Choosing between AWS Fargate and Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) can be a daunting task. Both services offer a way to run containerized applications on AWS, but they have different strengths and weaknesses. In this blog post, we will compare and contrast Fargate and EKS to help you decide which is right for you.
What is AWS Fargate?
AWS Fargate is a serverless compute engine for Kubernetes. With Fargate, you don't need to provision or manage servers. You simply specify the container image and the number of vCPUs and memory you need, and Fargate takes care of the rest. This makes Fargate a great option for those who want to focus on their applications and not on infrastructure management.
What is Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS)?
Amazon EKS is a managed Kubernetes service on AWS. With EKS, you get a Kubernetes cluster up and running in minutes. You can then deploy your containerized applications to the cluster and manage them using kubectl or other Kubernetes tools. EKS gives you more control over your cluster than Fargate, but it also requires more effort to manage.
ECS vs. EKS vs. Fargate
Now that we have a basic understanding of Fargate and EKS, let's compare and contrast them.
Feature Fargate EKS
Serverless Yes No
Cluster management Automatic Manual
Control over cluster Limited Full
Cost Pay per vCPU and memory hour Pay for nodes and spot instances
Ease of use Easy More complex
Which is right for you?
The best choice for you will depend on your specific needs. Here are some factors to consider:
Your familiarity with Kubernetes: If you are new to Kubernetes, Fargate may be a better option because it is easier to use.
Your budget: Fargate can be more expensive than EKS, especially if you have a large number of pods.
The complexity of your application: If you have a simple application, Fargate may be sufficient. However, if you have a more complex application, you may need the flexibility of EKS.
Ultimately, the best way to decide is to experiment with both Fargate and EKS and see which one you prefer.
I hope this blog post has helped you to better understand the differences between AWS Fargate and EKS.
Additional considerations
In addition to the factors mentioned above, there are a few other things to consider when choosing between Fargate and EKS:
Security: Both Fargate and EKS offer a variety of security features. However, Fargate may be more secure because it eliminates the need to manage server security.
Scalability: Both Fargate and EKS can scale to meet your needs. However, Fargate may be easier to scale because it is serverless.
Integrations: Both Fargate and EKS integrate with a variety of AWS services. However, EKS may have more integrations because it is more popular.