AWS VMC - VMWare on Cloud

Migrating VMware workloads to AWS involves several considerations, including technical requirements, licensing, and the tools available for migration, you may referring the following:

1. Deciding Between AWS EC2 and VMware Cloud on AWS (VMC) Technical Reasons: • AWS EC2: o Ideal for cloud-native workloads or applications that can be re-architected to leverage AWS services. o Offers flexibility to use AWS-native services like Lambda, RDS, and S3. o Provides cost optimization through instance types tailored to specific workloads (e.g., compute-optimized, memory-optimized). o Requires re-platforming or re-architecting if the application is tightly coupled with VMware. • VMware Cloud on AWS (VMC): o Best for a "lift-and-shift" approach with minimal changes to the existing VMware environment. o Allows you to retain VMware tools and processes (e.g., vSphere, vSAN, NSX). o Simplifies hybrid cloud setups by extending on-premises VMware environments to AWS. o Suitable for workloads requiring high availability and disaster recovery using VMware tools. Licensing Requirements: • AWS EC2: o Licensing depends on the software you run on EC2 instances (e.g., Windows, Oracle). AWS offers Bring Your Own License (BYOL) options for certain software. o No VMware licensing costs. • VMC: o Requires VMware licensing, which can be more expensive than EC2. o VMware Cloud on AWS is managed by VMware, so licensing is bundled with the service.

2. Choosing Between AWS MGN and HCX for Migration AWS Application Migration Service (MGN): • Recommended for lift-and-shift migrations to AWS EC2. • Provides block-level replication and automated orchestration for minimal downtime. • Suitable for applications that don’t require VMware-specific features post-migration. VMware HCX: • Designed for VMware-to-VMware migrations, including on-premises to VMC. • Supports live migrations with minimal downtime. • Ideal for maintaining VMware environments and tools during and after migration. Decision tree: • Use MGN if migrating to AWS EC2 and you want to modernize workloads or reduce VMware dependency. • Use HCX if migrating to VMC and you need to retain VMware-specific features and tools.

3. Migrating from AWS VMC to AWS EC2 Key Considerations: • Tool Selection: AWS MGN can be used for this migration, as it supports moving workloads from VMware environments to EC2. • Data Conversion: Ensure VMware-specific configurations (e.g., vSAN, NSX) are adapted for AWS-native services. • Testing: Validate workloads on EC2 instances to ensure compatibility and performance. • Cost Analysis: Evaluate cost savings by eliminating VMware licensing and leveraging AWS-native services. Scenarios for Moving VMC Workloads to EC2: • To reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) by eliminating VMware licensing. • To leverage AWS-native services for scalability, performance, and innovation. • To simplify operations by transitioning to a fully AWS-native environment. Benefits of Moving to EC2: • Significant cost savings by removing the VMware layer. • Access to AWS-native services for advanced analytics, machine learning, and automation. • Improved scalability and global reach through AWS’s infrastructure.

In short: • Choose AWS EC2 for cost optimization and modernization; choose VMC for minimal disruption and hybrid cloud setups. • Use MGN for EC2 migrations and HCX for VMware-to-VMware migrations. • Migrating from VMC to EC2 can reduce costs and unlock AWS-native capabilities.