Title

AWS re:Invent 2023 - Migrations in action with VMware Cloud on AWS (ENT235)

Summary

• David Pyatt and Sean Lambert, both Solutions Architects at AWS, presented a session on migrating workloads using VMware Cloud on AWS.
• VMware Cloud on AWS includes vSphere, vSAN, and NSX out-of-the-box, and supports hybrid linked mode for managing on-premises and cloud workloads.
• VMware ARIA (formerly vRealize) and PowerShell scripts are compatible with VMware Cloud on AWS.
• VMware Cloud on AWS integrates with other AWS services, allowing for communication between VMware-based VMs and AWS services like EC2, S3, and RDS.
• HCX (Hybrid Cloud Extension) is a VMware tool included for migrating VMs, supporting various migration modes including bulk migration, which can move up to 200 VMs simultaneously.
• HCX works with on-premises vSphere versions 6, 7, and 8, and allows bidirectional migrations between on-premises and cloud SDDCs.
• The demo showcased a live migration using HCX, including setting up a site pair, deploying an interconnect, and executing different types of migrations (vMotion, bulk migration, replication-assisted vMotion).
• HCX provides transport analytics, migration profiles, and allows for custom attributes and maintenance tasks during migration.
• A layer two extension was demonstrated, showing uninterrupted pinging of a VM during its migration from Oregon to Northern California.
• HCX leaves a copy of the VM at the source site post-migration as a fail-safe.
• The session concluded with a Q&A on migrations and best practices for moving VMware workloads at scale.

Insights

• VMware Cloud on AWS simplifies the migration process by providing familiar VMware tools and integrating them with AWS's global infrastructure, which can be a significant advantage for organizations with existing VMware workloads.
• The ability to perform bulk migrations with HCX is particularly beneficial for organizations looking to migrate large numbers of VMs efficiently, as it allows for parallel migrations rather than the serial approach of traditional vSphere vMotion.
• HCX's replication-assisted vMotion is useful for migrating large VMs with significant data, as it allows for seeding and replication ahead of a planned cutover window, minimizing downtime.
• The demonstration of a live migration without dropping a packet illustrates the robustness of HCX and its network extension capabilities, which is critical for maintaining application performance during migrations.
• The session highlighted the importance of planning and grouping migrations based on the criticality of workloads, suggesting that business-critical VMs might be better suited for vMotion, while lower-tier workloads could be migrated using bulk migration.
• The fail-safe feature of leaving a copy of the VM at the source site post-migration provides an additional layer of security for organizations concerned about migration risks.
• The session's focus on real-time demonstrations and practical examples of migrations provides attendees with a clearer understanding of the process and capabilities of VMware Cloud on AWS, which can help in planning their own migration strategies.