FSx for Windows
- Amazon FSx for Windows File Server provides a fully managed native Microsoft Windows file system so you can easily move your Windows-based applications that require file storage to AWS. - Amazon FSx is build on Windows Server.
Windows FSx | EFS |
A managed Windows Server that runs Windows Server Message Block (SMB)-based file services | A managed NAS filer for EC2 instances based on Network File System (NFS) version 4 |
Designed for Windows and Windows applications | One of the first network file sharing protocols native to Unix and Linux |
Supports AD users, access control lists, groups and security policies, along with Distributed File System (DFS) namespaces and replicaton. |
FSx for Lustre
- Amazon FSx for Lustre is a fully managed file system that is optimized for compute-intensive workloads, such as high-performance computing, machine learning, media data processing workflows, and electronic design automation (EDA). - With Amazon FSx, you can launch and run a Lustre file system that can process massive data sets at up to hundreds of gigabytes per second of throughput, millions of IOPS, and sub-millisecond latencies.
Lustre FSx | EFS |
Designed specifically for fast processing of workloads such as machine learning, high-performance computing, video processing, financial modeling, and electronic design automation. | A managed NAS filer for EC2 instances based on Network File System (NFS) version 4 |
Lets you launch and run a file system that provides sub-millisecond access to your data and allows you to read and write data at speeds of up to hundreds of gigabytes per second of throughput and millions of IOPS. | One of the first network file sharing protocols native to Unix and Linux |
When to use what?
EFS
When you need distributed, highly resilient storage for Linux instances and Linux-based applications.Amazon FSx for Windows
When you need centralised storage for Windows-based applications such as Sharepoint, SQL Server, IIS or any other native Microsoft Applications.Amazon FSx for Lustre
When you need high-speed, high-capacity distributed storage.This will be for applications that do High Performance Compute (HPC), financial modeling etc.
Remember that FSx for Lustre can store data directly on S3.