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Learn about NetApp Workload Factory for Databases

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NetApp Workload Factory for Databases is an end-to-end database deployment and maintenance service with built-in best practices for optimization, automatic thin cloning, and monitoring and resolution capabilities.

What is NetApp Workload Factory for Databases?

NetApp Workload Factory for Databases discovers, assesses, plans, provisions, and moves Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, and Oracle data to Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP (FSx for ONTAP) deployments optimized to meet your performance and cost expectations while adhering to industry best practices. NetApp Workload Factory for Databases continuously optimizes and manages databases on FSx for ONTAP.

For more information about Workload Factory, refer to the Workload Factory overview.

Workload Factory benefits for self-managed databases

Workload Factory provides best practices and automation for self-managed databases.

Best practices

  • Integrated knowledge from AWS Cloud, Microsoft Windows and SQL servers, and NetApp ONTAP for SQL server deployments on EC2 instances.

  • Total cost of ownership optimized deployment.

  • End-to-end deployment automation that follows AWS, Microsoft and ONTAP best practices.

  • Quick create deployment mode helps you avoid potential pitfalls with manual configuration.

Automation with Workload Factory Codebox

Workload Factory introduces built-in automation with the Codebox. The Codebox offers the following automation benefits:

  • Code snippet generation: Workload Factory generates Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) snippets during resource creation, allowing seamless integration with existing orchestration workflows.

  • Infrastructure-as-code co-pilot: the Codebox is an Infrastructure-as-code (IaC) co-pilot that helps developers and DevOps generate code to execute any operation supported by Workload Factory.

  • Code viewer and automation catalog: the Codebox provides a code viewer for quick analysis of automation and an automation catalog for quick future re-use.

Workload Factory for Databases features

Workload Factory for Databases offers the following features:

  • Cost estimation: assess potential cost savings with the Savings calculator that estimates and details storage, compute, SQL licensing, snapshot, and clone itemized costs for existing Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle deployments with Elastic Block Store, FSx for Windows File Server, and on-premises compared to FSx for ONTAP.

  • Simple, fast deployments: simplify and streamline host, database, and sandbox provisioning with built-in NetApp, Microsoft, and Amazon best practices that eliminate manual configuration complexity for Microsoft SQL Server and PostgreSQL instances on AWS.

    • Deploy from the Workload Factory console using Quick or Advanced create modes, or create, reuse, and customize AWS CloudFormation templates through the Codebox for future deployments across multiple environments.

    • Create on-demand, isolated databases with storage configurations and sandbox clones that can be used for testing, integration, diagnostics, and training, without affecting production data.

  • Well-architected assessment feature: continuously scan your Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle estates for a comprehensive report of insights, opportunities, and recommendations to help you achieve operational excellence, security, reliability, performance efficiency, and cost optimization based on AWS best practices.

  • Error analysis: analyze and troubleshoot log errors with the AI analyzer to get detailed error messages, troubleshooting steps, and recommendations to resolve issues.

  • Centralized management: manage your Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, and PostgreSQL resources on FSx for ONTAP from one place. In Workload Factory, view attached infrastructure, AWS accounts, credentials, connected FSx for ONTAP file systems, storage use including NFS volumes and iSCSI LUNs, protection status, performance, well-architected status, and error analysis.

Benefits of Amazon FSx for ONTAP for self-managed databases

  • Durability, availability, and reliability: FSx for ONTAP offers multiple features that enhance the durability and availability of self-managed databases hosted on FSx for ONTAP, such as high availability supporting Single and Multiple Availability Zones deployments, application-aware snapshots, improved disaster recovery using replication, and efficient backup.

  • Performance and scalability: FSx for ONTAP offers performance optimization with high throughput, low latency, high-speed network connections, and scalability with multiple file systems for scaling aggregate performance required for a workload.

  • Data management and efficiency: FSx for ONTAP offers multiple features that enhance data management and efficiency, such as space efficient thin clones, thin provisioning, compression and deduplication, and tiering infrequently accessed data to the capacity pool.

Learn about FSx for ONTAP for Workload Factory.

Tools to use NetApp Workload Factory

You can use NetApp Workload Factory with the following tools:

  • Workload Factory console: The Workload Factory console provides a visual, holistic view of your applications and projects.

  • NetApp Console: The NetApp Console provides a hybrid interface experience so that you can use Workload Factory along with other NetApp data services.

  • Ask me: Use the Ask me AI assistant to ask questions and learn more about Workload Factory without leaving the Workload Factory console. Access Ask me from the Workload Factory help menu.

  • CloudShell CLI: Workload Factory includes a CloudShell CLI to manage and operate AWS and NetApp environments across accounts from a single, browser-based CLI. Access CloudShell from the top bar of the Workload Factory console.

  • REST API: Use the Workload Factory REST APIs to deploy and manage your FSx for ONTAP file systems and other AWS resources.

  • CloudFormation: Use AWS CloudFormation code to perform the actions you defined in the Workload Factory console to model, provision, and manage AWS and third-party resources from the CloudFormation stack in your AWS account.

  • Terraform NetApp Workload Factory provider: Use Terraform to build and manage infrastructure workflows generated in the Workload Factory console.

Supported configurations

You can use Workload Factory with the following database engines, versions, operating systems, and deployment models, following AWS, NetApp ONTAP, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, and PostgreSQL best practices.

Engine Version Operating System Deployment Model

Microsoft SQL Server

SQL Server 2016

Windows Server 2016

FCI, Standalone

Microsoft SQL Server

SQL Server 2019

Windows Server 2016

FCI, Standalone

Microsoft SQL Server

SQL Server 2022

Windows Server 2016

FCI, Standalone

Microsoft SQL Server

SQL Server 2016

Windows Server 2019

FCI, Standalone

Microsoft SQL Server

SQL Server 2019

Windows Server 2019

FCI, Standalone

Microsoft SQL Server

SQL Server 2022

Windows Server 2019

FCI, Standalone

Microsoft SQL Server

SQL Server 2016

Windows Server 2022

FCI, Standalone

Microsoft SQL Server

SQL Server 2019

Windows Server 2022

FCI, Standalone

Microsoft SQL Server

SQL Server 2022

Windows Server 2022

FCI, Standalone

Microsoft SQL Server

SQL Server 2017

Any

FCI, Standalone

Microsoft SQL Server

SQL Server 2016, 2017,2019, 2022

Any

FCI, Standalone

Microsoft SQL Server

SQL Server 2016, 2017,2019, 2022

Any

Always On availability group

Oracle

19c

RHEL, SuSe Linux

Standalone (Single/Multi tenant)

Oracle

21c

RHEL, SuSe Linux

Standalone (Single/Multi tenant)

Oracle

19c

RHEL, SuSe Linux

Standalone (Single/Multi tenant)

Oracle

21c

RHEL, SuSe Linux

Standalone (Single/Multi tenant)

Oracle

19c

RHEL, SuSe Linux

Standalone with ASM (Single/Multi tenant)

Oracle

21c

RHEL, SuSe Linux

Standalone with ASM (Single/Multi tenant)

Oracle

19c, 21c

RHEL, SuSe Linux

Data Guard

PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL 15

Amazon Linux 2023 AMI

HA, Standalone instance

PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL 16

Amazon Linux 2023 AMI

HA, Standalone instance

Integrated AWS services

Databases include the following integrated AWS services:

  • CloudFormation

  • Simple Notification Service

  • CloudWatch

  • Systems Manager

  • Secrets Manager

Regions

Databases is supported in all commercial regions where FSx for ONTAP is supported. View supported Amazon regions.

The following AWS regions aren't supported:

  • China regions

  • GovCloud (US) regions

  • Secret Cloud

  • Top Secret Cloud

Getting help

Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP is an AWS first-party solution. For questions or technical support issues associated with your FSx for ONTAP file system, infrastructure, or any solution using this service, use the Support Center in your AWS Management Console to open a support case with AWS. Select the “FSx for ONTAP” service and appropriate category. Provide the remaining information required to create your AWS support case.

For general questions about Workload Factory or Workload Factory applications and services, refer to Get help for NetApp Workload Factory for Databases.