--- title: Scientific Linux Reviews meta\_title: 'Scientific Linux Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2' meta\_description: Filter 16 reviews by the users' company size, role or industry to find out how Scientific Linux works for a business like yours. aggregate\_rating: rating\_value: 3.6 review\_count: 16 scale: '5' date\_modified: '2026-08-07' parent\_category: name: IT Infrastructure url: https://www.g2.com/categories/it-infrastructure --- # Scientific Linux Reviews & Product Details Scientific Linux was an open-source operating system developed by Fermilab and CERN, designed to provide a stable, scalable, and extensible platform for scientific computing. Based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), it offered binary compatibility, ensuring seamless integration with RHEL-compatible software. The distribution aimed to meet the specific needs of the scientific community by facilitating the integration of scientific applications with the operating environment. Scientific Linux reached its end of life on June 30, 2024. Key Features and Functionality: - Stability and Scalability: Provided a reliable platform suitable for large-scale scientific computations. - Binary Compatibility with RHEL: Ensured that software developed for RHEL could run without modification. - Customizability: Allowed institutions to create tailored versions to meet specific research requirements. - Comprehensive Software Support: Included a wide range of tools and libraries essential for scientific research. Primary Value and User Solutions: Scientific Linux addressed the unique demands of the scientific community by offering a robust and adaptable operating system tailored for research environments. Its compatibility with RHEL enabled researchers to utilize a vast array of existing software, reducing the need for custom solutions. The distribution's stability and scalability made it ideal for managing complex computations and large datasets, thereby enhancing productivity and collaboration among scientists worldwide. * * * Seller [Fermi Research Alliance](https://www.g2.com/sellers/fermi-research-alliance) Discussions [Scientific Linux Community](https://www.g2.com/products/scientific-linux/discuss) Show More ## Top-Rated Alternatives [ ![CentOS](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "CentOS") CentOS 4.4/5(425) ](https://www.g2.com/products/centos/reviews) [ ![Ubuntu](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Ubuntu") Ubuntu 4.5/5(2,399) ](https://www.g2.com/products/ubuntu/reviews) [ ![Fedora](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Fedora") Fedora 4.4/5(216) ](https://www.g2.com/products/fedora/reviews) [ View All Alternatives ](https://www.g2.com/products/scientific-linux/competitors/alternatives) ## User Insights Average based on 16 real user reviews. [Log in to unlock pricing and user insights](/login) ![Jyoti S.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Jyoti S.") JS Jyoti S. Project Manager Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 11/22/2023 "It represents as a virtual server, which is entire and quite secure." 4.5/5 What do you like best about Scientific Linux? I appreciate Scientific Linux because it is rooted on the many Linux dispersion, which supplies a wide variety when data analysis transition a really safe manner, completing and preparing software with all this delivery seems to be very alive thanks to its congruence with sizable Linux distribution patterns. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Scientific Linux? Being a system that is based on those other so much profound and specialist devices it is hard to set up or gather applications or any, you need knowledge in Linux distribution patterns to be able to use application this towards the at household. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Scientific Linux solving and how is that benefiting you? This delivery is unique to control numerous system and data at about the same moment, it also represents as a virtual server, it is entire and quite secure. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerSource: Organic ![JIAYI L.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "JIAYI L.") JL JIAYI L. researcher Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 4/19/2022 "Scientists are friendly!" 5/5 What do you like best about Scientific Linux? Easy to use; user-friendly interface; fast calculation speed; documentation is completed and comprehensive. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Scientific Linux? A collaboration feature needs to be developed. So far we use tmux, but I don't think it's convenient enough for us to collaborate. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Scientific Linux solving and how is that benefiting you? Data cleaning Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Verified User in Higher Education](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User in Higher Education") AH Verified User in Higher Education Enterprise (\> 1000 emp.) 11/26/2019 "Overall I like it." 4.5/5 What do you like best about Scientific Linux? I love that it is free and that it is compatible with other software. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Scientific Linux? Sometimes it seems to have bugs and I have to work on a patch. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Recommendations to others considering Scientific Linux: Go for it. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Scientific Linux solving and how is that benefiting you? I am a AP science teacher and we use this to do research with our probes. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerSource: Seller invite ![Verified User in Education Management](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User in Education Management") UE Verified User in Education Management Enterprise (\> 1000 emp.) 4/8/2019 "Best Red Hat distribution" 4.5/5 What do you like best about Scientific Linux? Scientific Linux is a serious, stable, useful operating system. It is 99% compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, so you won't have any problem using RHEL tutorials and courses. If the CERN uses and help mantaining this distribution, you have a great confidence in it. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Scientific Linux? Here it comes all GNU/Linux disadvantages. Hardware compatibility issues, difficulty for doing things that in Windows you do with 3 clicks, etc. Neverthless, I have nothing special bad to say about this distribution. The problems are the typical, and if you are reading this, I suppose you know that using Linux is sometimes complicated, but is worth the time. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Recommendations to others considering Scientific Linux: First of all, you have to think about what kind of Linux system you need, a Debian or a Red Hat based one. Once you have decided you want a Red Hat compatible solution, it is easy to choose Scientific Linux. In my experience, no problems and 99% compatibility with Red Hat official tutorials. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Scientific Linux solving and how is that benefiting you? I had used Scientific Linux to test different system administration configuration, like DNS, DHCP, LDAP, Apache web server, etc. I have had a good user experience and no problems arised. I realized this distribution is a "scientific oriented" one. I mean, the GUI is very simple, but if you use the terminal (as I do) this is perfect, no distractions. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ##### Pricing Pricing details for this product isn’t currently available. Visit the vendor’s website to learn more. [ View More Pricing Information ](https://www.g2.com/products/scientific-linux/pricing) Scientific Linux Comparisons ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/small_square/small_square_a58c842fe25782860ca45f8b97890e0b/fedora.png "Product Avatar Image") Fedora 4.4/5(216) [ Compare Now ](https://www.g2.com/compare/fedora-vs-scientific-linux) ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/small_square/small_square_c773254455f8ca157da56a0fb65a0396/centos.png "Product Avatar Image") CentOS 4.4/5(425) [ Compare Now ](https://www.g2.com/compare/centos-vs-scientific-linux) ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/small_square/small_square_46bd9233d89c58c6dbdf99f99bd301dc/ubuntu.png "Product Avatar Image") Ubuntu 4.5/5(2,399) [ Compare Now ](https://www.g2.com/compare/scientific-linux-vs-ubuntu) ## Work at Fermi Research Alliance? 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