*introduce *
Migrating web applications between cloud platforms can be challenging, but also rewarding. In this article, I will share how to successfully migrate a web application from AWS to Google Cloud Platform (GCP). I’ll cover everything from planning, setting up infrastructure, migrating static content, databases, and DNS to ensuring optimal functionality and performance.
Project Overview
Goal: Migrate production-ready web applications from AWS to GCP.
Motivation: The migration is designed to take advantage of GCP’s cost efficiency, scalability, and consolidation capabilities.
challenge:
Ensure zero downtime during migration.
Maintain data integrity and performance.
Update DNS configuration without affecting users.
before and after building
AWS settings:
Web server: EC2 instance running Apache.
Database: Amazon RDS (MySQL).
Static files: S3 bucket.
DNS: Amazon Route 53.
GCP settings:
Web server: Computing engine with NGINX.
Database: Cloud SQL (MySQL).
Static files: Google Cloud Storage (GCS).
DNS: Google Cloud DNS.
**Step-by-step migration process
- Planning the migration** Before migrating, I evaluated my existing AWS infrastructure and mapped out the equivalent GCP services:
EC2 (AWS) → Compute Engine (GCP)
RDS (AWS) → Cloud SQL (GCP)
S3 (AWS) → Cloud Storage (GCP)
Route 53 (AWS) → Cloud DNS (GCP)
*2. Set up GCP infrastructure
Calculation engine:
*
Created a Compute Engine virtual machine instance with the necessary configuration (vCPU, memory, storage).
Install NGINX and configure it as a web server.
Cloud SQL:
Set up a MySQL instance on Cloud SQL with the same schema as the original RDS database.
Cloud storage:
Create a bucket for static files and set appropriate permissions.
DNS configuration:
Prepare Cloud DNS for post-migration domain management.
Migrate web server
Task: Re-establish the EC2 instance on GCP using Compute Engine.
step:
Configure the Compute Engine instance to run NGINX.
Use SCP to transfer application code to the instance:
Test and verify
Perform rigorous testing to ensure applications work as expected:
Load testing: Verify application performance on GCP.
Functional testing: Ensure that all functions (login, file upload, database query) are functioning properly.
DNS Propagation Check: Use tools like dig and Whatsmydns.net to confirm DNS changes.
Optimize after migration
Enable GCP specific features for better performance:
Cloud CDN for caching and reducing latency.
Cloud monitoring for performance insights.
IAM policies for security access control.
Lessons learned
Thorough planning is key: mapping AWS services to their GCP equivalents upfront can save time.
Data integrity: Regular database backups ensure that data will not be lost.
Test: Early testing avoids surprises during the migration process.
in conclusion
With careful planning and execution, migrating from AWS to GCP can be achieved. This project taught me the importance of aligning cloud services with business goals while ensuring minimal disruption to users.
Have you ever undertaken a cloud migration project? Share your experiences in the comments!