How to Start and Conduct an Azure Migrate Assessment?

Question

Hello Azure Community,

I am working on migrating my client's on-premises infrastructure to Azure and need to start the assessment phase using Azure Migrate. Can someone guide me on how to initiate the assessment and outline the key steps involved in the process?

Specific Questions:

1. How do I begin the Azure Migrate assessment?
2. What are the main steps and best practices for conducting the assessment?

Any tips or insights would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

Answer 1

Hello @Anudeep Rallapalli Thank you for contacting us through Microsoft Q&A platform. Happy to help!

Migrating on-premises infrastructure to Azure using Azure Migrate involves a series of well-defined steps to assess your current environment, plan the migration, and execute it. Here’s a guide to initiating and conducting the assessment phase using Azure Migrate:

1. Initiate the Azure Migrate Assessment

Step 1: Set Up Azure Migrate Project

Sign in to Azure Portal: Go to the Azure Portal.

Create Azure Migrate Project:

• Search for "Azure Migrate" in the search bar and select "Azure Migrate".
  • Click on "Create project".
    • Provide a name for your project, select the Subscription and Resource Group, and choose the Region where the project will be located.
      • Click "Create" to set up the Azure Migrate project.

Step 2: Download and Deploy Azure Migrate Appliances

Download Azure Migrate Appliances:

• From the Azure Migrate project dashboard, select "Discover".
  • Choose "Download appliances" to get the Azure Migrate appliance that will collect data from your on-premises environment.
  Deploy the Appliance:

  - Install the Azure Migrate appliance on a virtual machine (VM) in your on-premises environment. This VM should be able to communicate with the resources you want to assess.
  
     - Follow the [Azure Migrate appliance installation guide](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/activate-appliance) to complete the setup.
  
     **Configure the Appliance**:
  
        - After installation, configure the appliance by following the instructions provided in the Azure Migrate project. This involves connecting the appliance to your Azure Migrate project and starting the discovery process.
  

Step 3: Start Discovery

Configure Discovery Settings:

• In the Azure Migrate project, configure the discovery settings for your on-premises infrastructure. This includes specifying what to discover (e.g., servers, applications) and any credentials needed.

Run Discovery:

  - Initiate the discovery process from the Azure Migrate project dashboard. The appliance will start collecting data about your on-premises environment, including performance metrics, dependencies, and configurations.
  

2. Conduct the Assessment

Step 1: Review Collected Data

Data Collection:

• Once the discovery is complete, Azure Migrate will present the collected data in the Azure Migrate portal. This data includes information on on-premises servers, applications, and their dependencies.

Analyze Discovery Results:

  - Review the discovered inventory to ensure completeness and accuracy. Address any issues or gaps in the data collection.
  

Step 2: Configure Assessment Settings

Select Assessment Type:

• In the Azure Migrate project, go to the "Assess" tab.
  • Choose the assessment type you need: "Server Assessment" or "Database Assessment", depending on what you are migrating.
  Configure Assessment Parameters:

  - Set parameters such as **cost estimation**, **performance sizing**, and **recommendations** based on your specific requirements and criteria.
  

Step 3: Run the Assessment

Start the Assessment:

• Initiate the assessment from the Azure Migrate project dashboard. The tool will analyze the collected data and provide insights into how your on-premises workloads will perform and cost in Azure.

Review Assessment Results:

  - Once the assessment is complete, review the results. This will include:
  
        - **Compatibility**: Assess whether your workloads are compatible with Azure.
        
              - **Sizing**: Recommendations on the Azure VM sizes or configurations.
              
                    - **Cost Estimates**: Estimated costs for running your workloads in Azure.
                    
                          - **Migration Readiness**: Insights into any potential issues or considerations.
                          

Step 4: Plan Migration

Review Recommendations:

• Based on the assessment results, develop a migration plan. This plan should address any compatibility issues, optimize resource sizing, and estimate costs.

Prepare for Migration:

  - Start preparing your on-premises environment for migration based on the assessment insights. This might include adjustments to configurations or addressing any discovered issues.
  

Best Practices for Conducting the Assessment

1. Thorough Discovery:
   • Ensure all relevant resources and dependencies are discovered. This includes servers, applications, databases, and network configurations.
2. Accurate Data Collection:
   • Verify that the data collected by the Azure Migrate appliance is accurate and complete. This will impact the quality of the assessment results.
3. Involve Key Stakeholders:
   • Engage with stakeholders from different teams (e.g., network, application, database) to ensure all aspects of your environment are assessed.
4. Consider Performance and Cost:
   • Use the performance sizing and cost estimation features to make informed decisions about resource sizing and budgeting.
5. Review Compatibility and Recommendations:
   • Pay close attention to compatibility issues and recommendations provided by the assessment to address any potential migration challenges.
6. Plan for Optimization:
   • Use the assessment insights to optimize your Azure environment for cost and performance before migrating.

Source link: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/create-manage-projects

Hope this helps. If you encounter any specific issues or have further questions, feel free to reach out for assistance.

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