterprises demonstrate its ability to provide a robust and reliable platform.

Red Hat's commitment, now augmented by IBM's resources and technology expertise, ensured that RHEL stood out in a competitive market. This commitment has extended well beyond simple maintenance, with continuous updates to RHEL to address new challenges and opportunities in the IT industry. Innovations such as virtualization and cloud computing have been integrated into RHEL, making it an increasingly attractive choice for companies engaged in digital transformation.

A key aspect of RHEL, which now benefits from IBM's support and strategic vision, has been its release cycle, which focuses on quality and robustness rather than frequency. Each version of RHEL undergoes rigorous testing and optimization to meet the specific needs of businesses, ensuring an operating system that businesses can have full confidence in for their critical operations.

Additionally, RHEL has shown a remarkable ability to evolve to meet the changing needs of the enterprise market. Whether it was improving performance, optimizing resource use, or integrating new security features, RHEL, under the leadership of Red Hat and IBM, has consistently stayed ahead of the curve, providing businesses with the solutions they needed. need.

The result of these efforts is the consolidation of RHEL as one of the leaders in the enterprise operating systems market. Its ability to combine innovation, reliability and world-class support, now augmented by IBM's support and vision, has created a strong base of loyal customers. This makes RHEL not only a high-quality operating system solution, but also a cornerstone in the enterprise IT environment, backed by IBM's long history of innovation and reliability.

Comparison with Derivatives

CentOS

CentOS has long been a favorite choice for those looking for a RHEL experience without the associated cost, earning a reputation as the free and reliable alternative to RHEL. However, the change in its development model has had a significant impact on its market positioning. The decision to end long-term support for CentOS 8 and the transition to CentOS Stream, which adopts a faster and less stable release model, has created uncertainty among users, particularly those who depend on stability and predictability for their business applications. In the face of these changes, RHEL establishes itself as the most reliable solution, offering the stability and long-term support that enterprises need for their critical operations.

AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux

In response to the CentOS transition, AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux have emerged as modern alternatives, designed to offer a RHEL-like experience without licensing fees. These distributions quickly gained a following among those looking for a replacement for CentOS. While these new options are promising, RHEL maintains its distinctive advantage thanks to its broad ecosystem and direct support from Red Hat. In particular, for companies that face complex systems integration challenges and require a high level of technical support, the Direct support from Red Hat can be decisive, offering security and assistance that only the original manufacturer can guarantee.

suse linux

SUSE Linux Enterprise positions itself as a viable alternative to RHEL, particularly due to its strong emphasis on open source support and its active community. While SUSE offers a robust experience, RHEL stands out with its broader global adoption and broader support ecosystem, including strategic partnerships with a wide range of hardware and software vendors. These factors, combined with package management and configuration tools that many users find more intuitive and reliable, make RHEL a preferable choice for many companies looking for a complete and reliable solution.

Oracle Linux

Oracle Linux, optimized to run Oracle products, is positioned as a strong choice for Oracle-centric environments. However, RHEL stands out with its increased flexibility and expanded support for a wide variety of applications and hardware environments. This versatility makes it particularly suitable for businesses using a diverse mix of software and hardware solutions, providing a consistent and reliable environment that businesses can rely on regardless of their specific IT setup.

Unique Benefits of RHEL

Commercial Support and Security

The commercial support offered by Red Hat for RHEL is one aspect that clearly distinguishes it from other Linux distributions. This support is not limited only to the resolution of technical problems, but extends to proactive consultancy to optimize the performance and security of the systems. RHEL subscribers have access to a team of experts ready to provide timely responses and targeted solutions, an invaluable advantage for businesses that depend on the continuity of their IT operations. In terms of security, RHEL is at the forefront, with regular updates and rapid security patches, ensuring your system is always protected from the latest threats. Security at RHEL is managed with a holistic approach, including proactive vulnerability scanning, risk mitigation and compliance with industry best practices.

Stability and Reliability

RHEL's reputation for its stability and reliability is well deserved, making it a cornerstone for enterprise IT infrastructures. This reliability comes from a development process that emphasizes the quality and robustness of the operating system. Every release of RHEL goes through an extensive testing process, ensuring that each new version is not only feature-rich but also extremely stable. This approach ensures that businesses can run their critical applications on RHEL with complete confidence, knowing that the risk of unexpected downtime is minimized. Furthermore, the long-term compatibility and extended support policy allow companies to plan updates and maintenance without unwanted interruptions.

Integration with Red Hat Products

RHEL's integration with the entire Red Hat ecosystem is another of its significant strengths. This integration enables synergy between RHEL and tools like OpenShift for container management and Ansible for automation, making it easier to deploy complex IT solutions and efficiently manage infrastructure. The consistency and compatibility between these tools allows companies to build and manage highly customized and optimized IT systems. This union between RHEL and other Red Hat products creates a cohesive IT environment, where the various components work together harmoniously, improving operational efficiency and reducing complexity for system administrators.

Certifications and Compliance

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is notable for its compliance with and compliance with a wide range of certifications and compliance standards, making it well-suited for businesses operating in highly regulated industries. These certifications not only attest to RHEL's security and reliability, but also demonstrate Red Hat's commitment to maintaining the highest standards of quality and security.

Some of the key certifications and compliance standards that RHEL meets include:

1. Common Criteria (CC): RHEL is certified according to the Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement (CCRA), a major international standard for cybersecurity. This ensures that RHEL has been evaluated and tested following rigorous procedures to ensure its safety.
2. FIPS 140-2: RHEL meets the requirements of Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2, which is essential for government agencies and companies that handle sensitive data. This standard addresses cryptographic security and ensures that RHEL uses secure, validated encryption methods.
3. ISO/IEC 27001: This is one of the most renowned certifications for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). RHEL, by meeting this standard, demonstrates its commitment to protecting sensitive company data and information.
4. PCIDSS: Essential for businesses that handle credit card transactions, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a requirement for systems that store, process, or transmit credit card data. RHEL, by complying with this standard, is suitable for IT infrastructures in the financial and retail sectors.
5. HIPAA: For healthcare companies, RHEL supports compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which sets standards for protecting sensitive healthcare data.
6. Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX): RHEL helps companies comply with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, a US law that imposes high standards for financial information disclosure and data integrity.
7. EAL4+: RHEL has been rated at EAL4+, the highest practicable level for commercial operating systems under ITSEC criteria, offering robust security for IT operations.
8. GDPR: For companies operating in the European Union or handling data of EU citizens, RHEL supports compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), ensuring personal data processing in line with these regulations.

These certifications and many others make RHEL an ideal choice for businesses that require not only a reliable and secure operating system, but also one that meets specific regulatory and compliance standards. RHEL's broad range of certifications demonstrate its ability to operate effectively in a variety of regulated environments and handle sensitive data securely, making it a trusted pillar for enterprise IT infrastructures.

RHEL training directly from Red Hat

Red Hat offers specialized training and certification programs for students and IT professionals who want to focus on Red Hat-specific technologies, specifically Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). These programs are designed to provide in-depth knowledge and practical skills directly from the source – the Red Hat experts who develop and maintain these technologies.

Advantages Compared to Generic Training in Computer Science

1. Technical Specialization: Unlike a generic academic degree like a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, which covers a broad spectrum of topics, Red Hat training is highly specialized. It focuses on specific skills related to RHEL and related technologies, making participants experts in their field.
2. Industry-Oriented Practice: Red Hat training courses are designed to provide practical knowledge that is immediately applicable in the world of work. This practical orientation is especially beneficial for those who want to learn skills directly relevant to current business needs.
3. Recognition in the IT Industry: Red Hat certifications are highly respected in the IT industry. Having a RHEL certification indicates that the holder has in-depth expertise in Red Hat technologies, a significant advantage during the selection process for roles that require such skills.

Benefits for Companies Looking for Experts in Red Hat Technologies

1. Access to Qualified Professionals: Companies using Red Hat technologies can draw from a pool of professionals who have received training and certification directly from the company itself. This ensures that engineers have the skills and knowledge needed to manage, implement, and troubleshoot Red Hat solutions.
2. Better Operational Efficiency: Having certified RHEL personnel available can significantly improve operational efficiency. These professionals have a deep understanding of the operating system and can optimize its use, reduce downtime and improve security.
3. Continuous training: Red Hat offers continuing education and training courses that help IT professionals stay abreast of the latest innovations and best practices. This ensures that companies always have access to up-to-date skills, which is crucial in a rapidly evolving industry like IT.

Red Hat RHEL training and certification provides a unique, real-world oriented specialization that is highly beneficial to both IT professionals and businesses seeking experts in Red Hat technologies. These courses represent a valuable investment for anyone looking to build a career around Red Hat solutions or for companies aiming to optimize the use of their RHEL-based infrastructures.

Use Cases and Testimonials

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) has been chosen by many of the world's leading companies for its robustness, security and reliability.

These include critical industries such as finance, healthcare and government, where stability, security and uptime are vital.

Below are five notable use cases from global TOP 500 companies that have implemented RHEL into their IT infrastructures, highlighting how this has led to significant improvements in their operations.

1. JP Morgan Chase (Financial Sector): One of the largest banks in the world, JP Morgan Chase, uses RHEL to manage its massive volumes of financial transactions and customer data. Adopting RHEL has allowed JP Morgan to significantly improve the safety and efficiency of its operations. The platform provided the necessary stability to handle high-frequency trading operations and ensured enterprise-level security to protect sensitive customer information.
2. Ford Motor Company (Automotive Sector): Ford, one of the world's largest automakers, has implemented RHEL to manage its complex manufacturing and design operations. Using RHEL has allowed Ford to streamline its development and manufacturing processes, improving collaboration between teams and increasing operational efficiency. RHEL's scalability and robustness have been critical in supporting the company's innovation and growth in the rapidly evolving automotive industry.
3. Bayer AG (Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sector): Bayer, a giant in the pharmaceutical and chemical industry, relies on RHEL for its critical IT environment, including research and development of new pharmaceutical products. The RHEL integration provided Bayer with the stability and security needed to conduct advanced research and manage massive data sets. Additionally, RHEL's compliance with various security standards and regulations has helped Bayer maintain the integrity of sensitive data and comply with the stringent regulations of the pharmaceutical industry.
4. Goldman Sachs (Financial Sector): Goldman Sachs, one of the world's most influential investment banks, uses RHEL to manage its vast IT infrastructure and support its global financial operations. The RHEL platform has enabled Goldman Sachs to achieve high performance, data security and operational stability, which are crucial in the banking and financial sector. Thanks to RHEL, Goldman Sachs has been able to implement innovative IT solutions that support its real-time trading and investing operations, while ensuring compliance with stringent financial regulations.
5. Siemens AG (Technology and Industrial Sector): Siemens, a German multinational engineering and technology company, relies on RHEL for its complex IT operations ranging from industrial manufacturing to healthcare. The use of RHEL has provided Siemens with a reliable and secure platform for developing and running critical applications. In particular, RHEL's reliability and scalability have enabled Siemens to innovate in fields such as energy, industrial automation and medical technology, while ensuring security and regulatory compliance in these highly specialized and regulated industries.

These testimonials demonstrate how RHEL is a crucial element in the IT infrastructures of some of the largest and most respected companies in the world. Its ability to provide reliable performance, enterprise-grade security and a stable platform for critical operations has been a key component in the success of these companies in highly competitive and regulated industries.

Final considerations

In conclusion, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) unquestionably emerges as a world-class enterprise operating system, distinguished by its exceptional stability, impenetrable security, unmatched support, and integration with a vast ecosystem of products and services. This robust platform has proven to be a reliable pillar for a variety of business environments, from small businesses up to large multinationals.

RHEL's distinctive features, such as its robust architecture, advanced security, and quality-driven release cycle, make it an ideal candidate for companies that need an operating environment that not only meets their current needs, but is also able to adapt to future challenges. Direct, customized support from Red Hat, now enhanced by IBM's resources and expertise, provides an additional level of security and reliability, ensuring that businesses can count on a solution that is always cutting edge and supported by one of the largest technology companies in the world.

While RHEL-derived distributions, such as CentOS, AlmaLinux, and Rocky Linux, offer viable alternatives in certain contexts, especially for users with more general needs or limited budgets, RHEL stands out as the optimal choice for organizations that require an operating system that is comprehensive, highly secure and reliable. Its ability to integrate seamlessly with a wide range of products and services makes it a key element in enterprise IT strategies, providing a solid foundation on which to build and innovate.

Ultimately, RHEL represents not just a technology choice, but a long-term investment in the stability, security and growth of an enterprise IT infrastructure. With its continuous development, adaptation to emerging market needs and support from one of the largest and most respected companies in the IT field, RHEL positions itself as an undisputed leader in the enterprise operating systems landscape.