What Is the Difference Between Amazon Linux and Amazon Linux 2?

Amazon Linux and Amazon Linux 2 are both operating systems developed by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and based on the open-source Linux kernel. They are designed to provide a secure, stable, and high-performance platform for cloud computing. However, there are some key differences between the two versions.

The most significant difference between Amazon Linux and Amazon Linux 2 is in the way they are managed and updated. With Amazon Linux, updates were released as a set of binary packages and generally included only critical bug fixes and security patches. This made it difficult to stay up to date with the latest features, as there was limited flexibility in terms of customizing the system.

On the other hand, Amazon Linux 2 offers more flexibility with regard to updates. It uses a package manager called YUM which allows users to selectively update packages and customize their system. This makes it easier to keep up with new features while still maintaining a secure system.

Another major difference between the two versions is that Amazon Linux 2 is built on top of systemd, which provides better performance and scalability compared to its predecessor’s init system.

Additionally, it also supports more advanced features such as containerization (through Docker) and virtualization (through KVM).

Finally, Amazon Linux 2 also includes an LTS (Long Term Support) version which provides extended support for up to five years from its release date. This makes it ideal for mission-critical applications that require long-term stability and reliability.

Conclusion:

In summary, there are several key differences between Amazon Linux and Amazon Linux 2 including how they are managed and updated, their underlying systems (systemd vs init), and their support lifecycles. Ultimately, these differences make Amazon Linux 2 a more flexible, scalable, and reliable platform for cloud computing.