AWS VM Import/Export is a service that allows you to import existing virtual machines (VMs) from your on-premises environment to Amazon Web Services (AWS) and export them back to your on-premises environment. This capability is particularly useful for organizations looking to migrate workloads to the cloud, as it helps streamline the process of transitioning from physical or virtual environments to AWS infrastructure. This knowledge base provides a comprehensive overview of the VM Import/Export service, including its features, benefits, configuration steps, best practices, and troubleshooting tips.

What is AWS VM Import/Export?

Definition and Purpose

AWS VM Import/Export enables users to import virtual machines from on-premises environments or other cloud services into Amazon EC2 instances, facilitating migration to AWS. Conversely, it allows for the export of Amazon EC2 instances back to your on-premises environment. This bi-directional capability simplifies the management of VMs during cloud migrations and hybrid cloud implementations.

Key Features

• Support for Multiple Formats: VM Import/Export supports various VM formats, including VMDK (VMware), VHD (Hyper-V), and RAW images.
• EC2 Instance Creation: Imported VMs can be converted into EC2 instances, which can then be launched in the AWS cloud.
• Metadata Retention: AWS retains important metadata, such as instance types, security groups, and network settings, during the import process.
• AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) Integration: VM Import/Export can be accessed through the AWS CLI, enabling automation and scripting capabilities.
• Progress Monitoring: Users can monitor the progress of VM import and export tasks through the AWS Management Console or AWS CLI.

Benefits of AWS VM Import/Export

Simplified Migration Process

AWS VM Import/Export streamlines the migration of existing virtual machines to AWS, minimizing the effort required to recreate complex workloads in the cloud. This process reduces downtime and accelerates migration timelines.

Cost Efficiency

By leveraging existing infrastructure investments, organizations can migrate their workloads without needing to rebuild applications or services from scratch. This approach can lead to significant cost savings during the migration process.

Flexibility and Scalability

VM Import/Export allows organizations to easily scale their infrastructure by migrating workloads to EC2 instances, which can be resized and adjusted according to demand.

Integration with AWS Services

Once VMs are imported into AWS, organizations can take advantage of various AWS services, such as Elastic Load Balancing, Amazon RDS, and AWS Lambda, enhancing their applications and services' capabilities.

Hybrid Cloud Enablement

VM Import/Export facilitates hybrid cloud strategies, allowing organizations to maintain certain workloads on-premises while leveraging the AWS cloud for others, ensuring a seamless integration between environments.

The architecture of AWS VM Import/Export

The architecture of AWS VM Import/Export consists of several key components that work together to facilitate the import and export of virtual machines:

AWS Command Line Interface (CLI)

The AWS CLI is a powerful tool that allows users to manage AWS services, including VM Import/Export. Users can perform actions such as starting import tasks, checking status, and exporting instances using command-line commands.

Amazon S3

During the import process, VM images are uploaded to an Amazon S3 bucket, which acts as temporary storage for the VM images. AWS uses this storage to convert the VM images into EC2 instances.

Amazon EC2

After the VM images are imported, they are converted into EC2 instances that can be launched and managed in the AWS cloud. Users can interact with these instances just like any other EC2 instance.

AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM)

IAM roles and policies control access to VM Import/Export functionalities, ensuring that only authorized users can initiate imports or exports. Proper IAM configuration is crucial for security.

VM Import/Export Service

This service manages the import and export tasks, handling image conversions and metadata retention during the process.

Getting Started with AWS VM Import/Export

To effectively utilize AWS VM Import/Export, follow these steps for configuration:

Pre-requisites

Before starting with VM Import/Export, ensure the following prerequisites are met:

• An AWS account is set up.
• You have administrative access to the AWS Management Console.
• Required IAM roles and permissions are configured.

Create an IAM Role

To use VM Import/Export, you need to create an IAM role that grants permissions for the import and export processes:

1. Sign in to the AWS Management Console.
2. Navigate to IAM and choose Roles.
3. Click on Create Role and select EC2 as the service that will use this role.
4. Attach the following policies:
   • AmazonEC2FullAccess
   • AmazonS3FullAccess
   • AWSKeyManagementServicePowerUser (if using KMS)
5. Name the role (e.g., VMImportExportRole) and create it.

Prepare the Virtual Machine

Before importing a VM, ensure it meets the following requirements:

• Supported Formats: Ensure your VM is in a supported format (VMDK, VHD, or RAW).
• Clean Shutdown: Perform a clean shutdown of the VM to ensure data consistency.
• Network Configuration: Disable any virtual network adapters that are not required.
• Operating System Compatibility: Check that the OS is compatible with AWS EC2 (refer to the  for supported OS versions).

Upload the VM Image to Amazon S3

1. Open the AWS Management Console and navigate to Amazon S3.
2. Create a new S3 bucket (if needed) or select an existing bucket.
3. Upload the VM image file to the S3 bucket using the console, AWS CLI, or SDKs.

Import the VM Image

Using the AWS Management Console

Launch the EC2 Instance

Once the import task is completed, the imported VM will appear as an AMI (Amazon Machine Image) in the EC2 console. You can now launch an EC2 instance from this AMI:

1. Navigate to the EC2 section in the AWS Management Console.
2. Select AMIs from the left-hand menu.
3. Locate your imported AMI, select it, and click Launch Instance.
4. Configure instance details, security groups, and other settings, then click Launch.

Exporting EC2 Instances

In addition to importing VMs, AWS VM Import/Export allows you to export EC2 instances back to your on-premises environment. Here’s how to do it:

Prepare the EC2 Instance for Export

Before exporting an EC2 instance, ensure it meets the following requirements:

• Instance Type: Only certain instance types are eligible for export (e.g., Amazon EC2 instances running supported operating systems).
• No Ephemeral Storage: Ensure that the instance does not use instance store volumes.
• Shutdown the Instance: Perform a clean shutdown of the instance before export.

Export the EC2 Instance

Using the AWS Management Console

1. Navigate to the EC2 section in the AWS Management Console.
2. Select the instance you want to export.
3. Click on Actions, then select Export Image.
4. Choose an S3 bucket as the export destination and specify other parameters.
5. Review and confirm the export settings, then click Export.

Monitor the Export Process

Monitor the progress of the export task through the AWS Management Console or using the AWS

Download the VM Image

Once the export is complete, the VM image will be available in the specified S3 bucket. You can download the image file to your on-premises environment for further use.