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DevOps Engineer at Mesotechnologia
Real User
Top 5
May 27, 2026
Reliable package management has saved setup time but common tools still need smoother installation
Pros and Cons
  • "In my experience, the best feature Amazon Linux offers is the Red Hat package manager way of working because sometimes I receive automations and scripts that are compatible with Red Hat and CentOS Linux."
  • "I chose a six out of ten because compared to other Linux distributions, it is not a great distribution and could be better, and when I have to use Amazon Linux, the only advantage is the package management."

What is our primary use case?

I use Amazon Linux on EC2 machines for different kinds of servers. I typically run automation scripts, deploy fast web servers, and use Docker machines for testing purposes and any other proprietary software that requires a running Linux machine.

A major project I have implemented using Amazon Linux was deploying a GitLab worker node to run GitLab workflows in a CI/CD pipeline.

Amazon Linux is usually deployed in my organization on the private cloud, with the main usage being for automation scripts and some kind of fast usage and small deployments.

What is most valuable?

I have found that the prices of Amazon Linux are competitive and their compatibility with the Red Hat way of usage is advantageous. One other option that came up when I decided to use Amazon Linux was to substitute CentOS Linux.

In my experience, the best feature Amazon Linux offers is the Red Hat package manager way of working because sometimes I receive automations and scripts that are compatible with Red Hat and CentOS Linux. I usually do not have to edit the scripts to run on other Linux flavors, so the great option is to use Amazon Linux. This impacts my work by not wasting time refactoring a script, and this is the main advantage.

Amazon Linux has saved me time when deploying something that uses the Red Hat package management.

The outcomes are not different from other Linux flavors, so the other results remain the same. I would say that there is not a great advantage in using Amazon Linux from my perspective. The only advantage was really the package management.

What needs improvement?

Amazon Linux made a great change with the last version and made some features incompatible with the old version, so I did not like the new version and still prefer not to use Amazon Linux.

Some options in the basic packages of Amazon Linux could contain open tools that run containers, such as using open-sourcing tools like Podman or some other easy way to deploy the main packages I use, like Docker, and some ways to easily deploy the main and common packages that all other Linux flavors already come with installed, but Amazon Linux does not come with these basic packages.

I chose a six out of ten because compared to other Linux distributions, it is not a great distribution and could be better, and when I have to use Amazon Linux, the only advantage is the package management. However, when I need to fast install Docker or a new Python release, I have to waste a bit more time than using another distribution like Ubuntu.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Amazon Linux is stable in all my experience.

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Amazon Linux
June 2026
Learn what your peers think about Amazon Linux. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2026.
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What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Amazon Linux is scalable like any other EC2 instance machines that AWS provides to all users, and it runs as any other expected Linux behavior server.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I previously used Ubuntu Linux as my main choice, and CentOS Linux as the second one, but with the discontinuity of CentOS OS Linux, I had to switch to Amazon Linux.

How was the initial setup?

I purchased Amazon Linux through the AWS Marketplace.

What about the implementation team?

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is that I usually consult the pricing in the EC2 console and I think it is a cheap machine.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is that I usually consult the pricing in the EC2 console and I think it is a cheap machine.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I evaluated Ubuntu Linux before choosing Amazon Linux.

What other advice do I have?

All Linux distributions have stability and security. The only advantage of Amazon Linux is the package system. I did not see any other great advantage. I prefer to use Ubuntu as my main option when I deploy EC2 machines, but when I have to deploy or work with some kind of yum or Red Hat package manager, my first option is to use Amazon Linux.

I rate Amazon Linux a six out of ten.

My only advice would be to use Ubuntu Linux, not Amazon Linux.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Private Cloud

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Last updated: May 27, 2026
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reviewer2805456 - PeerSpot reviewer
Database developer at a university with 501-1,000 employees
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
Mar 30, 2026
Learning cloud commands has transformed how I host class projects and share them anywhere
Pros and Cons
  • "Amazon Linux is lightweight and is a beginner-friendly tool that provides a good, smooth experience at a beginner level."
  • "Sometimes, command arguments are difficult to remember and challenging for beginners because at a beginner level, I may not understand the proper meaning or the necessary Linux commands."

What is our primary use case?

I am using Amazon Linux as part of my practical study in my seventh semester. In my cloud computing subject, there are chapters that include Amazon Linux where I can learn about it. Amazon Linux is a tool where I can work with it as part of my college learning and practical work, helping me understand how Linux commands and systems work with actual cloud environments.

As part of my college activities, I created a small application with Amazon Linux. I developed a to-do list application where users can perform basic tasks including edit, delete, and save functions. I also made this application with React, focusing on the front-end and including a small part of the database to learn about Amazon Linux. When I initially created the to-do list website, it worked only on my local desktop. Without Amazon Linux, I could not access it elsewhere. I then learned to use Amazon with AWS to host my website on Amazon Cloud Service. After hosting it, I can access it through the link of the live server from anyone's laptop anywhere, and users do not need to install any packages or other tools.

If you want to host your website, you can use Amazon Linux where you can learn about Linux commands. Amazon Linux provides good hosting services with the AWS community. Therefore, I encourage you to try it out.

What is most valuable?

Amazon Linux is lightweight, easy to handle, easy to understand, and optimized for performance. It runs smoothly even with big data or on low resources, which makes it suitable for students who are learning and experimenting in this field. I use it for my practical basic commands and practical uses, including installing packages and managing services, which helps me build confidence in Linux where I can learn.

Another advantage is the strong integration with AWS. It provides AWS service where I can host my websites in Amazon. It is particularly useful for performing cloud-based projects or learning for deployment, where I can deploy my college website in the cloud so that many people can reach my website. Otherwise, it would only work on a local machine if I were not hosting it. As it is designed to work well with AWS service, I also face some challenges as a beginner because I do not know much about Linux commands. As part of my journey with Amazon Linux, I continue to learn more.

Amazon Linux is lightweight and is a beginner-friendly tool that provides a good, smooth experience at a beginner level. It is also fast and good for learning Linux commands because when I do not know about them, I can use Amazon Linux to learn both Linux commands and its strong AWS integrations. It is stable for practical knowledge and small projects and is best for beginner-level learning projects. Additionally, command-line arguments are easy to understand.

What needs improvement?

Sometimes, command arguments are difficult to remember and challenging for beginners because at a beginner level, I may not understand the proper meaning or the necessary Linux commands. So sometimes it is challenging to grasp Linux commands. I find there is less community support compared to Ubuntu and other options, and it requires some prior knowledge about Linux. This is not a disadvantage; rather, it is an advantage when I use it positively, enabling me to learn more about Amazon and Amazon Linux. Everything has its negative side, but I must choose between the positive and the negative.

It would be helpful if Amazon Linux could provide some tutorials for beginners on how to learn Linux commands and how it works, but nothing else stands out to me.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Amazon Linux is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Amazon Linux is scalable because at a single time, many users can use it without issues.

How are customer service and support?

I have never used customer support for Amazon Linux.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I did not use a different solution before Amazon Linux, but I learned about other options including Ubuntu, Google App Engine, and some other tools during my college journey in cloud computing. I learned about those approximately 7 to 10 months ago.

How was the initial setup?

I went with the free command, free tool, and free-trial experience for Amazon Linux, so I did not focus on the technical setup cost or licensing. However, I understand that Amazon Linux provides options for students, where I may need to pay just one rupee to receive 10,000 points or credits for one year. After that, I pay based on usage. It is a good service AWS provides, as it is easier and smoother.

What was our ROI?

I have seen a return on investment from using Amazon Linux because it saves time and money. I only pay for the amount I am using, with no other costs involved.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The reason Amazon Linux saves me time and energy is that if I am on my local PC and I need to work on the same project on my friend's laptop, I have to install every package and provide them my code and everything. By using Amazon, I can host my website, and with just one link, I can access it from my friend's laptop without needing to install all the necessary tools. One example that comes to mind is I have encountered various such instances, but I will go with this example.

What other advice do I have?

Many conflicts happened during my learning process, where I speak and you speak, then we both stop at the same moment, but it is acceptable. Before using Amazon Linux, I did not know about Linux commands. After using Amazon Linux, I became familiar with Amazon or Linux commands. I now know about hosting websites, and it saves my time and energy. I have learned many valuable lessons from Amazon Linux as I progress. I gave this review a rating of eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Last updated: Mar 30, 2026
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Amazon Linux
June 2026
Learn what your peers think about Amazon Linux. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2026.
900,644 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Harshal Jethwa - PeerSpot reviewer
Cloud Engineer at a educational organization with 501-1,000 employees
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
Apr 23, 2026
Switching has delivered secure, up-to-date servers and has reduced hosting costs
Pros and Cons
  • "Amazon Linux has positively impacted my organization because we are able to host our applications, mainly Kubernetes applications, our servers, and testing environments, while also being able to get lower cost servers."
  • "Amazon Linux can be improved because currently it does not provide much longer session durations and sometimes it does not provide some of the tools I want to be included."

What is our primary use case?

My main use case for Amazon Linux is hosting servers and applications.

What is most valuable?

The best features Amazon Linux offers include regular updates, regular patches, up-to-date software and tools, and security features.

The security features of Amazon Linux stand out for me because it provides vulnerability patches and tools and software patches. Because of that, our servers get the latest updates, which keeps them secure and provides access to the latest tools.

Amazon Linux has positively impacted my organization because we are able to host our applications, mainly Kubernetes applications, our servers, and testing environments, while also being able to get lower cost servers.

Since switching to Amazon Linux, I have noticed that we were previously using Windows Server, which was expensive. After switching to Linux, we are able to get a 30 to 40% savings.

What needs improvement?

Amazon Linux can be improved because currently it does not provide much longer session durations and sometimes it does not provide some of the tools I want to be included.

I chose 8 out of 10 because sometimes Amazon Linux does not provide a longer session and when we restart or refresh, all of the command history gets lost. Additionally, some of the tools I need are not present.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Amazon Linux for six to seven months.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Amazon Linux is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Amazon Linux's scalability is good.

How are customer service and support?

I have not reached out to customer support yet, but I believe it will be good.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Before Amazon Linux, we were using Windows, which was expensive for us due to its licensing fees. After switching to Linux, we are saving money.

What was our ROI?

I have seen a return on investment with Amazon Linux because I save both time and money.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing with Amazon Linux is that pricing is based on what we use and setup is easy. We do not need a license.

What other advice do I have?

I would advise others looking into using Amazon Linux that they can use it if they want to save money, want a low-cost solution, and want up-to-date patches. I gave this review a rating of 8 out of 10.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Last updated: Apr 23, 2026
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AnilKumar13 - PeerSpot reviewer
Devops Engineer at EDAG
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
Apr 11, 2026
Using a free, lightweight platform has enabled cost‑effective load generation at scale
Pros and Cons
  • "Amazon Linux has impacted my organization positively because in any organization, the first priority is cost."

    What is our primary use case?

    My main use case for Amazon Linux is that it serves as a replacement and a free version for a Red Hat-based OS for Amazon users. I use it in environments where a RHEL-based environment is required because a number of applications are pre-installed on Amazon Linux.

    My main use case for Amazon Linux involves using these Linux machines as load generators. With Amazon Linux, you are not required to install a number of applications which are helpful for other applications. We have a CR controller and generators setup, where the generators are virtual machines on Amazon on an auto-scaling basis. For this, we use Amazon Linux as a base.

    What is most valuable?

    The best features Amazon Linux offers include that it is designed for Amazon users. The first one is that it is freeware. Red Hat has a subscription model. Another one is that a number of applications are pre-installed on Amazon Linux, which are helpful. It is easy to use Amazon services, and it integrates easily with Amazon services.

    For example, the Amazon services I find it integrates best with are those requiring connection to Session Manager on any Ubuntu or RHEL machine, where you have to install it first, but on Amazon Linux, it is pre-installed.

    In terms of features, it is freeware for Amazon. It is more similar to CentOS and OEL, Oracle Linux, but it is a lighter version for RHEL.

    Amazon Linux has impacted my organization positively because in any organization, the first priority is cost. For Amazon Linux, it is not required to have any subscription, unlike a RHEL-based OS. If you are going for RHEL, it is a subscription model, and we have to purchase a subscription as per our requirements. We use it as a load generation tool, so we require a number of generators, sometimes more than 100. For 100 generators, the subscription costs too much. Amazon Linux is freeware, so it is very helpful for us.

    What needs improvement?

    I do not think Amazon Linux can be improved. It already has a lightweight freeware and is easily integrated with all the AWS services. I am not finding any room for improvement.

    Specifically on Amazon Linux, I do not think there are any needed improvements.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using Amazon Linux for around five plus years.

    What other advice do I have?

    I did not purchase Amazon Linux through the AWS Marketplace.

    If anyone is using the AWS platform and they require a RHEL-based OS, they must use Amazon Linux. It easily integrates with any services in AWS, and it is pre-installed with a few required tools, so it is very helpful.

    I have no additional thoughts about Amazon Linux before we wrap up.

    I found this interview fine, and I do not think there is anything I should change for the future.

    I give this product a review rating of 8.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    Public Cloud

    If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

    Amazon Web Services (AWS)
    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    Last updated: Apr 11, 2026
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    full stack developer at 71Lbs
    Real User
    Top 20
    Jan 15, 2026
    Django and Next.js projects have been deployed faster and run reliably for complex web platforms
    Pros and Cons
    • "It is working very well and operates very fast with queries and everything on that server, so there are no current problems."
    • "Amazon Linux could be improved by including libraries for supervisor."

    What is our primary use case?

    My main use case for Amazon Linux is deploying Django websites, apps, and APIs with Next.js. I handle deployment using Nginx and manage the complete setup for deploying full projects.

    A specific example is the Django API backend with a Next.js frontend for the web dashboard at 71lbs.com, where users must log in. The entire project is deployed on Amazon Linux. I manage the integration of new deployments and created a setup using Nginx and the supervisor provided by Amazon Linux.

    What is most valuable?

    Amazon Linux and Ubuntu are similar but differ in implementation and setup. Both have similar functions and run very well, making Amazon Linux a good option alongside Ubuntu.

    These features work well for me, though I am more accustomed to working with Ubuntu. My company uses Amazon Linux because of the initial setup they established. It is working very well and operates very fast with queries and everything on that server, so there are no current problems.

    Since using Amazon Linux, I have performed long queries and updated information for the web system. I find that it works very fast and handles large queries for substantial amounts of information effectively.

    What needs improvement?

    Amazon Linux could be improved by including libraries for supervisor. On Ubuntu, supervisor runs Django services in the background, while Amazon Linux does not have this built-in and requires a different supervisor approach. Documentation or PDF files about well-known solutions for this would be beneficial.

    Since Amazon Linux is based on Ubuntu, documentation explaining the differences between Ubuntu and Amazon Linux would be valuable. When I am accustomed to working with Ubuntu and want to use the same functions on Amazon Linux, I would prefer to understand the differences and how to implement features that exist on Ubuntu so I do not become lost in the process or have to search extensively for information.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using Amazon Linux for two years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    Amazon Linux is stable.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    Amazon Linux has good scalability. I remember when we upgraded one server to a different tier, the service upgrade was quick and very effective.

    How are customer service and support?

    Customer support for Amazon Linux is very good. We experienced an upgrade that took only a few minutes to complete.

    How would you rate customer service and support?

    Positive

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    I used a different solution with a VPS running Ubuntu before, primarily because I had that available and possessed more knowledge about using it, as well as due to cost considerations, since I was not aware of AWS at that time.

    How was the initial setup?

    I am not certain whether my company purchased Amazon Linux through the AWS Marketplace, as the server is managed by the company, but I believe they are using it from the AWS Marketplace.

    I have heard about pricing and consider it good. The setup was somewhat difficult because of a lack of knowledge. I am not certain about the cost and licensing because I was not involved in that part of the process.

    What was our ROI?

    I do not have information on whether I have seen a return on investment.

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    Before choosing Amazon Linux, I evaluated Google Cloud Platform. My company selected Amazon Linux because they have all their services already working on AWS.

    What other advice do I have?

    My advice to others looking into using Amazon Linux would be to be conscious about the differences between Amazon Linux and Ubuntu, as they look similar and have similar properties, but they need to have more knowledge for the initial setup, especially for downloading packages and dependencies. I would recommend obtaining more information on that topic.

    Before concluding, I would suggest that your platform could provide examples of pricing and examples of which companies work with AWS and which languages they use. Perhaps you could create a list of websites using Django and Next.js as well as those using JavaScript. When I have a new project, I could check if my project will fit on AWS and how the pricing will be structured, because whether I run microservices or a VPS or EC2 server, it would be helpful to know the pricing, features, and everything before purchasing and discovering everything after the project is developed and deployed, with no way to roll back. I give this product a rating of eight out of ten.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    Private Cloud

    If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

    Amazon Web Services (AWS)
    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    Last updated: Jan 15, 2026
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    Chetan Pandey - PeerSpot reviewer
    Consulting Software Engineer at a tech vendor with 51-200 employees
    Real User
    Top 20
    Jan 20, 2026
    Cloud workflows have become faster and builds have saved significant development time
    Pros and Cons
    • "Amazon Linux is really easy to use, and almost all of the packages and third-party applications are available just one command away, with security kernel patches released very quickly compared to other distributions."
    • "I faced some challenges with Amazon Linux in this scenario."

    What is our primary use case?

    I usually ran GoLang applications on Amazon Linux. These applications are compiled for any Linux flavor or architecture. I have worked with API backends for VoIP APIs in the CPaaS platforms.

    Recently I got a use case where I needed to implement a noise cancellation application for Amazon Linux as a backend application. This noise canceller specifically used an Intel procedure which is specific to architecture. I faced some challenges with Amazon Linux in this scenario. I had to switch to Ubuntu for that specific use case.

    If you are building something of your own in a language such as GoLang or Python, it is really easy to set it up and just hit the go button. You just need to build your application and you can have a binary which can run on Amazon Linux easily. However, for specific tasks such as the noise reduction case, I have to install a package for a specific instruction which I had never worked with before. That was a new experience. It is really easy to install on Amazon Linux from the package right away, which is a really good thing.

    We are scaling up and scaling down in the EKS environments with Amazon Linux only. Amazon Linux really works well for this.

    What is most valuable?

    Amazon Linux is really easy to use. Almost all of the packages and all of the third-party applications are available for Amazon Linux. They are just one command away to install them.

    For example, if I use any CentOS based system, Ubuntu based system, or Debian based system, I have to keep updating my repository. Sometimes it is really hard to find some Amazon specific packages for those distributions. However, for Amazon Linux, it is really good and really handy that all of the information and all of the packages are available on just a few commands away.

    Regarding the update side, I really appreciate the kernel patches for Amazon Linux. They are released straightaway. Whenever something is fixed in the security domain, it gets released pretty soon compared to other distributions for Amazon Linux. In terms of customer compliance with GDPR and similar requirements, it is really good to have that.

    I have noticed benefits in my workflow with Amazon Linux. When I used to have a Windows laptop and whenever I needed a Linux instance, I used to spin up one on EC2. This brought me a lot of helpful things without owning a machine. Even if I am in an environment where I have very low network bandwidth and I have to compile huge images or build a big image, perhaps something related to AI or training a model, it is really easy to just spin up an EC2 instance and build that image there. The network connectivity and all those aspects help in that way.

    It is really easy to integrate Amazon Linux with the conventional tools available for all Linux systems.

    Amazon Linux has performed really well under heavy workloads.

    What needs improvement?

    I feel there can be a lot of extensibility for Amazon Linux, the same way we have for Ubuntu or Debian. That might be a good use case to look forward to.

    I would love to get my hands on Amazon Linux on a laptop, if that is possible. Nowadays the machines are really powerful and if you have an operating system like Ubuntu and you love working with Linux, people will easily switch to Amazon Linux because they are running the same thing on their laptops and even in the cloud. That would be really beneficial in that case.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using Amazon Linux since 2020 and it has been five years now. I have been using Amazon Linux to run production applications on EC2 instances and running some POCs, creating test applications around it. I have used Amazon Linux as my secondary computer in the cloud for four years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    Amazon Linux is really good and stable.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    It is easy to scale Amazon Linux. If you want scalability and many out of the box features, you can choose Amazon Linux right away.

    How are customer service and support?

    I have not had any chance to reach out to customer support.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    I have used a couple of Linux distributions before Amazon Linux. I have used Linux Mint, CentOS, Ubuntu, and Debian. I still use them for some software which is recommended for it, but not much.

    How was the initial setup?

    Amazon Linux was readily available on the AWS cloud, so it was an easy switch and there were no major setup complications.

    What about the implementation team?

    I did purchase Amazon Linux a couple of times through the AWS Marketplace. However, these things are majorly managed by the DevOps team.

    What was our ROI?

    I saved around 100 to 200 hours of build time when I used to have a slow laptop before I switched to Mac. That was really helpful. I can do other tasks while the build is going on, so it increased productivity as well.

    In general, I have saved many hours in my workflow. We are not in the era of generative AI where you have to research, implement, and test everything. Because I used to have a Windows instance, Amazon Linux was my go-to for any of the tasks.

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    I mostly found Amazon Linux documentation and community support very easily. Nowadays I majorly use Gemini or ChatGPT for my issues, which is really helpful.

    What other advice do I have?

    Most of the time Amazon Linux meets the need in the security areas with latest patches for everything.

    It is mostly for public cloud, specifically public AWS. We use Amazon Linux across all the environments.

    It is really good. As I work in an enterprise environment, most of the pricing and other details are handled by other teams, not the backend engineering team. I have never faced any such issues.

    I would rate this product an 8 out of 10.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    Public Cloud

    If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

    Amazon Web Services (AWS)
    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    Last updated: Jan 20, 2026
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    Real User
    Top 20
    Apr 19, 2026
    Using a flexible cloud OS has reduced licensing costs and has supported large-scale load testing
    Pros and Cons
    • "The best feature of Amazon Linux is that it can easily integrate with all the services in AWS, and it is freeware that saves us a lot of money because, unlike RHEL machines that require subscriptions, Amazon Linux belongs to the RHEL family, requires no subscription, and is easily integrated with all AWS services."

      What is our primary use case?

      My main use case for Amazon Linux is as load test injectors VMs. I use Amazon Linux as a load test injector VM by spinning up a number of instances in AWS using this or using auto-scaling. For our requirement, we required RHEL-based systems and servers, which is why we are using Amazon Linux.

      For a load injector, we are using a number of servers, mainly 10 to 20 servers. If we were going for RHEL, it would require a 10-server subscription. However, we are using Amazon Linux, which is freeware and does not require any subscription. Additionally, it belongs to the RHEL family and is easily integrated with all the AWS services.

      What is most valuable?

      The best feature of Amazon Linux is that it can easily integrate with all the services in AWS. The easy integration with AWS services helps me in my day-to-day work because if we are choosing any RHEL or Ubuntu-based server in AWS, we are required to install a service manager on that server. However, if we are using Amazon Linux, it is not required to install that type of package on it.

      Amazon Linux has impacted my organization positively because, as I mentioned, we are using it as a load injector, and for this, our client required an RHEL-based OS. If we are using RHEL machines or servers, it requires an RHEL subscription. However, for Amazon Linux, no subscription is required. It is freeware, so it is cost-effective for our organization.

      What needs improvement?

      I have not felt any lag or any performance issues on Amazon Linux, so it does not require any improvement from my perspective. I do not have anything I wish Amazon Linux would do differently or features I would like to see added in the future.

      For how long have I used the solution?

      I have been using Amazon Linux for around five plus years.

      What do I think about the stability of the solution?

      Amazon Linux is stable.

      What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

      Amazon Linux's scalability is good. I have used it in an auto-scaling group for some time, and it is more scalable and more flexible and reliable.

      How are customer service and support?

      The customer support is awesome because it belongs to AWS, and AWS customer support is excellent.

      Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

      I have not yet used a different solution.

      How was the initial setup?

      I did not purchase Amazon Linux through the AWS Marketplace.

      What was our ROI?

      I have seen a return on investment because it saves money. As I mentioned, if we required RHEL servers, it needs some subscriptions. However, for using Amazon Linux, it is freeware, and it saves us a lot of money.

      Which other solutions did I evaluate?

      Before choosing Amazon Linux, I did not evaluate any other options.

      What other advice do I have?

      I would add that it is freeware for RHEL machines and belongs to the RHEL family. I chose 8 out of 10 for my review rating because for the RHEL family, I am using Amazon Linux, but sometimes, if we are using OpenShift or something that requires an RHEL subscription, then we are required to have an RHEL subscription or RHEL OS. Apart from that, we can easily use Amazon Linux.

      I would advise that if your company and if your client is required to have an RHEL-based OS on AWS, you must go for Amazon Linux because it easily integrates with all the services and belongs to AWS, and it is freeware for RHEL.

      Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

      Private Cloud

      If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

      Amazon Web Services (AWS)
      Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
      Last updated: Apr 19, 2026
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      reviewer2738745 - PeerSpot reviewer
      Cloud Architect at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
      Real User
      Top 20
      Nov 6, 2025
      Have worked on deployment in cloud environments and seen benefits with optimized kernel but still noticed areas that need more continuous improvements
      Pros and Cons
      • "I find Amazon Linux valuable for its direct functionality; the best features include the core capabilities that make it suitable for our operations."
      • "Amazon Linux could be improved by including additional features and continuous improvements in various areas."

      What is our primary use case?

      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.

      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?

      Public Cloud

      If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

      Amazon Web Services (AWS)
      Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
      Last updated: Nov 6, 2025
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      Francisco Javier Vergara - PeerSpot reviewer
      SecOps Engineer at IriusRisk
      Real User
      Top 5Leaderboard
      Mar 18, 2026
      Hosted critical applications reliably and now focus development time on features instead of images
      Pros and Cons
      • "Amazon Linux has positively impacted my organization by providing a great solution for hosting all of my applications, and it has helped my team focus only on the development of my applications since we do not have to worry about maintaining any base image."
      • "Amazon Linux can be improved by providing security updates more frequently."

      What is our primary use case?

      My main use case for Amazon Linux is to host my company's applications, internal applications, and automations.

      For example, I host my own application called IriusRisk on Amazon Linux. I also deploy internal applications such as GoCD, which is a CI/CD solution, and I deploy agents that report information to my SIEM.

      What is most valuable?

      The best features Amazon Linux offers include how easy it is to deploy; I can launch a new EC2 instance from an AWS Amazon Linux image, and it helps significantly with maintenance since I do not have to maintain the image itself as it is already provided by AWS.

      The easy deployment and managed images have helped my team by making it completely transparent for my engineers; we do not need to generate the images, we do not have to maintain the packages, and we only have to consume Amazon Linux images to always get the latest version.

      Amazon Linux has positively impacted my organization by providing a great solution for hosting all of my applications, and it has helped my team focus only on the development of my applications since we do not have to worry about maintaining any base image.

      Specific outcomes that show how Amazon Linux has helped my team include fewer issues since we do not have to worry about my own images or keep track of package versioning, which already comes within AWS Amazon Linux and translates into more performance since the images are already built; I cannot provide a metric since we have already used this image, and we have never had to build my own images.

      What needs improvement?

      Amazon Linux can be improved by providing security updates more frequently.

      For how long have I used the solution?

      I have been using Amazon Linux for eight years.

      What do I think about the stability of the solution?

      Amazon Linux is stable.

      What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

      The scalability of Amazon Linux is really good since I can consume it every time I need.

      How are customer service and support?

      I have never had to use customer support for Amazon Linux, but I have used AWS customer support service, and it is really helpful with a very short response time.

      How would you rate customer service and support?

      Positive

      Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

      I did not previously use a different solution.

      What was our ROI?

      I do not have any specific ROI metrics since I have always used Amazon Linux for deploying my products, but I know that I have some other images that I build myself, and I know that building them, maintaining them, and deploying them is much less effective than deploying an Amazon Linux image because I have to maintain them and keep an eye on the packages used to ensure they are up to date and do not have any security issues.

      What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

      My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is that it is very easy and straightforward; I just fill a form and my instance is already running if using the image, and as for the pricing, it is included within the AWS cloud usage, so no extra fees are added by Amazon Linux.

      Which other solutions did I evaluate?

      Before choosing Amazon Linux, I did not evaluate other options.

      What other advice do I have?

      I would rate Amazon Linux a 10 out of 10.

      I chose a 10 because it helps speed up deployments, it is really scalable, and it saves me a lot of headaches.

      I do not purchase Amazon Linux through the AWS Marketplace; I use AWS Amazon Linux from within the EC2 application and do not have to buy it in the marketplace.

      My advice to others looking into using Amazon Linux is to use it, and you will find new use cases for it; it will help you significantly in shipping faster.

      My overall review rating for Amazon Linux is 10.

      Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

      Public Cloud

      If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

      Amazon Web Services (AWS)
      Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
      Last updated: Mar 18, 2026
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      Technical Consultant at Prodevans Technologies
      Real User
      Top 5Leaderboard
      Apr 19, 2026
      Cloud migration has boosted performance and now supports faster, flexible deployments
      Pros and Cons
      • "Amazon Linux has impacted my organization very positively."
      • "Amazon Linux has almost everything, but there are some tools and libraries missing when we receive this operating system."

      What is our primary use case?

      I have been using Amazon Linux from my company for the last five years. We deploy Amazon Linux to most of our cloud servers, such as Apache, Nginx, and sometimes Kubernetes boxes. In a recent project, we used Terraform to deploy Amazon Linux and then used it to deploy one MySQL server. We explicitly deployed the MySQL database using Amazon Linux and then used Terraform to configure the deployment along with user data to perform post-implementation tasks, including installing packages, updating packages, and configuring user accounts. These are the general use cases we implemented.

      What is most valuable?

      Amazon Linux has impacted my organization very positively. Initially, we used to host on-premises servers, but now we have moved to Amazon Cloud and instead of using other distributions, we use Amazon Linux. It is very lightweight and provides all the packages needed, making it easy to customize and deploy.

      Amazon Linux is a very lightweight operating system compared to others. We do not need a separate subscription to use Amazon Linux, and we have access to a good repository that provides many packages we can use in our day-to-day operations. Almost everything I need can be obtained from the packages when it comes to the lightweight nature of Amazon Linux. It uses very few resources from the operating system standpoint, and the remaining resources can technically be used for my applications.

      These images are managed by Amazon, which helps us reduce the maintenance of the operating systems. Amazon Linux has good scalability. If we use different services from Amazon to provide scalable solutions, we can have multi-AZ setups or multi-region setups as well, which provides good scalability.

      Customer support for Amazon Linux is really good. Whenever I need anything, I raise a support case and receive support on priority. I would rate the customer support for Amazon Linux on a scale of one to ten as nine.

      What needs improvement?

      Amazon Linux has almost everything, but there are some tools and libraries missing when we receive this operating system. If those tools and libraries could be installed with it, that would be much better.

      For how long have I used the solution?

      I have been working in my current field for more than seven to eight years.

      What do I think about the stability of the solution?

      Amazon Linux is stable.

      What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

      Amazon Linux has good scalability. If we use different services from Amazon to provide scalable solutions, we can have multi-AZ setups or multi-region setups as well, which provides good scalability.

      How are customer service and support?

      Customer support for Amazon Linux is really good. Whenever I need anything, I raise a support case and receive support on priority.

      Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

      I initially used different distributions like Ubuntu and CentOS. However, these AMIs are well maintained and well supported, which is why I am using Amazon Linux now.

      How was the initial setup?

      I purchased Amazon Linux from the Marketplace and had quite a good experience regarding pricing, setup cost, and licensing.

      What about the implementation team?

      I directly went and tried Amazon Linux without evaluating other options.

      What was our ROI?

      I am not sure about the exact number because I am from the operations side, not from the financial side. However, when it comes to performance, Amazon Linux really helped my team and my organization to deploy instances much faster compared to other operating systems. I would say it helped me save on maintenance and some cost as well.

      What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

      I purchased Amazon Linux from the Marketplace and had quite a good experience regarding pricing, setup cost, and licensing.

      Which other solutions did I evaluate?

      I directly went and tried Amazon Linux without evaluating other options.

      What other advice do I have?

      I would rate the customer support for Amazon Linux on a scale of one to ten as nine. Because there are some improvements needed which I already mentioned, I think eight would be the right rating.

      Amazon Linux has almost everything. The only part is that there are some tools and libraries missing when we receive this operating system. If those tools and libraries could be installed with it, that would be much better.

      I use AWS and Azure as my cloud providers. This is a good operating system to use when it comes to public cloud because it is mainly used for the Amazon platform. It provides good scalability and good performance and also helps with cost-saving aspects. My overall rating for this review is eight.

      Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

      Public Cloud

      If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

      Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
      Last updated: Apr 19, 2026
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      Buyer's Guide
      Download our free Amazon Linux Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
      Updated: June 2026
      Buyer's Guide
      Download our free Amazon Linux Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.