Lesson 1Data cataloging and normalization: building spreadsheets or CMDB entries, tagging strategy for migration prioritizationFind out how to list servers, applications, and data into organised lists or CMDBs. Learn about standardising, naming, and tagging methods that help with migration stages, tracking owners, and managing things 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 formatsLook into AWS Application Discovery Service and VMware Aria Operations for Networks. Learn how to set up, gather data, map dependencies, and export formats to feed into 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 proper interview guide for technical and business people involved. Learn the right questions to ask app owners, DBAs, network, security, and operations teams to find hidden links and migration limits.
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 features that affect AWS design. Learn to record datastore types, performance details, deduplication, and backup times to pick good EBS, EFS, or FSx options and rules.
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 gather detailed server and VM lists from VMware and guest OSs. Capture CPU, memory, storage, OS versions, tools, and snapshots to help with right-sizing, checking compatibility, and planning migration 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 artifactsLesson 6Application and tier dependencies: web, app, DB processes, inter-host ports, service mapsLearn how to find and record application layers and their links across web, application, and database parts. Understand ports, protocols, and service maps needed to safely move 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 pathsCheck existing daily operation procedures and guides that keep workloads running on-premises. Turn backup, patching, deployment, and escalation methods into needs and limits for AWS landing zones 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 balancersUnderstand how to record current network setup, including VLANs, subnets, routing, and security layers. Learn how this info helps with AWS VPC design, connection options, and security group and NACL plans.
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 record and share assumptions when discovery info is not complete. Note sample loads, missing metrics, maintenance times, and licensing limits to handle risks and expectations from stakeholders.
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 hands-on methods to pull VMware and OS setups when tools are few. Use PowerCLI, govc, vSphere APIs, and OS commands to make solid lists and 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 windowsFocus on database discovery details across types 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 windowsLearn how to gather and understand usage and performance data for VMware workloads. Use CPU, memory, I/O, and latency info to right-size AWS instances, plan storage performance, and know peak and seasonal patterns.
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 third-party discovery and optimisation tools like Cloudamize and Turbonomic. Understand their strong points for TCO analysis, sizing, and migration prioritisation, and how to fit their outputs into AWS plans.
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 storesFind out how to list security and compliance items that affect migration. Record ACLs, firewall rules, encryption, logging, and identity stores to design 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 methods and sources for VMware setups. Compare agentless scans, hypervisor APIs, SNMP, logs, and interviews, and learn how to mix them into a repeatable, checkable 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
