Amazon Linux 2
Operating systems
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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What is Amazon Linux 2
Amazon Linux 2 is a Linux distribution maintained by Amazon Web Services (AWS) for running applications and services, primarily on AWS compute environments. It is used by cloud and DevOps teams that want an OS image aligned with AWS tooling and update channels. The distribution uses RPM packages and systemd, and it is commonly deployed on Amazon EC2 and in container-based workflows. It is positioned as an AWS-optimized server operating system rather than a general-purpose desktop OS.
Tight AWS service integration
Amazon Linux 2 is designed to work smoothly with common AWS deployment patterns such as EC2 images, cloud-init configuration, and AWS-provided agents. AWS publishes and maintains AMIs, which simplifies provisioning and standardization for AWS-centric environments. This reduces the effort required to align OS configuration with AWS infrastructure practices compared with more general-purpose distributions.
Long-term maintenance model
Amazon Linux 2 provides a stable base with a defined support lifecycle and ongoing security updates through AWS-managed repositories. This helps organizations keep server fleets patched without frequently changing major OS versions. The approach is suited to production workloads that prioritize consistency over rapid feature churn.
Familiar enterprise Linux stack
It uses a conventional enterprise Linux userland (RPM/yum) and systemd, which many administrators already know from other server Linux distributions. This lowers retraining needs for teams with existing Linux operations experience. It also supports common server software stacks and automation tools that target RPM-based systems.
AWS-centric distribution focus
Amazon Linux 2 is most compelling when the workload runs on AWS, and it is less commonly standardized for heterogeneous or multi-cloud estates. Organizations that need consistent OS baselines across multiple cloud providers may prefer a distribution with broader vendor-neutral adoption. Some AWS-specific defaults and tooling assumptions can add friction outside AWS.
Not a desktop OS choice
The distribution targets server and cloud workloads rather than end-user computing. Desktop UX, hardware enablement breadth, and consumer application ecosystems are not primary design goals. For organizations seeking a managed end-user OS, other operating systems in the space are typically a better fit.
Package availability differences
Repository contents and package versions can differ from other mainstream distributions, which may affect application compatibility or require additional repositories and build steps. Teams may need to validate third-party software support explicitly for Amazon Linux 2 rather than assuming parity with other enterprise Linux options. This can increase testing effort for packaged applications and security tooling.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2 (OS) | Provided at no additional charge | AWS provides ongoing security and maintenance updates; available as an Amazon Machine Image (AMI), container image, and virtual machine images for on‑premises development and testing; standard AWS service charges (EC2, EBS, data transfer, etc.) still apply. |
Seller details
Amazon Web Services, Inc.
Seattle, Washington, USA
2006
Subsidiary
https://aws.amazon.com/
https://x.com/awscloud
https://www.linkedin.com/company/amazon-web-services/
