Lesson 1Data cataloging and normalization: building spreadsheets or CMDB entries, tagging strategy for migration prioritizationFind out how to organise servers, applications, and data into neat inventories or CMDBs. Master normalisation techniques, naming conventions, and tagging approaches that help with migration phases, tracking ownership, and managing things smoothly after moving to AWS.
Designing inventory spreadsheets and CMDB fieldsNormalizing application and system namingDefining ownership, criticality, and SLA attributesCreating AWS‑aligned tagging taxonomiesTagging for migration waves and prioritizationLesson 2Two discovery tools researched: AWS Application Discovery Service and VMware vRealize Network Insight — how to use each for inventory, dependency mapping, and export formatsGet into AWS Application Discovery Service and VMware Aria Operations for Networks. Learn how to set them up, collect data, map dependencies, and export in formats that work well with AWS Migration Hub and other planning tools.
Configuring AWS Application Discovery ServiceCollecting agentless and agent‑based ADS dataSetting up VMware Aria Operations for NetworksBuilding dependency maps and flow visualizationsExporting inventories to AWS Migration HubLesson 3Interview guide for stakeholders: app owners, DBAs, network, security, operations, business stakeholdersCreate a solid interview guide for tech and business teams. Discover the right questions to ask app owners, DBAs, network, security, and operations folks to uncover hidden links and migration hurdles.
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 schedulesGrasp storage and I/O details that shape your AWS setup. Document datastore types, performance specs, deduplication, and backup routines to pick the best EBS, EFS, or FSx choices and matching 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 to pull detailed server and VM info from VMware and guest OS. Capture CPU, memory, storage, OS versions, tools, and snapshots to enable proper sizing, compatibility checks, and smooth planning for 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 artifactsLesson 6Application and tier dependencies: web, app, DB processes, inter-host ports, service mapsIdentify and record app tiers and their connections across web, app, and database layers. Understand ports, protocols, and service maps needed to safely shift workloads to 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 pathsGo over current operational routines and runbooks that keep your on-premises workloads running well. Adapt backup, patching, deployment, and escalation steps into AWS landing zone requirements and operations.
Cataloging 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 balancersDocument your current network layout, covering VLANs, subnets, routing, and security. See how this guides AWS VPC design, connectivity choices, and security group plus NACL setups.
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 constraintsDocument and share assumptions clearly when discovery info is missing. Note sample loads, unavailable metrics, maintenance slots, and licensing limits to handle risks and set team 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 configurationUse scripts and hands-on methods to extract VMware and OS configs when tools fall short. Leverage PowerCLI, govc, vSphere APIs, and OS commands for reliable inventories and to check automated results.
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 windowsDive into database discovery across various engines and platforms. Record engine type, version, schema size, transaction rates, and replication to guide AWS database service picks and migration plans.
Cataloging 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 utilization, latency, throughput, peak patterns, retention windowsCollect and analyse usage and performance metrics for VMware workloads. Use CPU, memory, I/O, and latency data to size AWS instances right, plan storage, and spot peak and seasonal trends.
Identifying authoritative metric data sourcesCapturing CPU and memory utilization baselinesMeasuring disk IOPS, throughput, and latencyAnalyzing 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 prioritizationCheck out third-party tools like Cloudamize and Turbonomic. See their strengths for TCO analysis, sizing, and prioritising migrations, plus how to blend their outputs into AWS strategies.
Cloudamize capabilities and data collectionTurbonomic workload optimization featuresComparing sizing recommendations across toolsUsing tools for TCO and cost modelingExporting results into migration backlogsLesson 14Security and compliance artifacts: ACLs, firewall rules, encryption, logs, audit trails, identity storesInventory security and compliance items that impact migration. Record ACLs, firewall rules, encryption, logging, and identity stores to build secure AWS landing zones and control mappings.
Cataloging 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 approaches and sources for VMware setups. Compare agentless scans, hypervisor APIs, SNMP, logs, and interviews, then combine them into a reliable, checkable 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
