Server Migration Center (SMC) migrates source servers to Alibaba Cloud without downtime. SMC supports system disks and data disks from physical servers, on-premises VMs (VMware, Xen, KVM, and Hyper-V), and other cloud providers (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and Tencent Cloud).
SMC performs a full data migration first, then uses incremental migration to sync subsequent changes within a custom time frame.
To migrate only databases, use Data Transmission Service (DTS) instead.
Billing
SMC itself is free. However, ECS resources created during migration incur charges as described in Product Billing.
Limits
Server migration limits are documented in Limits.
Migration workflow
To migrate a server, import the migration source, then create and start a migration task.
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Step 1: Prepare for migration
Register an Alibaba Cloud account, complete identity verification, enable RAM, and enable snapshots. Prepare for the migration.
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Step 2: Import the migration source
Choose one of the following import methods:
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Import the migration source from the command line
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Import the migration source from the console
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Import the migration source by using the client
Compare these methods in How to select a migration source import method.
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Step 3: Configure and start the migration
Select a migration scenario based on your requirements, then start the migration.
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Before a migration task starts, SMC checks whether migration drill conditions are met.
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Successful drill -- The system starts the migration task automatically by default.
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Abnormal drill -- Fix the Critical drill items according to the drill report, then retry the drill. See Configure a migration drill.
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If conditions are not met, the system starts the migration task automatically by default.
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Migration targets
SMC consists of the SMC client and the SMC console. Two migration targets are available:
Custom image
Migrate a source server to a custom ECS image, then create an ECS instance from that image.
Destination instance
Migrate a source server directly to an existing ECS or Simple Application Server instance. The source server's storage and OS must be compatible with the destination.
How migration works
Server Migration Center (SMC) consists of the SMC client and the SMC console. This section describes the principles of server migration.
Migrate to a custom image
Migrate a source server to a custom ECS image, then use it to create an ECS instance.
Migrate to a destination instance
Migrate a source server directly to an existing ECS or Simple Application Server instance. The source server's storage and OS must be compatible with the destination.
Server migration principles:
Download and install the SMC client on the source server. If you import the information about the source server by using the CLI or the SMC console, the system automatically downloads and installs the SMC client on the source server. In this case, you can skip this step.
Run the SMC client on the source server. The SMC client submits the information about the source server to the SMC server by using the endpoint of SMC.
The SMC server creates a temporary intermediate instance and configures the security group of the intermediate instance to allow access to ports 8080 and 8703. If you migrate the source server to an instance, the destination instance is used as an intermediate instance. Then, the SMC server creates a temporary intermediate cloud disk and attaches the intermediate cloud disk to the destination instance.
The SMC client connects to port 8080 of the intermediate instance to establish communication and transmits the disk data of the source server to the data disks of the intermediate instance by using port 8703 of the intermediate instance.
The SMC server creates snapshots for the disk data of the intermediate instance and creates an ECS image from the snapshots. If you migrate the source server to an instance, the system disk of the destination instance is replaced by using the ECS image.
SMC client
The SMC client is a lightweight, installation-free tool. Download it to the source server before starting a migration.
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Console or command line import -- The system automatically downloads the compressed SMC client package.
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Client import -- Download the SMC client package that matches the operating system of the source server:
Usage instructions: SMC Client User Guide.
Feedback and support
For questions or suggestions, join the SMC DingTalk support group or scan the QR code below. Download the DingTalk client
