The Agentic AI-powered error log analyzer is a new feature that leverages advanced machine learning algorithms to automatically detect and analyze errors in log files. This tool aims to streamline the troubleshooting process by providing developers with actionable insights and recommendations based on the patterns it identifies in the logs.

Learn more about the Agentic AI-powered error log analyzer

Workload factory includes support for Oracle databases. In the workload factory console, you can view your Oracle databases from the inventory, register databases to use advanced features in workload factory, and analyze Oracle databases for alignment with best practices using the well-architected feature. The well-architected analysis determines whether the storage configurations for Oracle databases are optimized. You can use this information to make informed decisions about your database deployments and ensure they are running efficiently.

Implement well-architected database configurations in workload factory

Workload factory supports Microsoft SQL Server deployments on second-generation FSx for ONTAP file systems. This enhancement allows you to leverage the latest features and performance improvements available in the second-generation file systems while managing your SQL Server workloads.

Authenticating Microsoft SQL Server instances with Windows credentials is embedded in the workflow to prepare Microsoft SQL Server hosts for protection with BlueXP backup and recovery. This used to be a prerequisite step to complete manually. Instead, you'll be prompted to share Windows credentials with administrative access if you haven't registered the hosts in workload factory using Windows credentials.

Learn how to protect Microsoft SQL Server workloads via the workload factory console.

The well-architected analysis assesses and fixes Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) misalignment across endpoints for Microsoft SQL Server on FSx for ONTAP storage. Aligning MTU settings helps to optimize network performance and reduce latency for SQL Server workloads.

Implement well-architected database configurations in workload factory

BlueXP backup and recovery enables you to back up, restore, verify, and clone Microsoft SQL Server databases and availability groups. From the workload factory console, you can access and use BlueXP backup and recovery to protect Microsoft SQL Server workloads.

Learn how to protect Microsoft SQL Server workloads via the workload factory console.

For details about BlueXP backup and recovery, refer to the Protect Microsoft SQL workloads overview with BlueXP backup and recovery.

The well-architected analysis now includes validation for high-availability clusters. This validation checks all cluster-related configurations from the server side, including disk availability and configuration on both nodes, Windows cluster configuration, and failover readiness. This ensures that the Windows cluster is properly set up and can successfully failover when needed.

Implement well-architected database configurations in workload factory

The workload factory console now includes a multi-level menu for instances. This change provides a more organized and intuitive navigation structure for managing instances. Menu options for instance management include viewing the instance dashboard, viewing databases, creating a database, and creating a sandbox clone.

When the NT Authority\SYSTEM user doesn't have sufficient permissions on the Microsoft SQL Server, you can authenticate with SQL Server credentials or add the missing SQL Server permissions to NT Authority\SYSTEM.

Explore potential savings for your database environments with Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP

The BlueXP workload factory notification service enables workload factory to send notifications to the BlueXP alerts service or to an Amazon SNS topic. Notifications sent to BlueXP alerts appear in the BlueXP alerts panel. When workload factory publishes notifications to an Amazon SNS topic, subscribers to the topic (such as people or other applications) receive the notifications at the endpoints configured for the topic (such as email or SMS messages).

Configure BlueXP workload factory notifications

Workload factory provides the following notifications for Databases:

Workload factory for Databases has improved its onboarding process for registering instances running on Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP storage. You can now select instances in bulk for registration. Once an instance is registered, you can create and manage database resources within the workload factory console.

Instance management

The well-architected status for your database instances now includes the analysis and the fix for the Microsoft Multipath I/O (MPIO) timeout setting. Setting the MPIO timeout to 60 seconds ensures FSx for ONTAP storage connectivity and stability during failovers. If the MPIO setting isn't set accordingly, workload factory will provide a fix to set the MPIO timeout value to 60 seconds.

Implement well-architected database configurations in workload factory

From the instance inventory screen, various resource utilization graphs like throughput and IOPS now display 7 days of data so that you can monitor performance of SQL nodes from the workload factory console more efficiently. The performance metrics gathered from the SQL nodes will be saved in Amazon CloudWatch which can be used for Logs Insights or integrating with other analytic services in your environment.

From the Instances and Databases tabs within the inventory, we've enhanced the description and visualization for protection.

Now workload factory supports SQL Server authentication using Windows authenticated users to register instances and benefit from management features.

Register instances in workload factory for Databases

You can now discover the instances that are running PostgreSQL server databases and Oracle database deployments in your AWS account within the workload factory console. Discovered instances will appear in the Databases inventory.

Previously called "Optimization", workload factory now uses "well-architected issues" and "well-architected status" to describe the analysis of database configurations and "fix" to describe remediation for opportunities to improve database configurations to meet best practice recommendations.

Configuration analysis for database environments in workload factory

Instead of "undetected", "unmanaged", or "managed" term usage for instance management, workload factory now uses "register" for onboarding instances. The new registration process includes authenticating and preparing instances so that you can create, monitor, analyze, and fix resources in your database configurations within the workload factory console. The preparation step in the registration process indicates whether your instances are ready for management.

Instance management

BlueXP workload factory for Databases automatically scans managed Microsoft SQL Server instances with FSx for ONTAP storage for potential configuration issues. Now in addition to the daily scan, you can scan at any time.

After you've explored savings for a Microsoft SQL server on-premises host, you have the option to remove the on-premises host record from BlueXP workload factory.

The workload factory user interface and documentation now use "read-only" to refer to read permissions and "read/write" to refer to automate permissions.

New optimization assessments, remediations, and the display of multiple resources are available when optimizing your database environments.

The Inventory tab in the workload factory console has been streamlined so that it contains only SQL servers running on Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP. Now you'll find SQL servers on-premises and running on Amazon Elastic Block Store and Amazon FSx for Windows File Server in the Explore savings tab.

You can use this fast deployment option to create a PostgreSQL server with HA configuration and embedded best practices.

Create a PostgreSQL server in BlueXP workload factory

You can now deploy a high-availability (HA) configuration for PostgreSQL server.

Create a PostgreSQL server

You can now use Terraform from the Codebox to deploy PostgreSQL.

A new resiliency assessment is available for database workloads. We assess if volumes for your Microsoft SQL Server instances have valid scheduled snapshot policies. Snapshots are point-in time copies of your data and help keep your database environments resilient in case of data loss.

Optimize configurations

BlueXP workload factory for Databases now supports remediation for the maximum degree of parallelism (MAXDOP) server configuration. When MAXDOP configuration is suboptimal, you can let BlueXP workload factory optimize the configuration for you.

Optimize configurations

When exploring savings for your Amazon Elastic Block Store and FSx for Windows File Server storage environments when compared with FSx for ONTAP, you can now send the recommendation report via email to yourself, team members, and customers.

BlueXP workload factory for Databases now detects, analyzes, and help you plan for on-premises database migration to Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP. You can use the savings calculator to estimate the cost of running your on-premises database environment in the cloud and review recommendations for migrating your on-premises database environment to the cloud.

Explore savings for on-premises database environments

The following assessments are now available in BlueXP workload factory for Databases. These assessments are focused on detecting and protecting against potential security vulnerabilities and detecting and alleviating performance bottlenecks.

Optimize configurations

A new design of the Dashboard includes the following graphics and enhancements:

The job monitoring feature for Databases now provides the new 'Completed with issues' status so that you can learn which sub jobs had issues and what the issues are.

Monitor your databases

The savings calculator now evaluates whether Enterprise edition is required for your Microsoft SQL Server deployment. If a license is over-provisioned, the calculator recommends downgrading. You'll be able to automatically downgrade the license in Databases by optimizing the application.

Databases now provides insights and recommendations to help you optimize compute resources for Microsoft SQL Server instances. We measure CPU utilization and leverage the AWS Compute Optimizer service to recommend optimal right-sized instance types and notify you of available operating system patches. Optimizing compute resources can help you make informed decisions about instance types, leading to cost savings and efficient resource utilization.

Optimize compute resource configurations

You can now deploy and manage standalone PostgreSQL server deployments in Databases.

Create a PostgreSQL server

BlueXP workload factory introduces continuous guidance and guardrails to ensure ongoing optimization and adherence to best practices for the storage component of your Microsoft SQL Server workloads on Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP. This feature continuously scans your Microsoft SQL Server estate offline, providing you with a comprehensive report of insights, opportunities, and recommendations to help you achieve peak performance, cost-efficiency, and compliance.

Optimize your SQL Server workloads

You can now use Terraform from the Codebox to deploy Microsoft SQL Server.

You can now explore savings of detected Microsoft SQL servers on Amazon EC2 with FSx for Windows File Server storage in the savings calculator. Depending on your SQL server and storage requirements, you might find that FSx for ONTAP storage is the most cost effective for your database workloads.

Explore savings with FSx for ONTAP for your database workloads

You can now customize configuration settings for Microsoft SQL server on Amazon EC2 with FSx for Windows File Server and Elastic Block Store storage in the savings calculator. Depending on your storage requirements, you might find that FSx for ONTAP storage is the most cost effective for your database workloads.

Explore savings with FSx for ONTAP for your database workloads

You can now navigate to the savings calculator from the workload factory console home page. Select from Elastic Block Store and FSx for Windows File Server to get started.

Explore savings with FSx for ONTAP for your database workloads

The initial release includes the capability to explore savings with Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP as the storage environment for your database workloads, detect, manage, and deploy Microsoft SQL Servers, deploy and clone databases, and monitor these jobs within workload factory.

Learn about Databases