Ambari vs Zookeeper: What are the differences?

Key Differences between Ambari and Zookeeper

1. Ambari: Cluster Management vs. ZooKeeper: Distributed Coordination Service

Ambari is a cluster management tool that helps in managing and monitoring Hadoop clusters. It provides a web-based interface to automate the installation, configuration, and management of Hadoop services. On the other hand, ZooKeeper is a distributed coordination service that enables synchronization and coordination across a cluster.

2. Ambari: High-level Abstraction vs. ZooKeeper: Low-level Abstraction

Ambari offers a high-level abstraction for managing and monitoring the Hadoop ecosystem, providing developers and administrators with an easy-to-use interface. In contrast, ZooKeeper offers a low-level abstraction, providing a simple interface for building distributed systems and handling coordination tasks.

3. Ambari: Automates Cluster Operations vs. ZooKeeper: Low-level Coordination Tasks

Ambari automates various cluster operations such as adding or removing nodes, scaling the cluster, and managing configurations. It simplifies the management of the Hadoop cluster by handling complex tasks. On the other hand, ZooKeeper is focused on low-level coordination tasks, such as managing distributed locks, leader election, and configuration management.

4. Ambari: Monitors Health and Performance vs. ZooKeeper: Ensures Consistency and Consensus

Ambari provides health and performance monitoring features, allowing administrators to monitor the status of the Hadoop cluster and identify potential issues. ZooKeeper, on the other hand, ensures consistency and consensus in a distributed system, providing a reliable and fault-tolerant way to coordinate and synchronize processes.

5. Ambari: Configuration Management vs. ZooKeeper: Distributed Configuration Service

Ambari offers a comprehensive configuration management system that allows users to define, maintain, and manage complex configurations across the cluster. It simplifies the process of managing configurations for various Hadoop services. In contrast, ZooKeeper provides a distributed configuration service that enables applications to store and retrieve configuration data in a distributed and fault-tolerant manner.

6. Ambari: Provides REST API vs. ZooKeeper: Exposes Watch Mechanism

Ambari provides a REST API that allows users to programmatically interact with the cluster and perform various operations. It enables automation and integration with external tools and applications. ZooKeeper, on the other hand, exposes a watch mechanism which allows applications to register a watch on a znode and receive notifications when the znode is modified, providing a way to build real-time distributed systems.

In Summary, Ambari is a cluster management tool that automates and simplifies the management of Hadoop clusters, while ZooKeeper is a distributed coordination service that handles low-level coordination tasks and ensures consistency in distributed systems.