8 things you must be doing wrong during migration to Graviton
In today’s fast-paced technological landscape, staying ahead of the curve is essential. The migration to Amazon Web Services Graviton instances, powered by ARM-based processors, is a prime example of how organizations can harness the latest advancements in cloud computing. Graviton migration offers the promise of increased cost savings, improved performance, and enhanced efficiency. However, a smooth transition requires meticulous planning and consideration of various aspects. In this blog, we will delve into potential challenges during graviton migration and provide insights on how to avoid them.
Neglecting Post-Migration Cost Savings and Efforts Analysis:
One of the significant oversights during migration is failing to analyze the post-migration cost savings and efforts. It’s essential to assess the financial and operational impact after the migration to ensure the intended benefits are realized.
Improper Planning – Technical Stack and Versions:
Inadequate planning concerning the technical stack and software versions can lead to migration hurdles. It’s crucial to consider the complete workload, assess compatibility with Graviton, and plan for necessary upgrades to avoid unexpected compatibility issues and breaking changes.
Hasty Rollout without Comprehensive Testing:
Attempting to roll out the migration hastily can lead to severe consequences. Skipping proper functional and performance testing can result in degraded system performance and even downtime. Thorough testing ensures a seamless transition and helps identify and address any potential performance bottlenecks.
Migrating Entirely at Once:
Attempting to migrate the entire infrastructure to Graviton in one go can overwhelm the process. A more strategic approach involves prioritizing managed services and low-hanging fruits first, then gradually migrating applications while ensuring a smooth transition for databases and caches.
Lack of Test and Production Migration Strategies:
Failing to plan for effective test and production migration approaches can disrupt the operation. A well-structured migration strategy that allows for a mix of x86 and Graviton instances, supported by tools like Karpenter and ECS capacity providers, can ensure a seamless transition.
Choosing Inappropriate Graviton Instance Types:
Selecting the wrong Graviton instance types can negatively impact performance and cost efficiency. It’s essential to understand the workload requirements thoroughly.
Inadequate Adoption of CICD and Dockerfile Changes:
Neglecting to adopt the correct methods when modifying CICD processes, Dockerfiles, and initialization scripts can lead to complications. Utilizing appropriate tools like buildx and adapting these scripts accordingly is crucial for a successful migration.
Ignoring Reservation Modifications:
If your organization utilizes reservations for EC2 instances, Failing to make adjustments to reservations after migration can lead to inefficiencies and increased costs. It’s vital to account for reservation modifications and plan accordingly to optimize cost savings.
Conclusion
Graviton migration holds significant promise for organizations seeking to optimize their AWS infrastructure. However, careful planning, a phased approach, and attention to detail are paramount to navigating potential challenges successfully. By avoiding the common pitfalls mentioned above, organizations can achieve a smooth and effective migration to Graviton, reaping the benefits it offers.
