# When to Use RAW Partition Images vs. LVM-Partitioned Images on AWS **URL:** \ **Category:** Technical Articles\ **Created:** [November 25, 2025, 4:14pm UTC](https://support.procomputers.com/t/when-to-use-raw-partition-images-vs-lvm-partitioned-images-on-aws/117 "2025-11-25T16:14:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![procomputers](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/support.procomputers.com/procomputers/32/19_2.png) [@procomputers](https://support.procomputers.com/u/procomputers)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2025, 4:14pm UTC](https://support.procomputers.com/t/when-to-use-raw-partition-images-vs-lvm-partitioned-images-on-aws/117/1 "2025-11-25T16:14:47Z")
[![](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/uploads/procomputers/original/1X/9bcb8aad562a8130890c453dd6a82ac223219440.jpeg "ProComputers Cloud Images for Amazon Web Services") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg0GOjp7Sh8) When building or publishing Amazon EC2 images — whether for internal use or for AWS Marketplace — choosing the right partitioning layout is essential for performance, compatibility, and long-term maintainability. The two most common approaches are **RAW partition images** (a single filesystem directly on the device) and **LVM-partitioned images** (using Physical Volumes, Volume Groups, and Logical Volumes). Each layout offers unique benefits, and understanding when to use each one ensures you deliver stable, efficient, and predictable cloud images. ### **When to Use RAW Partition Images** A RAW partition image typically contains: - one primary partition (ext4 or XFS), - no LVM stack, - the simplest layout possible. This type of image is recommended in the following situations: 1. **Maximum performance and simplicity** With no LVM layer, the filesystem sits directly on the EBS block device. This reduces overhead, speeds up boot times, and eliminates configuration complexity. It is ideal for minimal images or environments that do not require advanced storage features. 2. **Lightweight, user-friendly Marketplace images** For users who just want a minimal OS ready to run, RAW partitioning is often preferred. Many cloud-native images adopt this layout to reduce potential resizing issues or LVM management steps for the end user. 3. **Best compatibility with AWS Import/Export workflows** When using tools like `aws ec2 import-image` or migrating images between clouds or on-prem environments, RAW layouts are the most reliable and widely supported. 4. **You rely on AWS-native snapshotting** Since EBS snapshots already provide fast, incremental backups at the block level, many users do not need LVM snapshots. RAW images keep things straightforward. ### **When to Use LVM-Partitioned Images** LVM becomes useful when flexibility and enterprise-style management outweigh simplicity. An LVM image typically includes: - a Physical Volume (PV), - a Volume Group (VG), - Logical Volumes (LVs) for root and optionally /var, /home, /tmp, or swap. Choose LVM when: 1. **You want easy filesystem resizing at runtime** Expanding root volume size is safer and more flexible with LVM, avoiding the risks of modifying traditional partitions. LVM allows clean online resizing inside the OS. 2. **You aim for upstream compatibility with enterprise distributions** RHEL, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, SUSE, and many on-prem deployments rely on LVM by default. If your goal is to mirror enterprise environments, LVM is the correct choice. 3. **You need multi-volume layouts** Use LVM when you require separate logical volumes for performance or isolation — e.g., isolating `/var` to prevent logs from filling the root filesystem or creating a dedicated logical volume for swap. 4. **You benefit from advanced LVM features** LVM supports internal snapshots, striping, mirroring, and data migration without downtime — capabilities useful in more complex setups. ### **Conclusion** Use **RAW partition images** when you need simplicity, speed, broad compatibility, and a minimal cloud footprint. choose **LVM-partitioned images** when you require flexible resizing, enterprise-aligned configurations, multi-volume setups, or advanced storage operations. **ProComputers provides both RAW and LVM-partitioned images on AWS, tailored for a wide range of cloud workloads.** List of ProComputers RAW-images available in [AWS Marketplace](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/seller-profile?id=cb14f0b8-1ca0-4485-bc79-a2cb2b9a4feb): - [Rocky Linux 8 (Rocky 8)](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-aczto4zavd7uw) - [Rocky Linux 9 (Rocky 9)](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-c755eecdjt7gs) - [Rocky Linux 10 (Rocky 10)](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-spnmmjzmgsp4c) - [AlmaLinux 8](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-o565xdlcedcqu) - [AlmaLinux 9](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-n5i4g5b6ujogi) - [AlmaLinux 10](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-frwnpnrnhaqbk) - [CentOS Stream 8 (CentOS 8)](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-6wmb7rdppc2p2) - [CentOS Stream 9 (CentOS 9)](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-smszvabbrawjm) - [CentOS Stream 10 (CentOS 10)](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-uylisw5rjubaa) - [Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 (RHEL 8)](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-7oheb6awjgi5k) - [Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 (RHEL 9)](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-nwj55emerepxm) - [Oracle Linux 7](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-klyucvjcbhfwy) - [Oracle Linux 8](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-j64xbcx62a2co) - [Oracle Linux 9](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-amzinta2y4g4s) - [Oracle Linux 10](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-2sfchtys32sws) - [Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (Focal Fossa)](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-kyffpqma5uw6e) - [Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish)](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-yh65mqrcbfq4u) - [Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat)](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-j3a2cdofe3q6k) - [Debian 10 (Buster)](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-uwvw2ykmd3eay) - [Debian 11 (Bullseye)](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-j4c3fc27hzsny) - [Debian 12 (Bookworm)](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-h3ef5uz3dpphs) List of ProComputers LVM-partitioned available in [AWS Marketplace](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/seller-profile?id=cb14f0b8-1ca0-4485-bc79-a2cb2b9a4feb): - [Rocky Linux 8 LVM-partitioned (Rocky 8)](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-lwzg4c5gsw4jw) - [Rocky Linux 9 LVM-partitioned (Rocky 9)](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-ev32x4lx7jgra) - [Rocky Linux 10 LVM-partitioned (Rocky 10)](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-pthlifkyatvuq) - [AlmaLinux 8 LVM-partitioned](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-ujjksegzz3ame) - [AlmaLinux 9 LVM-partitioned](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-qhyx4maoxmjgo) - [AlmaLinux 10 LVM-partitioned](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-6pqfumrb3nvxs) - [CentOS Stream 8 LVM-partitioned (CentOS 8)](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-qzpsqxr6d2sic) - [CentOS Stream 9 LVM-partitioned (CentOS 9)](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-rrj5nuvv4ohtq) - [CentOS Stream 10 LVM-partitioned (CentOS 10)](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-yumfdfttnjmfq) - [Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 (RHEL 8) LVM-partitioned](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-jpexznyfumtgq) - [Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 (RHEL 9) LVM-partitioned](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-xue3khnzm3n7q) - [Oracle Linux 7 LVM-partitioned](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-mhqypmloff2ow) - [Oracle Linux 8 LVM-partitioned](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-dsrcsqsypmn5q) - [Oracle Linux 9 LVM-partitioned](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-axn5jooozkivu) - [Oracle Linux 10 LVM-partitioned](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-duh2oxnldbxlk) ProComputers is a proud sponsor of the [AlmaLinux OS Foundation](https://almalinux.org/) and the [Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation](https://rockylinux.org/sponsors/). _Red Hat and CentOS are trademarks or registered trademarks of Red Hat, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Red Hat or the CentOS Project._