Fargate vs. Non-Fargate: Choosing the Right Container Orchestration Strategy for Your Needs
In the age of cloud computing, containers have become the go-to solution for deploying and scaling applications. And when it comes to container orchestration on AWS, the two main options are Fargate and non-Fargate (which typically involves Amazon EC2 instances and Amazon ECS). But which one is right for you?
What is Fargate?
Fargate is a serverless compute engine for Amazon ECS that allows you to run containers without having to provision or manage underlying EC2 instances. This eliminates the need for tasks like cluster packing, scaling, and patching, making it a more hands-off and simpler approach to container orchestration.
What is Non-Fargate?
Non-Fargate refers to the traditional approach of using Amazon EC2 instances and Amazon ECS to run containers. With this approach, you are responsible for provisioning and managing the EC2 instances that host your containers. This gives you more control over your infrastructure, but it also requires more operational overhead.
Fargate vs. Non-Fargate: A Comparison
Here’s a table that summarizes the key differences between Fargate and non-Fargate:
| Feature | Fargate | Non-Fargate |
|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure management | Managed by AWS | Managed by you |
| Cost | Pay-per-use for vCPU and memory | Pay-per-hour for EC2 instances, plus ECS charges |
| Scaling | Automatic | Manual or autoscaling |
| Complexity | Simpler | More complex |
| Security | Potentially more secure due to isolation | Requires careful configuration |
When to Choose Fargate
Fargate is a good choice for you if:
- You want a simpler and more hands-off approach to container orchestration.
- You are frequently scaling your applications up and down.
- You are concerned about the security of your containers.
- You are running stateless workloads.
When to Choose Non-Fargate
Non-Fargate is a good choice for you if:
- You need more control over your infrastructure.
- You are running stateful workloads or applications that require privileged access.
- You are concerned about the cost of Fargate.
- You have a team with the expertise to manage EC2 instances and ECS.
Ultimately, the best choice for you will depend on your specific needs and requirements. Consider your budget, your technical expertise, and the nature of your workloads when making your decision.
Additional factors to consider
- Fargate limitations: Fargate does have some limitations, such as a lack of support for GPU instances and EBS volumes.
- Learning curve: If you are new to AWS or container orchestration, Fargate may have a slightly steeper learning curve than non-Fargate.
- Existing infrastructure: If you already have a lot of experience with EC2 and ECS, non-Fargate may be a more natural fit for you.
I hope this blog post has helped you to understand the differences between Fargate and non-Fargate. By carefully considering your needs and requirements, you can choose the right container orchestration strategy for your success.
In addition to the points above, here are some other things to keep in mind:
- Fargate is still a relatively new service, so it is evolving rapidly. Be sure to keep up with the latest features and updates.
- There are a number of third-party tools and services that can help you to manage your Fargate deployments.
- AWS offers a number of resources to help you learn more about Fargate, such as documentation, tutorials, and webinars.
I encourage you to explore Fargate and see if it is the right fit for your needs.
I hope this blog post has been helpful! Please let me know if you have any questions.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Please consult with a qualified professional before making any decisions about your AWS architecture.