asked on

SQL database/web/app migration/replication as well as public website migration to cloud

Hello Experts,

I have a customer who runs a public website hosted in their web servers, and he is looking to migrate/replicate workloads (Web/app/database servers) to the cloud so they can in the near future eliminate every single point of failure or application dependencies on prem and host their data on the cloud.

Current environment:

Web servers/App

Apache/2.2.19 (Unix) mod_ssl/2.2.19 OpenSSL/0.9.8g DAV/2
Apache/2.2.19 (Unix) mod_ssl/2.2.19 OpenSSL/0.9.8g DAV/2
Apache/2.4.41 (Win64) OpenSSL/1.1.1c PHP/7.3.11
IIS 10.0 running in Windows 2012 R2 Standard edition box with SQL Server 2008 R2

The initial plan is to configure an Azure AD tenant, deploy Azure AD connect to sync resources to Azure AD, then use Azure migrate tool to replicate or migrate resources from on prem to the cloud.

The network connectivity will be a site to site VPN between Azure and the organization, and client will be running a hybrid model for a while, but in the long term solution is going to migrate everything off from on prem to the cloud, so having said I need to clarify few items:

Which of the following approach suit best and is less complicated/cheaper?

Pros and Cons of both scenarios proposed

Approach 1:

Use Azure migrate tool, collect all inventory and dependencies application info and workload, replicate or migrate the server hosting the app and the database. lift and shift option. This is going to stay in a hybrid environment for at least 6 months or a year.

Approach 2:

Given the fact the application resides on a single server and there is only one database server hosting a single instance for the website, re-architect the entire solution, once the database is migrated to the cloud, proceed to setup HA and best practices and update the SQL version from 2008 R2 to a newer one. Collocate web servers in subnet, database servers in another subnet, and a load balancer to balance all request to web servers

Can an apache server running version above be migrated or sync to the Azure tenant using Azure migrate tool?

Can a Windows 2012 r2 Web server be migrated to the cloud?

Assuming the web site resides either on the apache or the MS IIS web server(not sure at this point)and that's why i need your input for all scenarios

What type of deployment model(if required) is the best for each approach above? I need to understand if a single database, managed instance or elastic pool is the best and why for each scenario.

Please, remember web site currently resides on prem, either on the Apache or IIS webservers , The Web server running IIS has SQL 2008 R2 version deployed on same box, with one single database server with a single instance.

I'm also confused with the Azure SQL virtual machines, Azure SQL managed instances, and SQL databases. which of these should be considered for this customer requirement

Can someone please elaborate?

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Scott Fell

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Jerry Seinfield

ASKER

Thanks Scott this is very useful information, and really appreciated that you took the time to answer my post.

On the other hand, I need some expertise from the Azure side of things to provide feedback regarding this case.

Anyone from the Azure experts team to provide thoughts?

Should I open a case and scope it only to the Azure team?

Jerry Seinfield

ASKER

Any updates?

Jerry Seinfield

ASKER

Can someone please comment on my last request?

arnold

You might be better off checking with Azure and see what they are proposing based on your needs and spec.

How many db's do you have, size?

Is SQL server a requirement by vendor, or that us what you went with.

Jerry Seinfield

ASKER

only one database on a SQL server on prem , single forest/single domain

Anyone from the Azure team?

arnold

Azure team? This is a forum of people with various skillsets and
Who share their expertise and experiences.

Have you checked with MS azure.

arnold

Here is a thought, you have three Apache/linux vm
one windows VM with IIS, PHP and SQL server? Potentially this is split as two VMs depending on the

If I was in your place, and since you are getting Azure, you are likely entitled by the cost to the most recent SQL server.
SQL server 2017 exists and runs on linux..... not sure if this is a consideration on your part ,or too many changes.

Back to the reason for this
Setup the linux VM which presumably use the IIS/PHP MS SQL as the backed from which they draw the information.

sql server 2008 R2 backup/restore get go to sQL server 2014 and then backup/restore to sql server 2019.

Deals with setting up the linux VMs and then tying the Windows OS 2019 with IIS 12 /SQL server 2019...

And making sure all the thing work together. While you will not have the up-to-date info, you can make sure the setup/application work as intended with what information you backup/restore through the ... noting the changes/update you have to make between restore/ and backup/restore to the newer version.
The resource testing load testing to make sure what you expect in terms of performance is there...

then when ready, you can repeat the DB backup/restore backup/restore to get the cloud setup to the current data set.

The question that you meantion on the replication, I think you would need to get your on premises to the newer versions of the sever/sql for the merge or other type of replication.

not sure they will support the sql server 2008 in the cloud VM.