Azure vs AWS vs Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI): Service Mapping - Part 2

In today's cloud-dominated landscape, understanding how leading providers like Azure, AWS, and OCI handle various services is essential. This blog provides service comparison, highlighting key similarities and differences across these platforms. Whether you are selecting a cloud platform or optimizing your current infrastructure, this guide will help clarify how each provider operates.

Refer Azure vs AWS vs Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI): Accounts, Tagging and Organization Part 1

Introduction to Service Mapping

Cloud service mapping involves understanding how providers offer comparable services under different names, features, and configurations. Here, we compare virtual machines (VMs), Kubernetes, bare-metal hosting, and serverless functions, offering a detailed breakdown of how they function in Azure, AWS, and OCI.

Services	Amazon Web Services	Azure	Oracle Cloud Infrastructure	Comments
Object Storage	Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3)	Blob Storage	Object Storage	Object storage manages data as discrete units (objects) with associated metadata and unique identifiers, offering scalable and durable storage for unstructured data like documents, images, and backups.
Archival Storage	Amazon S3 Glacier	Blob Storage (archive access tier)	Archive Storage	Archival storage is a cost-effective solution for storing infrequently accessed or long-term data, optimized for durability and retrieval over extended periods.
Block Storage	Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS)	Managed disks	Block Volumes	Block storage provides raw storage volumes that are divided into fixed-size blocks, allowing for high-performance and flexible storage solutions, typically used for databases and virtual machines.
Shared File System	Amazon Elastic File System	Azure Files	File Storage	A shared file system allows multiple users or systems to access and manage the same file storage simultaneously, enabling collaborative work and data consistency across different environments.
Bulk Data Transfer	AWS Snowball	Import/Export Azure Data Box	Data Transfer Appliance	Bulk data transfer refers to the process of moving large volumes of data between storage systems or locations in a single operation, often using specialized tools or services to ensure efficiency and reliability.
Hybrid Data Migration	AWS Storage Gateway	StorSimple	OCIFS (Linux)	Hybrid data migration involves transferring data between on-premises systems and cloud environments, leveraging both local and cloud-based resources to ensure a seamless, integrated data transition.

Virtual Machine (VM) Setup

Multi-Tenant VMs

Multi-tenant VMs allow multiple users to share physical hardware while maintaining logical isolation.

1. AWS: EC2 instances offer scalable VMs with diverse configurations for various workloads.
2. Azure: Virtual Machines integrate seamlessly with Azure services, offering customizable setups.
3. OCI: Virtual Machine instances provide cost-effective compute with flexible configurations.

Steps to Create Multi-Tenant VMs:

1. AWS: Use the EC2 dashboard, select an AMI, configure instance size, and set up networking and security groups.
2. Azure: Go to "Create a VM," define configurations like image type, disk size, and networking.
3. OCI: Navigate to "Compute," select a compartment, choose a shape (VM size), and configure VCN (Virtual Cloud Network).

Single-Tenant VMs

Single-tenant VMs provide dedicated physical servers, ensuring better isolation and performance.

1. AWS: Offers Dedicated Instances for specific accounts.
2. Azure: Provides Dedicated Hosts for isolated workloads.
3. OCI: Dedicated VM Hosts enable running workloads on dedicated hardware.

Steps to Create Single-Tenant VMs:

1. AWS: Select "Dedicated Instances" during the EC2 instance setup.
2. Azure: Search for "Dedicated Hosts," specify configurations, and assign the required VMs.
3. OCI: Create a "Dedicated Host" and configure it similarly to a regular VM.

Bare-Metal Hosting

Bare-metal instances offer direct access to physical servers, ideal for high-performance computing or specialized workloads.

1. AWS: EC2 Bare-Metal Instances provide complete hardware control.
2. Azure: Bare-Metal Infrastructure supports large-scale workloads like SAP HANA.
3. OCI: Bare-Metal Instances eliminate virtualization overhead.

Setup Process:

1. AWS: Select bare-metal instance families during EC2 setup.
2. Azure: Request support for bare-metal instances, configure disks, and set up networking.
3. OCI: Choose "Bare-Metal" under shapes when creating an instance.

Kubernetes Service

Kubernetes simplifies the deployment and management of containerized applications.

1. AWS: EKS (Elastic Kubernetes Service) integrates with ECR (Elastic Container Registry) for container orchestration.
2. Azure: AKS (Azure Kubernetes Service) pairs with Azure Container Registry for seamless deployment.
3. OCI: Container Engine for Kubernetes and OCI Registry enable Kubernetes management and container storage.

Setting Up Kubernetes Clusters:

1. AWS: Use the EKS dashboard, configure clusters, and integrate with IAM roles and VPCs.
2. Azure: Navigate to AKS, create clusters, and configure networking and policies.
3. OCI: Go to "Kubernetes Engine," select "Quick Create" or "Custom Create," and configure resources.

Serverless Functions

Serverless computing allows event-driven architecture without the need for provisioning or managing servers.

1. AWS: AWS Lambda executes code in response to events with no infrastructure management.
2. Azure: Azure Functions provide scalable serverless compute with integration options like private endpoints.
3. OCI: Functions support serverless deployments with pre-configured blueprints.

Steps to Create Functions:

1. AWS: Use the Lambda console, select "Create Function," and choose a runtime like Python 3.13.
2. Azure: Create a Function App, select a tier, and configure networking.
3. OCI: Navigate to "Functions," define the application, and deploy using pre-built templates.

Key Differences and Use Cases

Feature	AWS	Azure	OCI
VMs	EC2 with flexible instance types	Highly integrated with Azure services	Cost-effective with logical compartments
Dedicated Hosting	Dedicated Instances/Hosts for isolation	Dedicated Hosts for specific workloads	Dedicated VM Hosts with flexibility
Bare-Metal	Full hardware control for HPC workloads	Ideal for SAP HANA and similar workloads	Powerful compute with no virtualization
Kubernetes	EKS + ECR	AKS + Azure Container Registry	Container Engine + OCI Registry
Serverless	Lambda for event-driven architecture	Azure Functions with tiered pricing	Functions with blueprint integration

Conclusion

AWS, Azure, and OCI share similar service offerings but cater to different audiences and use cases:

1. AWS is a go-to for scalability and cutting-edge updates.
2. Azure offers tight integration with its ecosystem, ideal for enterprises using Microsoft products.
3. OCI provides robust solutions for Oracle-heavy environments.

Understanding these nuances will help you make informed decisions for your cloud strategy. Subscribe to our blog or newsletter for more insights and updates on cloud technology.

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