MGN - AMI in EC2 Launch Template

Question

In MGN User Guide -  https://docs.aws.amazon.com/mgn/latest/ug/ec2-considerations-1.html#detailed-considerations

For Launch Template settings ---> EC2 Launch Template setting for a Specific server

As per user guide

AMI – Customers do not typically choose a specific AMI to include in the launch template. If you edit the launch template to use an existing AMI, the contents of the AMI will not be used by AWS Application Migration Service. If the AMI is not configured properly (licensing, flags, and more), then this may prevent the test or cutover instance launched from booting correctly or from being properly licensed.

Does it mean we should not select any specific AMI when migrating the On-Prem server using MGN ?  Even in EC2 Instance recommendation  also AMI is not recommended in specific.  So we should set AMI as Donot Include in Launch template ?Then on which basis which AMI will be taken for the Host to be migrated ?

Answer

The selection of an Amazon Machine Image (AMI) in the Launch Template during migration depends on your licensing strategy in the AWS Cloud. There are two main options:
1. Bring Your Own License (BYOL):
        If you want to use your existing licenses (BYOL), you don't need to select an AMI in the Launch Template. In this case, the AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) uses a temporary AMI for the migration process.

2. AWS Included License (Pay-As-You-Go):
        If you prefer to use the AWS Included License (PAYG) model, you must select an AMI in the Launch Template based on the operating system version you are migrating. For example, if you are migrating Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 8.x from on-premises to AWS Cloud and want to use the AWS Included License, you need to select the corresponding RHEL 8.x AMI in the Launch Template.

You can refer blog to migrate RHEL instance from On-premises directly into AWS Included license with use of AMI in launch template.

https://docs.aws.amazon.com/prescriptive-guidance/latest/patterns/migrate-rhel-byol-systems-to-aws-license-included-instances-by-using-aws-mgn.html

Answer

Hi Team
Any response to this would be highly appreciated

MGN - AMI in EC2 Launch Template

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