Explanation
Amazon FSx for Windows File Server is the correct choice because:
- Native Microsoft Support: It is specifically designed to support Microsoft workloads and file systems natively
- SMB Protocol Support: It fully supports the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol, which is essential for Windows file sharing
- Fully Managed: AWS manages the underlying infrastructure, patching, backups, and maintenance
- Windows-Compatible Features: Includes features like Active Directory integration, Distributed File System (DFS), and Windows permissions
Why not the other options:
- Amazon EFS: Primarily designed for Linux workloads and uses NFS protocol, not SMB
- Amazon FSx for Lustre: Optimized for high-performance computing and uses different protocols, not designed for Windows workloads
- Amazon EBS: Block storage service that requires you to manage the file system yourself, not a fully managed file server
Amazon FSx for Windows File Server provides a fully managed, native Windows file system experience with built-in SMB protocol support, making it ideal for Microsoft workloads.