This article will show you how to migrate your web application from on-premises to the Azure Cloud Platform. Anyone who wants to be a cloud computing professional will find Azure a great tool. It offers an easy and affordable platform for the deployments of applications. The four steps to migrate to Azure are simple: Create Application infrastructure, Connect it to Internet Services, Create a virtual machine and copy the website to the machine, and Configure the ports. Let’s take a closer look at each one.
A Step-by–Step Guide for Azure Cloud Migration
Create a Foundation for your Azure Infrastructure
Your application’s infrastructure foundation includes a network that facilitates additional services, a storage box for your application’s services and a cloud service that provides an IP address to your application.
1. Create a Virtual Network to Support Your Objects
Log in to Azure Management Portal
Scroll to Virtual Networks on the portal’s homepage and click (+) Create.
Select a name for your virtual network in the Create Virtual Network popup window and choose your closest location. I chose to name my network ITC_VirtualNet, and selected (Africa) South Africa North for the location.
Azure will default the settings for the IP Address and Security tabs. After you click Create, verify your options and click Review and Create. You will be directed to a page that displays the status of your deployment. When it is complete, you will be notified.
2. How to create a storage account
Scroll down to the bottom of the Azure Management Portal and click Storage Accounts.
Click on + Add to the Storage Accounts page.
In the Create Storage Account page, enter the name for your storage account and select the location you previously selected.
Leave the default settings for Data Protection, Networking, and Advanced. Once all details have been verified, go to the Review + Create page and click Create.
3. Create a Cloud Service for your Application
Cloud service allows you to assign an IP address for your application and keep related services in one cluster. These steps will help you deploy a cloud service to your application.
In the Azure Portal’s Search Bar type Cloud Services and then click on Cloud Services (Classic).
Click + Add on the Cloud Services (Classic), page to create your new service.
You can give your service a Name or Location. Cloud services are not available in all areas.
Leave the default settings for the deployment page. Once the validation has been completed, go to the Review + Create page and click on Create.
A notification will be sent to you confirming that the cloud service has been successfully deployed.
Creating an Azure Virtual Machine
Virtual machines allow you to run your application. Azure makes it easy to create virtual machines. The VM will allow you to connect to your application’s storage or services. To create an Azure virtual machine:
Click on Virtual Machines in the Azure Management Portal.
You will be redirected directly to the Create Virtual Machine page. Choose WEBAPP01 for the machine name and select the preferred location of your application. Choose Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter – Gen1 for the image. Next, click on Disks. Click Next: Review and create.
Check that your VM passes validation before you click Create.
When your deployment is complete, you will receive an alert.
Migration of the Web Application to the Azure App Services
This section will allow you to save your application’s files locally and then configure it on our virtual machine WEBAPP01. These steps will help you save your files locally:
To open the Explorer, click on the File Explorer icon located on your taskbar. Navigate to the Data folder in your main installation directory. Click on the Home tab and create a new folder named AzureManagement.
Add the website hosting your web app to your trusted sites list. Open the Control Panel and navigate to Internet Options. Click on the Security tab in the Internet Properties window. Click on the Trusted Sites icon and then click on Sites. Enter your website’s URL in the Add this site to the zone: tab and click on Add. If you receive security warnings, click OK.
Save the web application files to the trusted site. Extract these files from the trusted site and save them in the folder C:AzureManagement.