I'm in the process of updating numerous EC2 instances from Amazon Linux 2 to Amazon Linux 2023 since the previous version is reaching its end of life in just a few months. However, I have some concerns about the longevity of Amazon Linux 2023 because it feels somewhat outdated already. For instance, it ships with Python 3.9, which boto3 will stop supporting after April next year. I recall hearing that Amazon had plans for Amazon Linux 2025 but eventually decided to drop it. So, I'm curious what the long-term roadmap looks like for Amazon Linux. Should I consider switching to Ubuntu, especially seeing how much AWS is contributing to that distribution lately?
5 Answers
AL2023 will be supported through June 2029, so you can rely on it for a while. They might not offer the same long-term support as some other distros, but given that AWS uses it internally, I think they have a vested interest in maintaining it. Plus, it's free, and often simplifies support phases with a single vendor.
Amazon Linux 2023 is still very much alive—it's receiving biweekly updates and has introduced newer kernel versions. If you’re working in regulated environments, the FIPS validations are crucial too. It seems they have no intention of letting it stagnate, even if there's been some chatter about future versions being dropped.
Agreed! But as alternatives, I’ve switched to Bottlerocket for my EKS clusters. Just a different approach to account for workload types.
When it comes to general-use Linux distros in AWS, I would steer clear of Amazon Linux. It's great for AWS services like ECS, but for non-container apps, our team is moving towards Ubuntu because available packages are much broader.
That makes sense, especially since we're also using various cloud platforms. Ubuntu ensures compatibility across them.
I work in Amazon Linux engineering, and while I can't share everything, I can assure you that Amazon Linux isn't going anywhere. We're consistently releasing updates, including kernel updates and compliance improvements. There's also a new DISA STIG profile for AL2023 that just got FIPS validation, which is a must-have for many regulated industries. It’s best to wait and see what announcements come out during the next re:Invent, but the support for AWS services using Amazon Linux is a good sign.
Thanks for the scoop! It's good to hear that there's ongoing development. Just curious, could you please bring back EPEL compatibility? That would make a lot of us happy!
I appreciate the insight! Just hoping for clearer information on future versions as the release cycle seems a bit stressful.
I think the discontinuation of AL2025 doesn't mean Amazon is abandoning Amazon Linux altogether. Remember, AL2023 was originally slated as AL2022 but got delayed. They’re in it for the long haul, especially since almost all AWS services rely on Amazon Linux behind the scenes.
Right? And attending re:Invent might give us more clarity on the future outlook.
I was sticking with Ubuntu for consistency across environments, but knowing that Amazon has incentives to continue improving AL is a good point.