Speeding Up Cloud Migration for VMware Users

The recent acquisition of VMware by Broadcom has introduced uncertainty into the landscape for VMware customers. Concerns about potential price increases, reduced innovation, and diminishing service levels are prompting many to reconsider their cloud strategies. For those with cloud mandates, the urgency to accelerate cloud adoption is increasing. This white paper investigates the challenges and openings for VMware clients as they amplify their operations to the open cloud to moderate hazard and upgrade agility.

Cloud Pain Points

Migrating workloads to the cloud is no small feat for VMware customers managing hundreds of applications and thousands of VMs. The following are key pain points:

Rehost, Replatform, Refactor, or Re-architect?

Determining how to move applications—whether “as is,” by replatforming, refactoring, or re-architecting—can be complex. Each approach has implications for how applications will perform in the cloud.

Dependency Management

Managing dependencies in applications that rely on various services, such as backend databases and data protection, can be intricate. Identifying and replacing these dependencies with cloud-based alternatives is often challenging.

Staffing Challenges

Cloud migration places a significant strain on IT staff, who may need to acquire new skills to operate efficiently in a cloud environment. As enterprises increasingly operate across multiple clouds, this complexity intensifies.

Previously, gradual migration with VMware’s assistance might have been viable. However, with Broadcom ending VMware’s Cloud Service Provider Program on April 30, 2024, and replacing it with an invitation-only program, the attractiveness of using VMware for cloud migration is diminishing. Concerns over service levels and pricing uncertainties are rising.

Planning a Successful Cloud Expansion

To ensure a successful cloud migration, it’s crucial to develop a comprehensive strategy that addresses the pain points mentioned. The following sections outline key elements for a successful cloud migration.

Inventory and Analyze

Assess applications to understand their requirements and dependencies, including:

• Compute: Determine if the application runs in a virtual machine or container and its specific compute requirements.
• Data Services: Identify storage needs and data services for caching, messaging, and streaming.
• Databases: Evaluate database requirements and migration needs.
• Data Protection, Disaster Recovery, and Resiliency: Ensure application SLAs for data protection and recovery are met post-migration.
• External APIs and Dependencies: Review external APIs, configuration files, and security requirements.

Stakeholder Involvement

Lock in designers and other partners early in the movement process. Review resource consumption to avoid over or under-provisioning and identify opportunities for cost reduction without impacting performance.

Evaluate Cloud Providers

Choose cloud providers based on functionality and cost, considering both major public clouds (AWS, Azure, GCP) and smaller providers that may cater to specific needs. Aim to minimize vendor lock-in and ensure flexibility in future migrations.

Choose Your Migration Method

Identify the most suitable relocation strategy for each application:

• Retire: Assess if an application continues to provide sufficient value.
• Repurchase/Replace: Consider replacing legacy applications with SaaS solutions.
• Rehost: Move applications with minimal effort using a lift-and-shift approach.
• Replatform: Migrate applications with minimal architectural changes.
• Refactor: Optimize applications to leverage cloud platform capabilities.
• Re-architect: Completely rewrite applications for cloud-native environments.
• Retain: Keep applications on-premises if it’s more cost-effective.

Expand your VMware operations into the cloud using Nutanix.

Nutanix provides a robust alternative for extending VMware operations to the cloud. Here’s how Nutanix addresses migration challenges:

Seamless Migration

Nutanix simplifies the migration process with Nutanix Move, allowing for a lift-and-shift approach with minimal effort and no surprises.

Enhanced Flexibility

Nutanix’s AHV hypervisor runs across various environments, including on-premises and public clouds, facilitating easy application movement without code changes.

User-Friendly Interface

The intuitive Nutanix interface ensures a smooth transition for administrators accustomed to VMware.

Automated Updates

Nutanix Lifecycle Manager automates software updates and patch management, reducing IT team workload.

License Portability

Nutanix permits for adaptable permit development between datacenters and open clouds, securing your speculation.

Leverage Existing Cloud Credits

Use previously purchased cloud credits with AWS or Azure for running Nutanix.

Support and Services

Nutanix offers comprehensive migration services and support to ensure a successful transition.

Conclusion

Transitioning to the cloud presents both challenges and opportunities for VMware customers. By understanding pain points, developing a detailed migration strategy, and leveraging Nutanix’s solutions, you can achieve a successful cloud migration with minimal disruptions.

Ready to accelerate your cloud migration? Download our whitepapers for more insights and strategies to streamline your cloud transition.

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