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Cloud Transformation

Based on what data are target architecture proposals calculated?​

Quite a few properties of the application stack as well as structural information are considered during the calculation. The most important ones are the following properties:

  • Technology
  • Sizing properties such as: CPU Cores, RAM, Scaling factors
  • Operating System for servers
  • Container image

The better the information in a stack, the better the proposals. For example, if a database has a known technology (such as PostgreSQL), Txture can propose to use appropriate Platform-as-a-Service offers (such as AWS RDS for PostgreSQL or Google Cloud SQL PostgreSQL in this example).

How does the data collection work? Are there bots installed?​

Data collection in Txture relies on existing data sources such as hypervisors, CMDBs, etc. within the on-prem landscape of the customer. Typically in a second step, application owner and other technical staff are involved in the application landscape discovery using Txture's surveys or collaborative modeling capabilities. Additionally, the option to connect to individual servers using SSH / WinRM is given. There are no bots installed in the network.

What are prerequisites for running agentless discovery?​

Txture currently supports agentless discovery via SNMP, SSH and WinRM. To run e.g. the SNMP based network device discovery, the platform needs to have access to the client network either via VPN or by being deployed in the respective network. Also, credentials for all scanned hosts or networks are needed to get access to the data.

Can I create a business case calculation for an application or an application portfolio?​

In case cost data for the on-prem infrastructure is available, Txture allows comparing the cost of an application’s on-prem infrastructure with the cost that can be expected in the cloud. Txture propagates the costs along the deployment stack and allows a cost overview at every infrastructure level up to the application or even business level. The cloud business case is a fundamental indicator to decide if migrating an application does make sense from financial aspects. For propagating costs along the deployment stack, Propagation Rules can be used.

How can one adapt the Assessment Rules for the assessment?​

Given that the rules are dependent on the properties of the applications and underlying deployment stack assets, they cannot be edited in the Txture instance. It is however possible to deactivate certain rules. If you would like to have a new Assessment Rule implemented, please do not hesitate to contact your Txture consultant. Typically, new rules can be implemented in the time frame of a few weeks.

Can I import architecture data from GCP, AWS or other hyperscaler and generate recommendations on how to improve my architecture?​

The Txture platform can integrate data from the key hyperscalers and visualize these multi-cloud environments. Additionally, Txture supports cloud to cloud migration recommendations between the providers.

How do I handle the situation when only a CMDB with low data quality is available?​

In addition to automated data imports from external data sources like CMDBs, Txture provides using Surveys to gather data from stakeholders like technical application owners. This can be especially useful to evaluate data quality and fill gaps. Also, the platform provides data completeness analysis that shows where data is missing.

How does Txture keep track of whether a service is migrated or not?​

The Application Migration State can either be changed manually or imported from an external data source.

What are the prerequisites and what is the approach until reports can be received from the platform?​

The usual approach in the Data Collection phase is to automate as much as possible. Prerequisites for this are to get credentials to possible data sources like hosts, monitoring systems, a central CMDB or Enterprise Architecture Management applications and application portfolios. If no such credentials are available, one can work with data extracts in Excel/CSV format. The survey mechanisms and manual graphical modeling can be used to interact with the application owners and to fill in data gaps.

Reports on cloud readiness and potential target architectures for applications can be received in the platform continuously, also throughout the data collection process. The more complete the data is the more confidence can be associated with the results.

Is there a standard method and sequence of working through all the data aspects during data collection?​

This depends on the individual client situation and available data sources. Still, experience has shown that often Data Collection starts with a list of predefined in-scope applications or the integration of an application portfolio. If there are virtualization environments or a CMDB in place the data collection can take technical architecture and IT-infrastructure into account in parallel.

Can versions or states of the assessment be stored as snapshots to refer to them in a later stage for comparison?​

Yes, this is possible. Txture keeps track of every single change that has been applied to its managed data assets. By using Txture's Time Machine or scenario functionality, one can compare alternatives or access past assessment stages by means of labels or date and time.

Does Txture suggest a 6 R's migration strategy for assessed applications?​

Yes, Txture's rule-based assessments can give recommendations on preferred cloud migration strategies. Txture uses the 6 R's migration strategy framework.

Is it possible to show Cloud Proposals only for a selection of public cloud providers?​

Yes, this is possible by adjusting settings in the Target Architecture Preferences of the Txture platform.

Can deployment cost consider different availability characteristics?​

Yes, required availability for production or development environments can be specified in the application asset as well as in the runtime section of the price view and configuration of each Cloud Proposal. This directly influences the forecast cloud operations cost for an application.

Does Txture offer a forecast-overview of total spends per cloud provider?​

Yes, such an overview is provided in the Target Architecture section in the Transformation Cockpit.

How does Txture handle the current use of outdated technologies or operating systems?​

Txture keeps track of outdated technologies in its technology catalog. During the assessment, Txture evaluates the potential need for a re-platforming / refactoring due to the use of such technologies.

Where does Txture get the product prices for the Cloud Proposals?​

The prices of cloud products of the various cloud vendors are automatically saved in the Txture Cloud Knowledge Base, a central data set for cloud products and on-premises technologies. The prices for cloud proposals are drawn from this knowledge base.

Can the costs for reserved instances be calculated?​

Yes, reserved instanced can be selected in the Price & Bill of Materials tab in the Target Architecture section in the Transformation Cockpit. For each cloud proposal different price models are shown.

Does Txture show me, if a specific cloud service leads to a vendor lock-in?​

If a cloud proposal in the Transformation Cockpit's Target Architecture section contains products that lead to a vendor lock-in effect, this is shown in the "The Cloud Proposals Score Explanation" as a score between 0 and 100.

Can I add my in-house developments to the Txture Knowledge Base?​

New technologies such as in-house developed services can be added to the knowledge base in the admin console in the Taxonomy section.

Is it possible to do rightsizing based on monitoring data?​

From version 17 on, Txture supports cloud rightsizing. The rightsizing feature can be used to adjust Cloud Proposals that are presented in the Transformation Cockpit's Target Architecture section.