AWS FSx Service Guide

Overview

FSx is an AWS file sharing service that addresses scenarios where EFS (Elastic File System) isn't compatible. It provides a distributed file system with non-NFS options for file sharing, with AWS managing the scaling and availability of the data.

FSx Variants

1. FSx for NetApp ONTAP

2. FSx for OpenZFS

3. FSx for Windows File Server

4. FSx for Lustre

Note: The most common variants for AWS Solutions Architect-Professional exam are Windows File Server and Lustre.

How FSx Works

Architecture Components

• Mount targets (e.g., EC2 instances in an auto-scaling group)

• Distributed file system with endpoint

• Elastic network interface for communication

• Authentication via:

  • IAM roles

  • Managed Microsoft ID

High Availability

• Stores redundant copies of files

• Built-in protection against AWS infrastructure outages

FSx for Windows File Server

Use Cases

• Windows line-of-business applications

• Windows content management

• Media processing workflows on Windows machines

• Data analytics on Windows machines

• SMB-based file shares

Benefits

• Scalable

• Highly available

• Cloud-native solution

• Managed service

FSx for Lustre

Overview

One of the most popular high-performance file storage systems currently in use.

Use Cases

• High-performance distributed applications

• High-performance compute clusters

• Large-scale file share solutions (thousands of EC2 instances)

• Big data applications

• Machine learning applications

Technical Features

• Backed by solid-state drives (SSDs)

• Optimized data arrangement for frequent access

• Integration with S3 for:

  • Snapshot storage

  • Cold storage for less frequently accessed files

• High-performance capabilities

Key Exam Points

1. Focus on understanding use cases for:

   • FSx for Windows File Server

   • FSx for Lustre

2. Remember:

   • Windows File Server for SMB-based shares

   • Lustre for high-performance computing needs

   • AWS handles scaling and management

   • Lustre is optimal for scenarios requiring superfast access or thousands of mount targets