AWS Application Migration Service (AWS MGN) is the primary recommended service for lift-and-shift migrations to AWS. It simplifies and expedites the migration of physical, virtual, and cloud-based servers to AWS by automatically converting source servers to run natively on AWS infrastructure.
Key …AWS Application Migration Service (AWS MGN) is the primary recommended service for lift-and-shift migrations to AWS. It simplifies and expedites the migration of physical, virtual, and cloud-based servers to AWS by automatically converting source servers to run natively on AWS infrastructure.
Key features include:
**Continuous Block-Level Replication**: AWS MGN continuously replicates source servers to AWS, maintaining data synchronization with minimal performance impact on production workloads. This ensures near-zero data loss during cutover.
**Automated Conversion**: The service automatically handles the complex process of converting server configurations, including boot loaders, network interfaces, and operating system components to be AWS-compatible.
**Non-Disruptive Testing**: You can launch test instances at any time to validate your migrated servers before the actual cutover, ensuring applications function correctly in AWS.
**Minimal Downtime**: Since replication is continuous, the actual cutover window is significantly reduced, typically to minutes rather than hours.
**Architecture Components**:
- Replication Agent: Installed on source servers to capture block-level changes
- Staging Area: Lightweight EC2 instances and EBS volumes that receive replicated data
- Conversion Server: Transforms replicated data into bootable AWS instances
**Migration Workflow**:
1. Install the AWS Replication Agent on source servers
2. Configure replication settings and launch templates
3. Monitor replication progress in the console
4. Conduct test launches to validate functionality
5. Perform cutover when ready
6. Finalize migration and decommission source servers
AWS MGN supports a wide range of operating systems and can migrate servers from any source infrastructure, including on-premises data centers, VMware, Hyper-V, and other cloud providers. It integrates with AWS Migration Hub for centralized tracking and supports post-migration modernization through integration with services like AWS Application Discovery Service and AWS Database Migration Service.
AWS Application Migration Service (AWS MGN) - Complete Guide
Why is AWS Application Migration Service Important?
AWS Application Migration Service (AWS MGN) is crucial for organizations undertaking cloud migration projects. It enables businesses to move their on-premises workloads to AWS quickly and cost-effectively with minimal downtime. For the AWS Solutions Architect Professional exam, understanding AWS MGN is essential because migration scenarios are frequently tested, and architects must recommend the most appropriate migration strategy for various use cases.
What is AWS Application Migration Service?
AWS Application Migration Service is the primary recommended service for lift-and-shift migrations to AWS. It replaces the legacy CloudEndure Migration service. Key characteristics include:
• Automated lift-and-shift solution that simplifies and expedites migration • Supports migration from physical servers, virtual machines, and cloud-based servers • Works with most operating systems including Windows and Linux • Converts source servers to run natively on AWS • Minimizes time-intensive and error-prone manual processes
How AWS Application Migration Service Works
Step 1: Install the AWS Replication Agent Install the lightweight agent on your source servers. This agent performs continuous block-level replication of your source disks to AWS.
Step 2: Continuous Data Replication The service continuously replicates your source servers to a staging area in your AWS account. This staging area uses low-cost Amazon EBS volumes and minimal EC2 instances.
Step 3: Testing Launch test instances to verify that your servers function properly in AWS. Testing does not interrupt ongoing replication.
Step 4: Cutover When ready, perform a cutover to launch your production instances. The cutover window is typically measured in minutes since data is already replicated.
Key Features to Remember
• Continuous replication - Near-zero RPO (Recovery Point Objective) • Non-disruptive testing - Test migrations at any time • Short cutover windows - Measured in minutes, not hours • Wide platform support - Physical, virtual, and cloud servers • Automated machine conversion - Handles OS and driver conversions automatically • Integration with AWS services - Works with AWS Migration Hub for tracking
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on AWS Application Migration Service
1. Recognize lift-and-shift scenarios - When a question describes migrating servers with minimal changes to the application, AWS MGN is likely the answer.
2. Minimal downtime requirement - AWS MGN provides continuous replication, making it ideal when questions emphasize reducing downtime during migration.
3. Large-scale migrations - For questions involving hundreds or thousands of servers, AWS MGN combined with AWS Migration Hub is the recommended approach.
4. Compare with other services: - AWS DMS is for database migrations - AWS Snow Family is for offline data transfer - AWS MGN is for server/application lift-and-shift
5. Staging area costs - Remember that replication uses low-cost resources in a staging area subnet, which helps with cost-efficiency questions.
6. Agent-based solution - Questions mentioning agent installation on source servers point toward AWS MGN.
7. Post-migration modernization - AWS MGN handles the initial migration; modernization activities like containerization come afterward.
8. Look for keywords: rehost, lift-and-shift, server migration, continuous replication, minimal downtime, and large-scale migration all suggest AWS MGN.
9. Integration questions - AWS MGN integrates with AWS Migration Hub, CloudWatch, and CloudTrail for monitoring and auditing.
10. Elimination strategy - If the question involves modifying application code or architecture during migration, AWS MGN is probably not the correct answer since it focuses on rehosting, not refactoring.