Server Migration: Checklist, Tools, & How to Migrate

Businesses are attempting to keep up with the rapid technological advances and data-driven needs. This requires looking for ways to enhance the existing IT infrastructure to improve performance, reduce costs, and enhance scalability. According to a recent study by Foundry, 33% of organizations aim for better scalability, while 29% are eager to accelerate ML and AI adoption.

Server migration can help you keep up with these demands by assisting you in moving data, applications, and servers to more capable environments. This allows you to leverage advanced technologies and stay competitive and agile in the changing digital landscape.

In this article, you will learn how the server migration process works and when you should employ it.

What is Server Migration?

Server migration is the process of moving data, such as applications and services, from one server to another. Along with migration, you also need to ensure that the target system is configured correctly so that it can host the new information. By utilizing server migration, you can move from one physical server to another, from an on-premise infrastructure to a cloud-based setup, or between cloud environments.

For example, when migrating a web hosting server, the process involves installing required database software, moving website files, and configuring Domain Name System (DNS) settings. These tasks work together to ensure the website runs smoothly on the new server and customers can easily access it.

When to Migrate Your Server?

The decision to migrate your server depends on the specific circumstances of your hosting environment. Here are key scenarios that indicate it’s time to consider server migration:

• When Your Business Needs Greater Flexibility and Scalability: If your current infrastructure cannot support increasing workloads or expansion goals, you can migrate to a cloud-native platform. This will offer the benefits of scalability and dynamic resource allocation, ensuring your system can effortlessly adapt to growing demands.‍
• When You Need to Integrate Advanced Technology: Legacy systems might sometimes lack the capabilities to adapt to new tools or applications. By transitioning to an updated environment, you can leverage modern technologies, ensuring your system operates faster and integrates better with current applications.‍
• When Operating Costs Need Optimization: Maintaining physical servers can strain your budget due to recurring maintenance, repairs, or hardware upgrades. In such a scenario, you can migrate to cloud platforms to reduce upfront expenses. They provide a predictable operational cost budget where you pay only for the resources you use.

Types of Server Migration

There are many different techniques that you can use to migrate your data from one server to another. Let’s look at a few of them:

On-premises to Cloud

In an on-premise to cloud migration, you transfer data, applications, and services from your organization’s on-site server to a cloud environment. This migration helps reduce the burden of physical hardware and infrastructure.

Cross-Platform Migration

A cross-platform migration is moving data and applications between different platforms. Using this strategy, you can move data from physical to physical servers, physical to virtual servers, or virtual to virtual servers.

Database Server Migration

Database server migration involves transferring data from a source database to a target database. After the migration, the client access is redirected from the source to the target database.

Application Server Migration

Application server migration is a process of shifting the application software from one server to another. This process is a part of the broader strategy to upgrade outdated technology to meet modern business standards.

Operating System Migration

Operating system migration facilitates transferring a server from one operating system to another. It is ideal when you want to update the current OS or switch to a new one, such as moving from Linux to Windows.

Server Pre-Migration Checklist

Server migration is more than just data transfer, it’s an opportunity to upgrade the infrastructure. Here are some pre-migration checkpoints that help you establish a foundation for the migration process.

• Define Your Migration Goals: Evaluate your requirements and clearly outline what you want to achieve through migration, whether it’s for performance optimization, cost reduction, or scalability.‍
• Ensure Compatibility: Run compatibility tests to ensure that the applications you want to migrate will function properly in the new environment.‍
• Backup Data: Create backups of all the critical data and systems to prevent data loss in the event of incomplete migration or failure.‍
• Perform Security Audit: Implement necessary data protection measures before and after the migration to safeguard your information.‍
• Plan Downtime: Schedule migration during a low-traffic period to minimize disruptions to your services.

How to Perform Server Migration?

The following are the five major steps in the server-to-server migration process:

Preparing the New/Target Server

The first step of the server migration process involves preparing the new server. This includes configuring the settings, permissions, and authorizations. You must also determine whether your organization will use any new technology or service; if so, integrate these into the server setup in this step.

Assess Data Fidelity

Losing even a tiny fraction of data can impact the performance of your site or application. Data fidelity is the process of ensuring that all data is accounted for and adequately integrated into the new server during migration. Verify that the critical components and services function correctly.

Data Transfer

Transferring data to a new server can be done using file transfer protocols, cloud migration tools, or third-party migration tools like Airbyte. The speed of data transfer depends on the bandwidth availability; the greater the bandwidth, the faster the transfer.

Quality Assessment

When the migration to the destination server is complete, you must perform a quality assessment, testing the software for any processing issues. It is essential to put the server through rigorous testing to identify any faults. You can document this process and use its findings to determine the best approach to resolving any issues if the server encounters problems.

Change the DNS and Go Live

After completing the thorough testing, the final step is to update the DNS settings. This change directs the traffic from the old server to the new server, ensuring all your users connect to the correct infrastructure.

Tools To Help You With Server Migration

When you are preparing for server migration, it’s essential to utilize the right tools to manage everything from data transfer to integration. The following are three robust migration tools that help you simplify the process:

AWS Migration Hub

AWS Migration Hub is a centralized platform offered by Amazon Web Services that helps you migrate to the AWS public cloud. You can integrate it with tools like AWS Server Migration Service and Database Migration Service. These tools allow you to migrate applications, servers, and databases while providing detailed progress tracking and insights to minimize downtime.

Azure Migrate

Microsoft Azure Migrate offers tools for assessing, migrating, and modernizing your IT infrastructure to Azure Cloud. It supports various workloads, including databases, applications, and virtual machines (VMs), ensuring seamless integration with other Azure services.

Carbonite Migrate

Carbonite Migrate is a service that allows you to transfer data, applications, and servers across physical, virtual, and cloud environments. Its automated and customizable workflow ensures minimal downtime during migration.

How Long Does a Typical Server Migration Take?

The duration of server migration can be anywhere from 30 minutes to months, depending on factors, including:

• Data Volume: Larger datasets take longer to transfer because they require more time for data read/write operations.‍
• Application Complexity: Complex databases and applications have intricate dependencies and custom configurations. These complexities often necessitate additional time for tasks like compatibility checks, reconfiguring applications, and verifying functionality.
• ‍Bandwidth: Limited network bandwidth can slow down data transfer, prolonging the migration, especially with larger datasets.‍
• Downtime: Downtime is caused by factors like large data volumes, network issues, hardware failures, and software errors like bugs that can disrupt the migration process.

What Common Pitfalls Should Be Avoided During Server Migration?

To ensure a successful server migration, it’s crucial to be aware of possible issues and take preventive measures. Here are some of the common missteps you should avoid during server migration:

Incomplete Exploration Before Starting Migration

Server migration requires detailed planning and assessment. Rushing into migration without completing the exploration phase is a major source of preventable issues. Take time to evaluate all components, break tasks into smaller segments, and create realistic timelines to avoid unnecessary complications.

Neglecting Backup and Disaster Recovery

Failing to back up your data before migration can cause data loss, especially with large datasets. Always validate backups and reliable failback in case of migrations. You should also test the restoration process to verify data integrity and accessibility.

Scheduling During Critical Business Periods

Avoid scheduling server migration right before or during critical business periods such as Black Friday for retailers or year-end financial reporting for enterprises. These periods demand heightened demand for services and minimal tolerance for disruptions. Instead, you should perform migration during off-peak hours when business activity is minimal.

Poor Communication and Coordination

Server migration impacts multiple teams and users across your organization. Failing to notify staff or define clear timeframes can lead to confusion and operational delays. Communicate migration timelines, expected changes, and potential risks to all stakeholders. Provide documentation or offer IT support windows for assisting end-users post-migration.

How Airbyte Can Help Migrate Your Server Data?

Migrating server data can be a complex process as it consists of multiple systems with varied data formats. Airbyte is an AI-powered integration tool that simplifies the server data migration process by providing a user-friendly platform that helps to connect different systems and environments. It offers 550+ prebuilt connectors for databases, applications, and APIs. Using these connectors, you can quickly transfer data without needing complex setups.

Let’s take a look at how Airbyte simplifies the migration process:

• Change Data Capture: You can use Airbyte’s CDC feature to identify the incremental changes in your source data and replicate them in the destination. It assists in tracking all the modifications and ensuring data consistency throughout the migration process.
• ‍Custom Connectors: Airbyte offers a toolkit that includes Connector Development Kits and a Connector Builder, making it easier to build custom connectors. Utilizing these tools, you can develop a connector within 30 minutes or less. The AI Assist feature within the Connector Builder speeds up the configuration process by pre-filling most fields during connector configuration.
• ‍PyAirbyte: PyAirbyte is Airbyte’s Python library that helps with data migration by allowing you to create, set up, and manage data pipelines programmatically. It facilitates the use of Airbyte connectors in Python to extract data. You can integrate frameworks like Pandas or Tensorflow within your workflow to perform advanced transformations during migration, ensuring data correctness.

Conclusion

One of the primary reasons to perform server migration is to update your infrastructure to meet growing technological demands. This process involves moving not only data but also applications and databases. It helps you adapt to the new system, which facilitates better scalability, security, and maintenance.

While the process of server migration can be time-consuming, you can simplify it by optimizing tools such as Airbyte, Azure Migrate, or AWS Migration Hub. These tools not only allow you to migrate server data but also provide monitoring capabilities, ensuring data integrity and consistency throughout the process.