Recent changes in BlueXP workload factory
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Learn about the most recent changes to the workloads that are part of BlueXP workload factory.
2025-03-03
Database workloads
PostgreSQL high-availability configuration
You can now deploy a high-availability (HA) configuration for PostgreSQL server.
Terraform support for PostgreSQL server creation
You can now use Terraform from the Codebox to deploy PostgreSQL.
Resiliency assessment for local snapshot schedule
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.
MAXDOP remediation for database workloads
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.
Email savings analysis report
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.
2025-03-02
Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP
Automatic capacity management improvements
When automatic capacity management is enabled, BlueXP workload factory now checks if a file system reached its capacity threshold every 30 minutes instead of every 2 hours.
The provisioned IOPS setting is no longer affected when capacity threshold is reached.
Immutable snapshots
Now you can lock snapshots, making them immutable, for a specific retention period. Locking prevents the unauthorized access and malicious deletions of snapshots. You can enable immutable snapshots during snapshot policy creation, when creating manual snapshots, and after snapshot creation.
Immutable files update
You can now make the following changes to your immutable files configuration: retention policy, retention period, autocommit period, and volume append mode.
Data replication enhancements
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Cross-account replication: Replication between two AWS accounts is supported in the BlueXP workload factory console as well as replication management.
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Pause and resume replication: You can pause (quiesce) scheduled replication updates from the source volume to the destination volume and then resume the replication schedule when you're ready. During the pause, source and destination volumes become independent, and the destination volume transitions from read-only to read-write.
CloudShell events in Tracker
Now you can track CloudShell events in Tracker.
VMware workloads
Amazon EC2 migration advisor improvements
This release of BlueXP workload factory for VMware features several improvements to the Amazon EC2 migration advisor experience:
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Estimated instance type: Migration advisor can now examine requirements of your environment and provide an estimated Amazon EC2 instance type for each VM. You can choose to include the estimated instance type for each VM during the Scope step of the migration advisor.
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Ability to recommend Amazon EBS volumes: The migration advisor can now recommend migrating data volumes to Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS) instead of Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP due to specific capacity or performance needs of a certain region.
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Enhanced filesystem auto assignment: Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP filesystem assignment has been improved to better optimize cost and minimize throughput.
GenAI workloads
Embedded chatbot enhancements
You can now copy questions and responses directly to the clipboard, adjust the size of the chat window, and change its title. Additionally, chat responses can now include tables, which are also copyable.
Chat response citation support
Chat responses now include citations that list the files and chunks of data that were used to generate the response.
Enhanced file type support
This release of GenAI provides enhanced file support:
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Chat models feature improved CSV support. This enables more useful responses when querying data from CSV files.
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GenAI can now ingest Apache Parquet files from data sources.
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GenAI now supports ingesting Microsoft Word DOCX files that include images.
2025-02-03
Database workloads
On-premises database environments cost analysis and migration planning
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.
New optimization assessments for Databases
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.
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Receive side scaling (RSS) configuration: checks if the RSS configuration is enabled and if the number of queues is set to the recommended value. The assessment also provides recommendations to optimize the RSS configuration.
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Maximum Degree of Parallelism (MAXDOP) server configuration: The assessment checks if MAXDOP is configured correctly and provides recommendations to optimize performance.
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Microsoft SQL Server patches: The assessment checks if the latest patches are installed on the SQL Server instances and provides recommendations to install the latest patches.
2025-02-02
Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP
CloudShell in BlueXP workload factory console
CloudShell is an embedded CLI capability available within BlueXP workload factory for Storage. You can use CloudShell to create, share, and execute ONTAP or AWS CLI commands from multiple sessions in a shell-like environment from within the workload factory console.
Inventory data download
You can now download FSx for ONTAP inventory data into an Microsoft Excel or CSV file from Storage in BlueXP workload factory.
FSx for ONTAP file system additional menu options
We've made it simpler to do the following for an FSx for ONTAP file system from the FSx for ONTAP tab in Storage.
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Create a storage VM
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Create a volume
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Replicate volume data
Terraform support for creating volumes
You can now use Terraform from the Codebox to create volumes.
File locking with the immutable files feature
You can now lock files using the immutable files feature when you create a volume for an FSx for ONTAP file system. File locking helps you and others prevent accidental or intentional file deletion for a specified period.
Tracker available for monitoring and tracking operations
Tracker, a new monitoring capability is available in Storage. You can use Tracker to monitor and track the progress and status of credentials, storage, and link operations, review details for operation tasks and subtasks, diagnose any issues or failures, edit parameters for failed operations, and retry failed operations.
Support for second-generation Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP file systems
You can now use Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP second-generation file systems in BlueXP workload factory. FSx for ONTAP second-generation Single-AZ file systems are powered by up to 12 HA pairs which can deliver up to 72 GBps of throughput capacity and 2,400,000 SSD IOPS. FSx for ONTAP second-generation Multi-AZ file systems are powered by one HA pair and deliver 6 GBps of throughput capacity and 200,000 SSD IOPS.
GenAI workloads
Support for Amazon Nova foundation models
GenAI now supports the Amazon Nova foundation models. Amazon Nova Micro, Amazon Nova Lite, and Amazon Nova Pro are supported.
File type filtering for data sources
GenAI now supports selecting specific file types to include in the data source scan when you add a data source.
File modification date filtering for data sources
GenAI now supports filtering files to include in the data source scan by modification date when you add a data source. You can choose a modification date range for the included files.
Support for image files and enhanced support for PDF files
GenAI now supports scanning image files and images within PDF files (also known as multi-modal file support). If you choose image files, the text from the images is scanned into the data source and used as data. This capability includes images within PDF documents; if you include PDF file types, images within each PDF are scanned for text, and that text is included in the information from the data source.
Hybrid search and rerank support
GenAI now enhances the relevance of search results by using hybrid search and re-ranking the results. Hybrid search combines keyword searches with vector and semantic searching. The standard keyword search results are augmented with close matches and linguistic nuance, enhancing relevance. GenAI re-ranks the search results and only returns results with the highest relevance.
Setup and administration
CloudShell available in BlueXP workload factory console
CloudShell is available from anywhere in the BlueXP workload factory console. CloudShell allows you to use the AWS and ONTAP credentials that you've provided in your BlueXP account and execute AWS CLI commands or ONTAP CLI commands in a shell-like environment.
Permissions update for Databases
The following permission is now available in read mode for Databases: iam:SimulatePrincipalPolicy.
2025-01-22
Setup and administration
BlueXP workload factory permissions
You can now view the permissions that BlueXP workload factory uses to execute various operations starting from the discovery of your storage environments to deploying AWS resources such as file systems in Storage or knowledge bases for GenAI workloads. You can view IAM policies and permissions for Storage, Databases, VMware, and GenAI workloads.
2025-01-06
Database workloads
Databases Dashboard enhancements
A new design of the Dashboard includes the following graphics and enhancements:
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Host distribution graph shows the number of Microsoft SQL Server hosts and PostgreSQL hosts
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Instances distribution details include the total number of detected instances and the number of managed Microsoft SQL Server and PostgreSQL instances
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Databases distribution details include the total number of databases and the number of managed Microsoft SQL Server and PostgreSQL databases
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Optimization score and statuses for managed and online instances
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Optimization details for storage, compute, and application categories
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Optimization details for Microsoft SQL Server instance configurations like storage sizing, storage layout, ONTAP storage, compute, and applications
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Potential savings for database workloads running on Amazon Elastic Block Store and FSx for Windows File Server storage environments compared to Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP storage
New 'Completed with issues' status in Job monitoring
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.
Assessment and optimization for over-provisioned Microsoft SQL Server licenses
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.
2025-01-05
Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP
Volume CIFS share enhancements
The following enhancements are available for managing CIFS share for volumes in an Amazon FSx for ONTAP file system in BlueXP workload factory:
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Support for multiple CIFS shares on a volume
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The option to update users and groups at any time
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The option to update permissions for users and groups at any time
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CIFS share deletion
VMware workloads
Amazon EC2 migration advisor improvements
This release of BlueXP workload factory for VMware features several improvements to the migration advisor experience:
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Save or download a migration plan: You can now save or download a migration plan, and load the migration plan to populate the migration advisor. When you save a migration plan, the plan is saved with your workload factory account.
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Improved VM selection: BlueXP workload factory for VMware now supports filtering and searching the list of VMs that you want to include in your migration deployment.
GenAI workloads
Custom snapshot name
You can now provide a snapshot name for an ad-hoc snapshot.
Custom AI engine instance name
You can now give a custom name to the AI engine instance during deployment.
Rebuild corrupted or missing GenAI infrastructure
If your AI engine instance becomes corrupted or is somehow deleted, you can let workload factory rebuild it for you. Workload factory automatically reattaches your knowledge bases to the infrastructure after rebuilding is complete, so that they are ready to use.
Setup and administration
Support for service accounts in BlueXP workload factory
Service accounts are now supported in BlueXP workload factory. You can create service accounts to act as machine users that automate infrastructure operations.
2024-12-01
VMware workloads
Amazon EC2 migration advisor improvements
This release of BlueXP workload factory for VMware features several improvements to the migration advisor experience:
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Data collection: BlueXP workload factory for VMware supports the ability to collect data for a specific time period when you use the migration advisor.
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VM selection: BlueXP workload factory for VMware now supports selecting VMs that you want to include in your migration deployment.
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Quick vs. Advanced experience: When you use the migration advisor, you can now choose a quick migration experience, using RVtools, or the advanced experience, which uses the migration advisor data collector.