With AWS, I work with products involving networking, migration, and other services. Currently, I work in an industry where I use Amazon Linux for various use cases.
Have worked on deployment in cloud environments and seen benefits with optimized kernel but still noticed areas that need more continuous improvements
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
I find Amazon Linux valuable for its direct functionality. The best features include the core capabilities that make it suitable for our operations.
What needs improvement?
Amazon Linux could be improved by including additional features and continuous improvements in various areas.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have several years of experience with Amazon Linux.
How are customer service and support?
With the optimized kernel, there are certain benefits and limitations to consider. The support quality has been a factor in my experience with the service.
Regarding the optimized kernel, I can explain that it offers specific advantages and constraints depending on the use case.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
What other advice do I have?
I have experience with Palo Alto and have mentioned it previously. I also have experience with AWS services and can discuss how they have been helpful. I have some familiarity with AWS CodeStar and other AWS tools. I do have experience with Amazon Linux and AWS Elastic Disaster Recovery. We are customers of AWS rather than partners. We use AWS services to solve our customer problems. To my knowledge, we are not partners who make products out of AWS services or sell through AWS, though I am still new to this role and may not know all the details. My review rating for Amazon Linux is between one to ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Running containers effectively for many years with excellent security features and pre-installed tools
What is our primary use case?
My use case for Amazon Linux is mostly for running containers.
I am using SELinux for enhanced security in Amazon Linux, and it is helpful for me.
What is most valuable?
I find that the functions or features of Amazon Linux that are most valuable are ones that I haven't specifically mentioned.
The main benefits I receive from Amazon Linux are saving time and streamlining some work processes.
I use Python, as Amazon Linux includes some pre-installed libraries and tools such as Python, Ruby, and Node.js.
What needs improvement?
In my opinion, for improvement, Amazon Linux could make better integration with third-party vendors, perhaps enhance user experience or lower the price compared to other Linux solutions.
For the future, it would be great to see Amazon Linux have more wide functionality to work with other systems.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Amazon Linux for eight years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the stability of Amazon Linux as a nine.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I understand the scalability aspects and I think they are adequate.
How are customer service and support?
I would rate the technical support from Amazon Linux as good enough.
I believe the response time and quality of support could be better, so I see quality as a single point of feedback.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I work with both Amazon Linux and Ubuntu because Ubuntu provides more wide functionalities than Amazon Linux.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup for Amazon Linux is straightforward, and I understand it well.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Regarding the pricing model of Amazon Linux, I think it could be more flexible or a bit cheaper for users, as I find Ubuntu is cheaper than Amazon Linux.
What other advice do I have?
I am not using IPv6 and I'm okay with that.
On a scale of one to ten, I rate Amazon Linux an eight.
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Extensive support experience and seamless deployment enable efficient troubleshooting
What is our primary use case?
I work with Kubernetes tools. My job is L3 support and I troubleshoot Red Hat-based systems and Kubernetes. Those are my two areas and that is all I do. When a client's system breaks down, it is my job to fix it as much as possible.
In the last 12 months, I have been troubleshooting systems and training in Kubernetes.
I deploy applications atop it. I mostly use it as a server for various DevOps concerns. For example, I have a Kubernetes server running on Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Ansible server running on Red Hat Enterprise Linux. It is a DevOps pipeline that is fed by these separate servers.
I just duplicate installations of my clients' machines in order to troubleshoot. The idea is that I am presented with a problem, a broken system. If I can clone it, I do and then I try to fix it locally on my own machine before I present the solution back to the client. It varies slightly, depending on what the clients are using it for. In my very last case, about 2 or 3 weeks ago, there were etcd clusters running on an Ubuntu machine managing a Patroni installation. I tried to set that up on my own systems and started troubleshooting from there.
What is most valuable?
Red Hat is definitely the reason why we go for Linux and why we choose it above Ubuntu. The idea is security and the inbuilt security features. We don't have separate security experts here, so we configure it ourselves. We choose those systems that already have a lot of security features. Red Hat SE Linux is something we appreciate.
Regarding the most valuable features of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, flexibility is the biggest reason. The fact that I can easily manage kernel parameters is a testament to the flexibility of the operating system, and that is why we use it on virtually all our servers.
There are two reasons why I always turn to either Amazon Linux or Ubuntu. My preference for Amazon Linux is because of its SE Linux implementations. My preference for Linux entirely is because of its customizable nature. It is flexible and I can change it to fit whatever my applications' needs are.
What needs improvement?
I have been experimenting with new terminals, and I think that the default terminals for Linux machines in general could be improved. For example, Alacritty. I have been using these things extensively now, so they could do a good job improving their terminals.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for about three years.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I have found it to be the most scalable solution and would rate it an 8.
How was the initial setup?
I have been involved in setting it up from scratch in respect to fixing other peoples' systems, but never for my own use.
The setup was straightforward. I really appreciate how they make it easy to install Kubernetes. I find working with Kubernetes in the cloud easier than working with it on-prem, simply because of swap issues. I appreciate how easy it is to use Amazon Linux as compared to on-prem systems.
What other advice do I have?
I deploy applications atop it. I mostly use it as a server for various DevOps concerns. For example, I have a Kubernetes server running on Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Ansible server running on Red Hat Enterprise Linux. It is a DevOps pipeline that is fed by these separate servers.
We always enable Amazon Linux. We don't switch it off and we do not put it in permissive mode. Where there are issues regarding permissions that Amazon Linux has enforced, we fix them and make it work. SE Linux is enforced on our machines.
I have configured failover for clients using blue-green deployments, where we have identical servers running. That is how we implemented manual failover. They have identical systems running and when one stops working, for any reason, while we are fixing it, these clients remain live.
Whenever I deploy solutions on Amazon Linux, I almost never have to worry about the operating system. Whenever I have problems, it is from the application itself. I have honestly never had any problems with Amazon Linux, aside from disk space issues. But no problems with the operating system itself.
I work as a Linux Administrator, specifically in Linux Support.
I rate Amazon Linux a 9 out of 10.