I'm curious about which Linux distributions everyone is using at work these days. I'm particularly interested in whether learning Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) in 2025 is still a valuable investment, especially since there have been some controversies regarding Red Hat's recent actions. Also, for those who have pursued Linux certifications, do you think they are worthwhile?
8 Answers
Debian is my go-to, but I use Ubuntu for non-IT folks who aren't as tech-savvy. They generally find Ubuntu easier to handle. For lightweight systems, Alpine has been fantastic for container setups.
RHEL is solid for servers, but I'd say experience is more crucial than just a certification. Certificates can look good, but knowing how to handle issues in real-time is where it counts.
I've got a mix of RHEL, Oracle Linux, and some Ubuntu servers. We've even got Solaris running on some older physical SPARCs. RHEL is definitely my staple since it's widely used and supported.
I mostly use Ubuntu for VMs and Docker containers, but RHEL is still there when I need something more robust for production.
RHEL and its clones like Rocky and Alma seem to dominate in enterprise environments. But I find that familiarity with Debian and Ubuntu is also handy, especially when it comes to job listings.
I run a hodgepodge of distributions depending on project needs—RHEL for serious tasks, but Ubuntu for flexibility. Learning Linux, especially RHEL, is absolutely worth it for job prospects.
As for the negatives about Red Hat, many people are pretty upset about the changes to CentOS and how they handle source code access now. I wonder how that will affect their reputation in the long run.
Honestly, I find RHEL's certification valuable because you actually demonstrate skills rather than just memorize things. Plus, if you're looking at cloud environments, getting familiar with lightweight distros like Alpine is definitely a plus.
Wow, Solaris is still being used? I thought it was a thing of the past!