Apache HDFS Review - why 3 stars?

Apache HDFS is a flexible open-source software module part of the Apache Hadoop project. HDFS provides high-throughput access to application data, handles large data sets, and runs on commodity hardware. The distributed file system has several features, and some are discussed below:

• Large Data Set Processing: With HDFS, users can store, move, delete, and organize large data sets, usually saved in 128MB blocks across several machines. The software can support millions of files at once and provides hundreds of nodes in a single cluster with high aggregate data bandwidth and scale.
• Data Replication: Users can store large files, in gigabytes, terabytes, and petabytes, across several machines in large clusters with HDFS. By storing these files as a sequence of blocks, HDFS replicates these blocks for fault tolerance in a write-once mode.
• File System Namespace: With HDFS, users can create traditional file organizations and create file directories for saving files. Users or applications can also create, move, remove, and rename files.
• NameNode and DataNode: HDFS features a NameNode, a controller server that regulates the file system namespace, grants clients access to files, and manages commands like opening, closing, and renaming file directories. The software also has DataNodes that serve read and write requests from clients.

The Apache HDFS was launched in 2009. The company has between 11 to 50 employees and has its headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

The rating of Apache HDFS is 3 stars out of 5 and the total score is 89 out of 100. The rating score is based on our unbiased data-based algo. Learn more - rating methodology page.

The typical customers include the following business size: SMBs.

Yes, Apache HDFS makes it fairly easy to use. This product is user friendly and intuitive.

Yes, they offer cloud based hosting, which means IT resources are retrieved through web-based tools and applications and you don't need to buy servers and additional hardware equipment.

No, currently Apache HDFS can't be accessed on mobile, you would need to access it from your computer.

Apache HDFS is ranked 18 out of 532 software in their category (Business Intelligence systems).

HDFS faces competition from leading software brands in the distributed file system and object storage software category. Some of its top alternatives include Red Hat Ceph Storage, Qumulo Core File System, Pure Storage FlashBlade, and NetApp StorageGRID. HDFS is compared to its top alternatives in the following aspects:

• Cloud/On-premise: Apache HDFS is an open-source software module that can be deployed on the cloud or as an on-premise solution. In comparison, all top alternatives of Apache HDFS are available as cloud-based software, on-premise software, and hybrid-cloud solutions.
• Cost: HDFS is open source, meaning it is free to use. In comparison, Qumulo Core pricing starts at $3411 per month, and a free, open-source version of Red Hat Ceph Storage is available. Other top alternatives of HDFS do not disclose their pricing details. Also, a free trial offer is available for StorageGRID and FlashBlade.
• Customers/Industries: Many companies from several industries use the Apache HDFS, including Twitter, LinkedIn, and eBay. In comparison, HDFS and its top competitors serve similar customers and industries. Also, companies in media & entertainment use Qumulo Core, Red Hat Ceph Storage is used by financial services, NetApp StorageGRID is used in the oil & gas industry, while governments use Pure Storage FlashBlade.
• Functionality: Apache HDFS has several features like file system namespace, data replication, large data processing, etc. Compared to its top alternatives, HDFS does not have native machine learning and artificial intelligence functionalities like its top competitors.
• Popularity: HDFS is a famous open-source software that several enterprises from all over the world use. The Apache Software Foundation, the community that offers HDFS, valued the total software releases, downloads, and usage at $22 billion. In comparison, Pure Storage has over 10,000 customers globally, NetApp serves notable brands like Dow Jones and DreamWorks Animation, and Qumulo stores over 200 billion files.
• Scalability: Apache HDFS handles big data, primarily suited to multinational enterprises and global conglomerates store data in terabytes and petabytes. In comparison, all top alternatives of HDFS are equally scalable software options.
• Support: The Apache HDFS users can get support via a knowledge base, the community, and FAQ channels. Compared to its top alternatives, Apache HDFS does not offer support via live chat, which is available on NetApp and Qumulo. Also, all top alternatives of HDFS offer support through email and phone channels, which are not available for clients that use HDFS.

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