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

Contributors netapp-tonacki netapp-bcammett netapp-mwallis

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 Sign up and create an account for Workload Factory

Go to the Workload Factory console and sign up. Learn more about creating accounts.

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 or Automate 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 Capture your current VM configurations in your vSphere environment

You can use the Migration advisor VM collector script or RVTools to capture your current VM configurations in order to create a deployment plan. You can also import an existing deployment plan as a template and then modify any required attributes.

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.