AWS gives you a number of benefits that make it the preferred choice. Migrating your on-premises VMware workloads to AWS allows you to scale faster, reduce hardware maintenance, and increase availability. AWS also provides several tools to help with this, including AWS Application Migration Service (MGN), which automates lift-and-shift migrations.
This guide will walk you through the exact steps to migrate a VMware-based virtual machine to AWS.
How to migrate VMware to AWS
Step 1: Set up AWS Application Migration Service
Log in to the AWS Management Console, search for and open the AWS Application Migration Service. Here, choose your preferred region and click on Get started when you land on the dashboard.
Step 2: Install the replication agent on the VMware VM
In the MGN dashboard, click Add servers and provide your source server details (e.g., OS type, IP address).
Now, download the AWS Replication Agent installer and copy it to the VMware VM you want to migrate. Once done, run the following command on the VM:
sudo ./aws-replication-agent-installer --region us-east-1 --account-id <your-AWS-account-ID>
This prompts the agent to replicate the VM to AWS and it starts to do so in the background.
Step 3: Configure replication settings
In the MGN dashboard, navigate to Source servers and select the VM you have added. Now, click Edit replication settings and choose your default subnet, instance type, and volume type. Then, save the changes.
Step 4: Launch test instances
Select the VM under Source servers and click on Launch test instances. AWS creates a test EC2 instance using the replicated image. You can then validate that the server boots and works correctly.
Step 5: Launch the migrated instance
Once you're satisfied with testing, select the VM and click Launch cutover instances. This creates your production EC2 instance from the replicated image.
Step 6: Decommission old servers
After successful migration and testing, you must shut down or remove the original VMware VM and update DNS settings or application endpoints to point to the new AWS instance.
FAQ
What is AWS Application Migration Service (MGN)?
AWS Application Migration Service is a fully managed service that helps you rehost (lift-and-shift) on-premise workloads — like those running on VMware — to AWS with minimal downtime.
Do I need to shut down my VMware VM during migration?
No. The replication process runs in the background, and you can launch test instances before cutting over to minimize downtime.
Is there a cost for using MGN?
AWS MGN is free for 90 days per migrated server. After that, standard EC2, storage, and network charges apply.
Can I migrate multiple VMs at once?
Yes. You can install the replication agent on multiple VMs and manage them all through the Application Migration Service dashboard.
