Amazon Releases New Version of Its Linux Distribution for Use in AWS
Amazon has released a new version of its Linux distribution called Amazon Linux 2023, which is specifically designed for use within Amazon Web Services (AWS). The new version comes with a new substructure based exclusively on Fedora, with packages from other sources no longer included. This could be a problem for administrators, as packages from EPEL directory will no longer be operable within Amazon Linux. Additionally, the release sees the update from yum to dnf, with yum acting as an alias to dnf.
Image files and Docker images of Amazon Linux 2023 are now available, though real VM images are no longer an option. This can be difficult for application developers who wish to use Amazon Linux but run their CI/CD pipeline outside of AWS.
The release cycle of Amazon Linux 2023 is sophisticated, with users receiving at least two years of support per version. There will be quarterly point releases that deliver security updates, error corrections, and new functions. The status of the system can be frozen through the activated package directories, allowing for uniformity in large fleets of virtual instances.
Amazon has made it more difficult for third-party software developers to offer their own software for use in AWS. This is because as Amazon Linux 2023 gets older, it is difficult to determine which components in the VM are actually running in which version.
Overall, Amazon Linux 2023 is only available within AWS and in the context of the closed AWS system. The release is aimed at existing AWS users and not as a generally usable Linux distribution. Those who wish to try Amazon Linux 2023 will require AWS access and the AMI image.
