Server Migration Center (SMC) is a migration platform provided by Alibaba Cloud. SMC offers migration services with universal capabilities, consistent experience, and high efficiency. This meets your migration requirements when you use Alibaba Cloud services. This topic describes the migration tool, how migration works, billing, migration process, and how to provide feedback and suggestions. This helps you understand how to use SMC to migrate an operating system.
SMC client
The SMC client is a small, installation-free migration tool developed by Alibaba Cloud. During the migration, you must download the client to the source server.
If you import the migration source using the console or the command line, the system automatically downloads the compressed SMC client package.
If you import the migration source using the client, you must download the SMC client package that corresponds to the operating system of your source server:
For more information, see the SMC Client User Guide.
How it works
The following figure shows how an operating system is migrated.
Linux
Server migration principles:
Download and run the SMC client on the source Elastic Compute Service (ECS) instance. If the information about the migration source is imported by using the CLI or the SMC console, the system automatically downloads and runs the SMC client on the source ECS instance. In this case, you can skip this step.
When the SMC client runs on the source ECS instance, the SMC client submits the information about the source ECS instance to the SMC server by using the endpoint of SMC.
After you create and start a migration job, the SMC server performs preparations for the source ECS instance, such as creating snapshots for the source ECS instance for backup. If an error occurs, you can use the snapshots to restore the operating system.
The SMC client performs an in-place upgrade for the operating system on the source ECS instance, including installing or updating the operating system kernel and software packages.
NoteThe version of an application may change, but the application data is retained.
After the in-place upgrade is complete, SMC changes the type of the operating system of the source ECS instance.
Windows
Server migration principles:
Download and run the SMC client on the source ECS instance. If the information about the migration source is imported by using the CLI or the SMC console, the system automatically downloads and runs the SMC client on the source ECS instance. In this case, you can skip this step.
When the SMC client runs on the source ECS instance, the SMC client submits the information about the source ECS instance to the SMC server by using the endpoint of SMC.
After you create and start a migration job, the SMC server performs preparations for the source ECS instance, such as creating snapshots for the source ECS instance for backup. If an error occurs, you can use the snapshots to restore the operating system. The SMC management system creates a pay-as-you-go installation media disk and attaches the disk to the ECS instance. The disk contains the installation media required during the upgrade of the Windows Server operating system.
The SMC client performs an in-place upgrade for the operating system on the source ECS instance, including installing or updating the operating system kernel and software packages.
NoteThe version of an application may change, but the application data is retained.
After the in-place upgrade is complete, SMC changes the type of the operating system of the source ECS instance, and then detaches and releases the installation media disk.
Billing
SMC is a free service, but you are charged for the Alibaba Cloud ECS resources that are used during the migration process. For more information, see Product Billing.
Migration process
When you use SMC to migrate a source to Alibaba Cloud, you must import the information about the migration source to the SMC console, and then create and start a migration job. The following figure shows the migration process.
Procedure:
Prepare for the migration.
Before you migrate an operating system, you must create an Alibaba Cloud account, complete real-name verification, activate Resource Access Management (RAM), and activate the ECS Snapshot service. For more information, see Before you begin.
Import the information about a migration source.
SMC supports multiple methods to import the information about a migration source. You can select one of the following methods based on your business requirements:
Import the information about a migration source by using the CLI
Import the information about a migration source by using the SMC console
Import the information about a migration source by using the SMC client
For more information, see the "How do I select the method to import the information about a migration source?" section of the FAQ topic.
NoteOperating system migration supports fast migration and staged migration. If you use fast migration, the system automatically imports the migration source by using Cloud Assistant. No manual operation is required.
Create and start a migration job.
Create and start a migration job for the operating system as prompted. For more information, see Operating system migration (Windows) and Migrate a Linux operating system.
NoteIf the requirements for a migration test are met, a migration test is performed before the migration job is started.
If the migration test is passed, the system automatically starts the migration job by default.
If the migration test fails, you must view the test report and fix the test items that are in the Critical state. Then, retry the migration test. For more information, see Configure a migration test.
If the requirements for a migration test are not met, the system automatically starts the migration job by default.
Feedback and suggestions
If you have any questions or suggestions while using SMC, you can use the following methods to provide feedback and receive technical support. Your feedback helps us improve our services and your product experience.
Click the link or scan the following QR code to join the technical support DingTalk group. (Download the DingTalk client)
