Amazon FSx
Amazon FSx makes it convenient and cost effective to launch, run, and scale feature-rich, high-performance file systems in the cloud with support for multiple filesystem protocols.
Core Benefits​
File System Integration: Supports multiple filesystem protocols including Windows File Server, Lustre, OpenZFS, and NetApp ONTAP, unlike Amazon EFS which focuses on NFS compatibility.
Managed Infrastructure: Fully managed service that handles hardware provisioning, patching, and backups, eliminating operational overhead.
Scalable Storage: Built on latest AWS compute, networking, and disk technologies to provide high performance and lower total cost of ownership (TCO).
Cost Effective: Optimized pricing models and performance characteristics reduce infrastructure costs while maintaining enterprise-grade capabilities.
FSx File System Types​
Amazon FSx for Windows File Server​
Provides fully managed shared storage built on Windows Server with comprehensive data access, data management, and administrative capabilities.
Use Cases:
- Windows Migration: Migrate existing Windows file servers to AWS with full compatibility
- Hybrid Workloads: Accelerate hybrid cloud deployments with seamless Windows integration
- SQL Server Optimization: Reduce SQL Server deployment costs through shared storage
- Virtual Desktop Infrastructure: Streamline virtual desktops and application streaming workloads
Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP​
Delivers fully managed shared storage with popular ONTAP data access and management capabilities in the AWS Cloud.
Use Cases:
- Seamless Migration: Migrate existing NetApp workloads to AWS without application changes
- Modern Applications: Build cloud-native applications leveraging ONTAP's advanced features
- Data Management Modernization: Implement advanced data management capabilities like snapshots and cloning
- Business Continuity: Streamline disaster recovery and backup strategies with built-in ONTAP features
Amazon FSx for OpenZFS​
Offers fully managed shared file storage built on OpenZFS file system, accessible through NFS protocol (v3, v4, v4.1, and v4.2).
Use Cases:
- Workload Migration: Migrate OpenZFS-based workloads to AWS seamlessly
- Data Analytics: Deliver faster insights for data analytics workloads requiring high IOPS
- Content Management: Accelerate content creation and management workflows
- Development Acceleration: Increase development and testing velocity with high-performance storage
Amazon FSx for Lustre​
Provides fully managed shared storage with the scalability and performance of the Lustre file system for compute-intensive workloads.
Use Cases:
- Machine Learning: Accelerate ML training and inference with high-throughput data access
- High Performance Computing: Enable HPC workloads requiring massive parallel processing
- Big Data Analytics: Unlock big data analytics with high-bandwidth, low-latency storage
- Media Processing: Increase media workload agility for video rendering and post-production
When to Choose FSx Over EFS​
Choose Amazon FSx when you need:
- Specific File System Protocols: Windows SMB, Lustre, OpenZFS, or NetApp ONTAP compatibility
- High Performance Computing: Maximum throughput and IOPS for demanding workloads
- Enterprise Features: Advanced data management capabilities like snapshots, cloning, and deduplication
- Legacy Application Support: Existing applications requiring specific file system features
Benefits: FSx provides enterprise-grade file systems with native protocol support, high performance capabilities, and fully managed infrastructure for specialized workload requirements.
Use case: Essential for migrating existing file server workloads, high-performance computing, machine learning, and applications requiring specific file system protocols beyond standard NFS.