I have been using Rocky Linux for three or four years. It is used for HPC, online assessments, and Ceph storage.
Rocky Linux 8 (Rocky 8) with support by ProComputers
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Enhancements in package management elevate user experience
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
The solution is free and open source.
What needs improvement?
The OS choice in my project is quite specific. It is based on customer requirements, as they might want to use Rocky Linux or Ubuntu, depending on their needs.
The package versions can be quite older compared to other distributions such as Ubuntu.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for about three or four years.
What was my experience with deployment of the solution?
The deployment process is simple.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I would rate the stability an eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability is quite good, though there are some issues with Rocky Linux. I would rate the scalability a five out of seven.
How are customer service and support?
I rely on self-support and community resources.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I previously used VirtualBox but now tend to use Proxmox.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is simple.
It involves a normal setup process using a USB drive or network installation.
What about the implementation team?
It requires a plain installation. The server can be set up with UI, similar to a desktop installation in an on-premises environment.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I use Rocky Linux on the production server first. For Ubuntu installations, it depends on customer requirements.
What other advice do I have?
The package management system requires attention when working with Rocky Linux.
There can be some issues with scalability that need consideration.
I would rate Rocky Linux an eight out of ten.
Allows us to set up multiple virtual machines quickly and requires minimum maintenance
What is most valuable?
The platform's ease of setup, reliability, and minimal maintenance are valuable features. The custom install scripts streamline the setup process, making it straightforward.
What needs improvement?
Improved integration with Windows, particularly Active Directory, would be beneficial for the product. Currently, this aspect requires additional effort.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Rocky Linux for approximately 18 months, which aligns with its release timeline. We are currently using version 9.4 of the solution.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The product is stable and reliable. I rate the stability a nine.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Approximately 40 to 50 customers are using the solution. Most of our on-premises servers run Linux, with some running multiple instances. I would rate the scalability as a nine. It performs very well in scaling scenarios.
How are customer service and support?
I have not utilized official technical support and have relied on community resources and forums.
How was the initial setup?
The setup is straightforward, with minimal manual intervention. Depending on the customer's requirements, it is deployed on cloud-based systems or on-premises hardware.
The deployment typically takes about an hour. Virtual machines can be set up in this timeframe, with additional time needed for specific customer configurations.
I rate the process a nine and a half.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The product is expensive. I rate the pricing a three.
What other advice do I have?
The solution allows us to quickly set up multiple virtual machines, reducing costs and requiring less management than other systems.
It is a robust solution for various server needs. I rate it a nine.
Installation, setup, and deployment are easy to manage
What is our primary use case?
I use the solution in my company to do some automation stuff to run Ansible, and it has an administration server to provide all the Linux control like a client node can be connected to that master node. Basically, it is an administration node, and I can manage all of the on-premises machines. Basically, it acts as a bastion host or jump host for me.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of the solution is its stability. The tool's stability is similar to CentOS. The project for CentOS is not functional as of now, a reason why I moved to Fedora and Rocky Linux by another distributor.
What needs improvement?
I have certain problems with the tool's DNS part, making it an area where improvements are required.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Rocky Linux for three years and seven months.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Around 400 people in my company use the tool.
How are customer service and support?
I have not contacted technical support for the solution.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I do use multiple operating systems, like CentOS, Red Hat, Fedora, and Rocky, which are all enterprise OS tools meant for commercial use only.
How was the initial setup?
The product's installation, setup, and deployment are easy to manage.
The solution is deployed on an on-premises model. My company also uses AWS, Ubuntu versions, Amazon Linux versions, and Red Hat, so the images are used by opting for a cloud provider.
What other advice do I have?
I rate the tool an eight out of ten.
A stable and reliable open-source solution
What is our primary use case?
We work with a diverse set of tools and systems. We often need to experiment with various products and utilize standard development tools like compilers and debuggers to streamline our workflow.
How has it helped my organization?
We make extensive use of Rocky Linux for system configuration. It helps us keep our workstations in sync and ensures consistent settings across most of our machines.
What is most valuable?
We have a lot of PostgreSQL databases in our development work within our organization. Many of the tools and packages we need for this are readily available and easy to install and configure. The flexibility and availability of software packages make our workflow faster and more adaptable. It provides extensive community support and makes seeking recommendations, assistance, and access to software and settings easy. This supportive community aspect significantly simplifies our work in various environments, and it's something we greatly appreciate as developers.
What needs improvement?
Rocky Linux, being relatively new, initially lacked some of the software we were accustomed to from CentOS 7. There were some missing components and changes that required adjustment which is typical when transitioning between major releases in any distribution. Since it offers open-source documentation, there may be minor challenges in finding information. One of the potential issues is that if you don't pay for support, you may need to manage certain aspects on your own and rely on the community for assistance.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The operating system has proven to be stable and reliable in our experience.
How are customer service and support?
We haven't encountered any major problems with the operating system itself. Our primary challenges typically revolve around software-related issues, especially when it comes to third-party software or our in-house applications.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Our decision to use CentOS, and now its successor, Rocky Linux, was rooted in the desire to stay close to the Red Hat ecosystem. We have continued this approach by selecting distributions that are as similar as possible to RHEL. The aim is to ensure that our development and testing process aligns with the standards of the industry and our customer base. We want to maintain a consistent and reliable development environment, which is why we choose distributions like Rocky Linux or AlmaLinux.
How was the initial setup?
The implementation process is relatively straightforward. We typically start by cloning the repository, which contains various configurations and packages. Since we have a considerable number of workstations, specifically around eighty, we find this cloning approach to be efficient. Once the repository is cloned, the system can be set up to automatically perform updates and package installations.
What about the implementation team?
When we need to set up a new workstation, we utilize a kickstart configuration which contains essential information about the workstation, such as its IP address and other specifications. After a new workstation is added, the kickstart process efficiently sets up the machine according to the specified parameters. The key is having a well-organized system for repository access and automation, which ensures a smooth and efficient workflow when working with Rocky Linux.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
When evaluating a replacement for CentOS 7, we initially had to consider certain specialized requirements before making a decision. Regarding the choice between AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux, both options were strong contenders due to their close alignment with the CentOS path, which we were transitioning from. We conducted testing and analysis on both AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux. Initially, it was challenging to determine which one to choose, but we opted for the distribution that appeared to have a more significant user base and community support. This decision is often crucial, especially in open-source environments, as a larger user community can provide valuable assistance with development, information sharing, and problem-solving.
What other advice do I have?
There is a wealth of valuable information available online when it comes to using Rocky Linux. It provides clear guidance on the initial setup steps to get your system up and running for experimentation. Once the system is up and running, you'll notice that, as a user, the experience is quite similar to using other Linux distributions like CentOS or RHEL. The primary differences tend to surface when it comes to system management and administration, where you may notice distinctions between Rocky Linux and other distributions. However, with the available resources and documentation, navigating these differences becomes manageable. I would rate it eight out of ten.