Lesson 1Data cataloging and normalisation: building spreadsheets or CMDB entries, tagging strategy for migration prioritisationExplore how to catalogue servers, applications, and data into structured inventories or CMDBs. Learn normalisation, naming, and tagging strategies that support migration waves, ownership tracking, and post-migration governance in AWS.
Designing inventory spreadsheets and CMDB fieldsNormalising application and system namingDefining ownership, criticality, and SLA attributesCreating AWS-aligned tagging taxonomiesTagging for migration waves and prioritisationLesson 2Two discovery tools researched: AWS Application Discovery Service and VMware vRealize Network Insight — how to use each for inventory, dependency mapping, and export formatsDive into AWS Application Discovery Service and VMware Aria Operations for Networks. Learn setup, data collection, dependency mapping, and export formats to feed AWS Migration Hub and downstream planning tools.
Configuring AWS Application Discovery ServiceCollecting agentless and agent-based ADS dataSetting up VMware Aria Operations for NetworksBuilding dependency maps and flow visualisationsExporting inventories to AWS Migration HubLesson 3Interview guide for stakeholders: app owners, DBAs, network, security, operations, business stakeholdersDevelop a structured interview guide for technical and business stakeholders. Learn which questions to ask app owners, DBAs, network, security, and operations teams to uncover hidden dependencies and migration constraints.
Identifying key technical and business stakeholdersPreparing role-specific interview question setsRunning effective discovery workshops and sessionsValidating findings with follow-up interviewsDocumenting decisions, risks, and open issuesLesson 4Storage and I/O characteristics: datastore types, IOPS, throughput, shares, deduplication, backup schedulesUnderstand storage and I/O characteristics that influence AWS design. Learn to document datastore types, performance profiles, deduplication, and backup schedules to choose suitable EBS, EFS, or FSx options and policies.
Classifying datastore and array types in useMeasuring IOPS, throughput, and latency profilesIdentifying storage tiers, QoS, and share settingsDocumenting snapshots, backups, and retentionMapping storage needs to AWS storage servicesLesson 5Collecting server and VM inventory: CPU, memory, storage, OS versions, VM tools, snapshotsLearn how to collect detailed server and VM inventory from VMware and guest OSs. Capture CPU, memory, storage, OS versions, tools, and snapshots to support right-sizing, compatibility checks, and migration planning to AWS.
Gathering CPU, memory, and NUMA informationCapturing disk layout, datastore, and capacity dataRecording OS versions, editions, and patch levelsIdentifying VMware Tools status and versionsDetecting snapshots and orphaned VM artefactsLesson 6Application and tier dependencies: web, app, DB processes, inter-host ports, service mapsLearn how to identify and document application tiers and their dependencies across web, application, and database layers. Understand ports, protocols, and service maps required to safely re-platform workloads into AWS.
Identifying web, app, and database tiersDocumenting inter-tier ports and protocolsBuilding end-to-end service dependency mapsDetecting hidden batch jobs and background tasksCapturing external third-party service callsLesson 7Operational procedures and runbooks: backup/restore, patching, deployment, escalation pathsReview existing operational procedures and runbooks that keep workloads healthy on-premises. Translate backup, patching, deployment, and escalation practices into requirements and constraints for AWS landing zones and operations.
Cataloguing backup and restore proceduresDocumenting patching and maintenance workflowsCapturing deployment and release processesUnderstanding monitoring and alerting runbooksMapping escalation paths and on-call rotationsLesson 8Network topology and connectivity: VLANs, subnets, routing, firewalls, NAT, load balancersUnderstand how to document current network topology, including VLANs, subnets, routing, and security layers. Learn how this information informs AWS VPC design, connectivity options, and security group and NACL strategies.
Mapping VLANs, subnets, and IP address rangesDocumenting routing, VRFs, and default gatewaysCapturing firewall, NAT, and ACL configurationsIdentifying load balancers and VIP dependenciesRelating on-prem networks to AWS VPC designLesson 9Assumptions to state explicitly when gaps exist: sample load, unavailable metrics, maintenance windows, licensing constraintsLearn how to document and communicate assumptions when discovery data is incomplete. Capture sample loads, missing metrics, maintenance windows, and licensing constraints to manage risk and stakeholder expectations.
Identifying missing or unreliable data areasDefining traffic and load sampling assumptionsStating maintenance and outage window limitsCapturing licensing and support constraintsRecording risks and validation follow-upsLesson 10Scripts and manual techniques: PowerCLI, govc, vSphere API calls, Linux/Windows commands to collect configurationLearn scripts and manual techniques to extract VMware and OS configuration when tools are limited. Use PowerCLI, govc, vSphere APIs, and OS commands to build reliable inventories and validate automated outputs.
Using PowerCLI to export VM configurationLeveraging govc and vSphere REST APIsRunning Linux commands for system inventoryRunning Windows commands for system inventoryValidating manual data against tool outputsLesson 11Database specifics: engine, version, schema size, transaction rates, replication, maintenance windowsFocus on database-specific discovery across engines and platforms. Capture engine type, version, schema size, transaction rates, and replication to inform AWS database service choices and migration strategies.
Cataloguing database engines and versionsMeasuring schema size and growth trendsCapturing transaction and query rate metricsDocumenting replication and HA configurationsIdentifying maintenance and backup windowsLesson 12Usage and performance metrics: CPU/memory utilisation, latency, throughput, peak patterns, retention windowsLearn how to collect and interpret usage and performance metrics for VMware workloads. Use CPU, memory, I/O, and latency data to right-size AWS instances, plan storage performance, and understand peak and seasonal patterns.
Identifying authoritative metric data sourcesCapturing CPU and memory utilisation baselinesMeasuring disk IOPS, throughput, and latencyAnalysing network throughput and connection countsDetecting peaks, seasonality, and retention needsLesson 13Third-party tool options overview: Cloudamize and Turbonomic use cases for TCO, sizing, and migration prioritisationReview third-party discovery and optimisation tools such as Cloudamize and Turbonomic. Understand their strengths for TCO analysis, sizing, and migration prioritisation, and how to integrate outputs into AWS plans.
Cloudamize capabilities and data collectionTurbonomic workload optimisation featuresComparing sizing recommendations across toolsUsing tools for TCO and cost modellingExporting results into migration backlogsLesson 14Security and compliance artefacts: ACLs, firewall rules, encryption, logs, audit trails, identity storesDiscover how to inventory security and compliance artefacts that affect migration. Document ACLs, firewall rules, encryption, logging, and identity stores to design secure AWS landing zones and control mappings.
Cataloguing firewall rules and security zonesDocumenting ACLs, security groups, and NACLsIdentifying encryption methods and key custodyReviewing logging, SIEM, and audit requirementsMapping identity stores and access modelsLesson 15Discovery methods and evidence sources: agentless queries, hypervisor APIs, SNMP, syslogs, perf counters, interviewsExplore discovery methods and evidence sources for VMware environments. Compare agentless scans, hypervisor APIs, SNMP, logs, and interviews, and learn how to combine them into a repeatable, auditable discovery process.
Using vCenter and hypervisor API integrationsLeveraging agentless OS and network scansCollecting SNMP, syslog, and perf counter dataCorrelating logs with configuration evidenceCombining automated discovery with interviews
