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Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight VS HortonWorks Data Platform

Compare Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight VS HortonWorks Data Platform and see what are their differences

Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight logo Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight

This article provides an introduction to Spark in HDInsight and the different scenarios in which you can use Spark cluster in HDInsight.

HortonWorks Data Platform logo HortonWorks Data Platform

The Hortonworks Data Platform is a 100% open source distribution of Apache Hadoop that is truly...
  • Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-17
  • HortonWorks Data Platform Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-28

Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight features and specs

  • Scalability
    Apache Spark on Azure HDInsight can easily scale to handle large datasets by distributing data across multiple nodes, making it suitable for big data processing.
  • Integration with other Azure Services
    Apache Spark on Azure HDInsight seamlessly integrates with other Azure services like Azure Blob Storage, Azure SQL Database, and Power BI, enhancing its capabilities within the Azure ecosystem.
  • Real-time Data Processing
    Spark supports real-time data analytics, enabling faster processing using features such as Spark Streaming to handle data as it arrives.
  • Ease of Use
    HDInsight's managed Spark service simplifies cluster creation, configuration, and management, allowing users to focus more on data analysis rather than infrastructure.
  • Support for Multiple Languages
    Spark supports various programming languages such as Scala, Java, Python, and R, providing flexibility in how users can write their processing logic.

Possible disadvantages of Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight

  • Complexity in Tuning
    Despite its power, Spark can be complex to tune and optimize, which may require significant expertise to achieve optimal performance.
  • Cost
    Running Apache Spark on Azure HDInsight can become expensive, especially with large-scale deployments and continuous operations, requiring careful cost management.
  • Resource Management
    Efficient resource management can be challenging as Spark requires careful allocation of memory and CPU to ensure optimal job execution and performance.
  • Learning Curve
    For users new to big data technologies or the Spark ecosystem, there can be a steep learning curve associated with understanding and effectively using Spark on HDInsight.
  • Dependency on Azure
    While integration with Azure services is a pro, it also means a strong dependency on the Azure platform, which might not be ideal for organizations looking to remain cloud-agnostic.

HortonWorks Data Platform features and specs

  • Open Source Foundation
    HortonWorks Data Platform (HDP) is built entirely on open-source technologies, allowing for greater community support, flexibility, and transparency in its development and deployment.
  • Enterprise-Grade Security
    HDP offers robust security features, including authentication, authorization, auditing, and data protection, which are critical for managing sensitive data in enterprise environments.
  • Scalability
    The platform can handle large volumes of data, making it suitable for enterprises that require scalable solutions to manage their big data demands.
  • Comprehensive Ecosystem
    HortonWorks provides a comprehensive suite of tools and integrations, including Apache Hadoop, Hive, HBase, and others, enabling diverse data processing and analytics capabilities.

Possible disadvantages of HortonWorks Data Platform

  • Complexity
    The platform's extensive set of features and integrations can be complex to configure and manage, especially for organizations without dedicated data engineering teams.
  • Resource Intensiveness
    Running HDP can be resource-intensive, requiring significant hardware and infrastructure investments, which might be a barrier for smaller organizations.
  • Learning Curve
    Due to its complexity and the breadth of technologies involved, there is a steep learning curve for new users or teams unfamiliar with the Hadoop ecosystem.
  • Support and Documentation
    While there is community support available due to its open-source nature, some users might find official support and comprehensive documentation lacking compared to proprietary solutions.

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HortonWorks Data Platform videos

Why You Need Hortonworks Data Platform 3.0

More videos:

  • Review - Hortonworks Data Platform 3.0 – Faster, Smarter, Hybrid Data

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight and HortonWorks Data Platform)
Big Data
32 32%
68% 68
Data Dashboard
23 23%
77% 77
Data Warehousing
40 40%
60% 60
Data Management
100 100%
0% 0

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, HortonWorks Data Platform seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight yet. Tracking of Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight recommendations started around Mar 2021.

HortonWorks Data Platform mentions (1)

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Apache Spark for Azure HDInsight and HortonWorks Data Platform, you can also consider the following products

Snowflake - Snowflake is the only data platform built for the cloud for all your data & all your users. Learn more about our purpose-built SQL cloud data warehouse.

Amazon EMR - Amazon Elastic MapReduce is a web service that makes it easy to quickly process vast amounts of data.

Google BigQuery - A fully managed data warehouse for large-scale data analytics.

Google Cloud Dataproc - Managed Apache Spark and Apache Hadoop service which is fast, easy to use, and low cost

Databricks - Databricks provides a Unified Analytics Platform that accelerates innovation by unifying data science, engineering and business.‎What is Apache Spark?

Qubole - Qubole delivers a self-service platform for big aata analytics built on Amazon, Microsoft and Google Clouds.