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Quick start for migrating to VMware Cloud on AWS using the VMware workloads migration advisor

Contributors netapp-mwallis netapp-tonacki netapp-bcammett

Get started with the VMware migration advisor to move your current infrastructure to VMware Cloud on AWS using Amazon FSx for ONTAP as external NFS datastores.

Before you get started, you should have an understanding of operational modes.

One Log in to Workload Factory

You'll need to set up an account with Workload Factory and log in using one of the console experiences.

Two Add AWS credentials and permissions to your account

You can use Workload Factory in Basic mode without adding credentials to access your AWS account. Adding AWS credentials to Workload Factory in either read-only or read/write mode gives your Workload Factory account the permissions needed to create and manage FSx for ONTAP file systems, and to deploy and manage workloads within VMware Cloud.

Three Upload VM inventory data

You can use the planning center to upload inventory details about your current VM environment. Use the data collector script, RVTools, or NetApp Data Infrastructure Insights to capture your current VM configuration and upload the data to the planning center.

Four Create a deployment plan using the VMware migration advisor

Launch the VMware migration advisor and select the VMs that you want to migrate to the new VMware Cloud on AWS infrastructure using an Amazon FSx for ONTAP file system as external NFS datastores. You can make some modifications before you save the plan.

Five Deploy the recommended FSx for ONTAP file system

Deploy the new FSx for ONTAP file system that will provide the datastores for your VMs in your VMware Cloud on AWS infrastructure.

Six Connect your FSx for ONTAP file systems to VMware Cloud on AWS

Your Software-Defined Data Center (SDDC) offers network options for connecting to the FSx for ONTAP file system by using the VPC Peering capability to extend network connectivity to the external NFS storage volumes.

Seven Migrate data from your old systems to your new FSx for ONTAP file systems

Use an external tool such as VMware HCX (Hybrid Cloud Extension) to move your data from your old virtual machine storage to the FSx for NetApp ONTAP volumes connected to your new virtual machines.