VMware ESXI to AWS migration

Migrating a Windows Server 2012 virtual machine from VMware ESXi to AWS can be accomplished using several different methods. AWS provides tools and services specifically designed to facilitate the migration of on-premises workloads to the cloud. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can proceed:

1. Assess the Environment Before starting the migration, it's important to assess your current VMware environment and the Windows Server 2012 VM to understand dependencies, required resources, and potential challenges.

2. Choose the Right AWS Tool

For VMware ESXi VMs, you can use the AWS Server Migration Service (SMS), which is designed to simplify server migration by automating the replication of live server volumes to AWS. https://aws.amazon.com/application-migration-service/

AWS Server Migration Service (SMS)

• 1. Setup AWS SMS: First, you need to set up the AWS SMS connector in your VMware environment. This involves deploying an SMS Connector as an OVA template directly into your ESXi environment.
• 2. Connect to AWS: Configure the SMS Connector to connect to your AWS account and region.
• 3. Replicate the VM: Start replicating the VMs. AWS SMS allows incremental replications, which means only changes to the VM after the initial replication will be sent to AWS, minimizing bandwidth usage and speeding up the process.
• 4. Launch on AWS: Once replication is complete, you can launch your replicated VMs as EC2 instances.

3. Prepare the Windows Server

• Update and Patch: Ensure your Windows Server is fully updated and patched before starting the migration.
• Install AWS Drivers: Install the necessary AWS drivers on the Windows server for better performance on the AWS platform.

4. Network Considerations

• Direct Connect: For large data transfers, consider using AWS Direct Connect for a more stable and consistent network connection between your on-premises data center and AWS.
• VPN: Alternatively, you can set up a VPN connection between your on-premises network and your VPC in AWS.

5. Migration Execution

• Test the Replication: Perform a test by creating an EC2 instance from the replicated VM to verify that everything runs correctly.
• Perform Final Sync: Before the final cut-over, perform a final synchronization to ensure all the latest data is updated.
• Switch Over to AWS: Redirect all traffic to the new AWS instance once you confirm the system works as expected.

6. Post-Migration

• Monitor Performance: After migration, monitor the performance of your applications and services to ensure they are running optimally.
• Decommission Old Servers: Once you've confirmed that everything is operating correctly on AWS, decommission the old VMs in your VMware ESXi environment to avoid unnecessary costs and management.

7. Documentation and Support

• AWS Documentation: Refer to AWS documentation for detailed steps and guidelines on using AWS SMS.
• AWS Support: If you encounter specific issues or have questions, AWS Support can provide guidance and troubleshooting assistance.

This approach will help you transition your VMware-hosted Windows Server 2012 to AWS with minimal disruption. It’s important to plan carefully and execute according to best practices to ensure a smooth migration.

Videos:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SpRpC2Ez9c
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rtsb9jzKiI
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB0sAR3aCb4

You can do this with AWS Application Migration Service. Server 2012 R2 is supported as per Supported operating systems

Overview at Migrate VMware virtual machines (VMs) to Amazon EC2 with the AWS Application Migration Service Replication Agent

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