Intro
Which sort of Amazon Server/Compute Option should you use for your next project? This is a frequently asked question. Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers a variety of computing service alternatives. Amazon EC2 and Amazon LightSail are the two prominent computing services. These services are available at various pricing ranges and offer a variety of features. Each has a place for certain usage situations. However, I’ll go through the difference between AWS Lightsail and AWS EC2.
Amazon EC2
Most cloud customers concentrate on scalable computing capacity to simplify cloud computing processes. This leads them to seek out sophisticated online services to create and deploy apps on time without the need to purchase hardware immediately. For this type of need, Amazon EC2 is the best option. Wondering what Amazon EC2 is and how it works? First, it’s a cloud service that provides quantifiable processing power in the Amazon Web Services cloud.
Second, the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud, or Amazon EC2, is used by businesses for a variety of reasons. Third, the flexibility to launch virtual servers as needed, storage space management, and networking and security settings are all features of this cloud computing service. Above all, Amazon EC2 helps users better manage traffic predictions by better preparing them to handle fluctuations in their needs.
Amazon Lightsail
LightSail is a virtual private service that lets you pick from various themes. You may select between a blank operating system and one pre-loaded with apps and ready to use with a single click. Simplicity and ease of use are the primary goals of Lightsail. Basically it is a simplified EC2 service. For instance, it has a much simpler user interface with significantly fewer features. Individuals and organizations of all sizes may use Lightsail to get started and offer services immediately. In addition, Amazon Lightsail provides a much more straightforward price structure.
Amazon LightSail might be the solution for you if you need an Amazon server that’s simple to set up and administer and doesn’t require a lot of processing power. You don’t have many configuration or selection options compared to the EC2 portfolio. LightSail is similar to several hosting companies’ virtual private server (VPS) options. It does not only bundle compute, storage, networking, and DNS. It also has built-in capabilities that include a managed database, load balancer, container support, and a content delivery network (CDN).
The Difference Between AWS Lightsail and AWS EC2
Despite the similarities, there are particular distinctions between the two services. EC2 appears to have more features and functions. The following are some of them:
- EC2 has its instances; whereas, Lightsail gets its computational power from EC2 instances.
- Compared to Lightsail, EC2 offers a greater selection of memory, storage, computing power, and data transport options.
- Amazon EC2 offers a slew of additional functions that Lightsail lacks. Elastic IP addresses, virtual networks, the ability to safeguard login information, a firewall, and numerous physical locations for storing user resources are among these features.
In a nutshell;
Although EC2 and Lightsail are both services of Amazon, it is clear that Amazon EC2 is the larger and better alternative. However, depending on demand, the technology you choose may change. If you’re undecided, the detailed list of similarities and differences below can assist you in making an informed selection.
EC2 vs. LightSail: Detailed Comparison
| Amazon Lightsail | Amazon EC2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Usage | Used for simple web applications and websites, including custom code, and common CMS | Used for starting from small scale to Enterprise applications such as HPC, big data, and analytics workloads |
| Performance | Used for applications with workloads ranging from small to medium | Used for small scale to higher workloads with complex architecture. |
| Ease | Deploying applications in Lightsail can be done with a few clicks Provides an all-in-one experience | Deploying application in Amazon EC2 varies due to multiple factors, such as the type of application, the type of components used, and so on. Each component has its own characteristics and features that can be modified in their respective consoles |
| Administrative Support | Less system admin and system architect efforts are needed in Lightsail | Based on the type of environment, the administrative effort varies. Most of the services in EC2 require a thorough understanding of the components |
| Network | Managed by AWS. Customers can add rules to the Lightsail firewall | Managed by the customer using VPC and related components |
| Scalability | Automatic instance scalability isn’t supported in Lightsail Instances can’t be modified after launch. You must launch a new instance to change your plan | Instances can be scaled automatically using an Amazon EC2 Auto Scaling group EC2 instances can be modified to a new type or to a new virtualization |
| Flexibility in Managing Sources | Minimal flexibility in managing resources such as network, hard disk, load balancer, and so on | Customers can manage all the related components based on the application demands |
| Pricing | Prices are low and there is a fixed pricing model | Pricing follows the pay-as-you-go model(On-Demand), Reserved, Savings Plan, Spot |
| Monitoring | Monitoring is available, but it has restricted a few options | Detailed monitoring options are available using Amazon Cloudwatch |
Conclusion
When using Amazon Web Services to run servers, an AWS Free Tier account is a great place to start. You have enough free computational power with the free tier to run some test workloads on Amazon EC2 and learn about its features and capabilities. On the other hand, LightSail enables testing apps at a low cost, with monthly expenses beginning at a few dollars per VPS instance.
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